Iowa Indoor Rowing Challenge 2014 Rules and Regulations

 

Health & Safety

If you have a health issue, inform an official on the Race Floor before your race so they can better respond if an emergency arises.

Check-in

Athlete check-in opens at 7am.  Assume there will be a line. It is the responsibility of the rower to be at the venue early enough to complete check-in. Rowers must check-in at least 30 minutes prior to their event. Check-in will close at 10am. Failure to check-in by 10am will be considered a scratch. No refunds will be granted for scratches. Each athlete will be given a wristband with their name on it at check-in. This wristband must be worn during the athlete’s race for identity confirmation.

Waivers

All rowers must sign an IIRC liability waiver.  Waivers may be mailed, scanned and emailed, or completed upon checking in. Minors (under 18) must have a parent or guardian's signature. No exceptions. 

• Please mail your signed waiver to the following address IF you are certain it will arrive prior to January 27, 2013:  Iowa Indoor Rowing Challenge, Attn: Danelle Stipes, E230 CRWC, Iowa City, IA 52242
• Otherwise, please print and bring a signed copy of the waiver to the event and submit it during registration.   Additional blank copies of the waiver will be available at registration.  If you are under 18, please remember that you will need to obtain the signature of a parent or guardian.
• The waiver can also be scanned and emailed to the Regatta Director Danelle Stipes at  Please remember to scan both pages!

Schedule

Event times are approximate and the schedule is subject to change. The schedule as printed on race day is the best estimate of when an event will begin. Rowers and coaches must allow sufficient time in advance of the scheduled event to accommodate any adjustments in timing that may be required.  It is possible that smaller events will be combined to race at the same time. If the demand for an event is greater than expected, efforts will be made to accommodate those rowers.

Warm-up

Please see below under Race Procedure.

Conduct  

Proper sportsmanship and decorum will be observed by rowers, coaches, and the audience. Rowers are expected to be properly attired for competition, including shirts. The Regatta Director reserves the right to ask any person who is not behaving in a sportsman-like way to leave.

Eligibility and Masters' Handicaps

Eligibility is determined by rower’s age on race day.  Junior rowers may only participate in Junior designated events. Adults of college age and above may enter the Open events. Adults age 27 and older may enter either Open or Masters events. You may not row for a sick or absent person. If you do so, you will be disqualified. Masters handicaps will be determined for ages 27 and above according to US Rowing formulas.

Awards

Awards are given to the top two finishers (or team members in the case of multi-person events) in each event.

For the Master's 2k Events, medals will be giving for the following age categories: Master's A (27-35), Master's B (36-49), Master's C (50-59), Master's D (60+)

Plaques will be awarded to Super Rower winners.

Cancellations/ Scratches

Due to scheduling limitations it is not possible to set a snow date. If the event is cancelled due to extreme weather we will post a notice on our website. Unfortunately we cannot offer refunds. No refunds will be granted for scratches after the registration deadline.

T-Shirts

The information on t-shirt sizes provided during online registration give us an estimate of the quantity to order. It is not a guarantee you will receive that size. We do our best to have sufficient quantities in all sizes.  Every rower who has paid the entry fee is entitled to one t-shirt. Extra t-shirts will be available for sale toward the end of the day.  The 2014 t-shirt will have the logo on it: 

 

 

 

 

 

Super Rower Challenge

 

We will have special events for individuals to participate in for a Super Rower Challenge.  Trophies will be awarded to the:

• Men's Masters Super Rower
• Women's Masters Super Rower
• Men's Open Super Rower
• Women's Open Super Rower
• Men's Junior Super Rower
• Women's Junior Super Rower

 

The winning Super Rowers will be determined based on the highest number of points earned in the special Super Rower events.  Timing of events will be announced closer to the date of the competition.  For each special event, points will be awarded as follows:

• Event winner for age/gender category:  5 points for each special event won
• Second place:  4 points for each second-place finish
• Third place:  3 points for each third-place finish in a special event
• Participation:  1 point for each special event participated in

 

The special Super Rower events will consist of:

 

Event	Description
Scullies	How many abdominal-burning scullies can you do in a minute?  Rowers will be evaluated on the number of complete scullies completed with full arm and leg extension.  Most completed wins!
Wall-sit	How long can you hold it?  Rowers will be evaluated on how long they can wall-sit.  Longest hold wins, but time limit is 3 minutes.  If more than one person reaches the 3-minute limit, everyone reaching 3 minutes gets 5 points.  Legs must be 90 degrees, back must be firmly against the wall, and hands overhead!
Jumpies or Squats	What is your jumping or squatting power, speed, and endurance?  Rowers will be evaluated on how many jumpies or squats they can complete in one minute.  Squats and jumpies will be evaluated separately, but in both cases legs must reach at least a 90 degree angle for the squat/ jumpy to count!
Single Scull Rigging	Imagine you're late for a race!  (I know--it would never happen...)  How quickly can you get those riggers on?  Starting with the riggers on the ground and the wrench in your hand, how quickly can you get those bolts off, riggers on, and bolts back on again?  Rowers will be evaluated based on the time it takes them to get the riggers on with the bolts tight enough to make the shell rowable.  Time limit to try is 3 minutes.  Shortest time wins!  Warning:  Compete at your own risk!  If you break our boat, even by over-tightening the bolts, then you are automaticall disqualified from the Super Rower Challenge!
Crazy Spandex	You know as a rower that you love spandex!  So, show us your crazy patterns and colors!  Rowers wearing fun-colored spandex (defined as NOT black or dark blue) get one point.  If your spandex has a pattern other than a stripe, you get one extra point!  (Note:  Since fashion is subjective, and since we all win when people wear fun clothes, there will be no first, second, or third place for this event.)
10 Strokes	How far could you row with just 10 strokes?  Rowers will have 45 seconds to take 10 strokes and will be evaluated on the distance that they go.  Damper may be on any setting.  Longest distance traveled in 10 strokes wins!
Arms-only for 250 meters	How strong are those arms?  Rowers will row 250 meters arms-only. This will also test the toughness of your abs because body position should be at the finish (legs straight, body back)!  Body position must be held still and only the arms used to pull the chain.  Shortest time to finish 250 meters wins!
1K Double on Slides	Sure you can row hard by yourself, but can you row together with someone else?  You can follow or stroke, but you need a buddy for this one!  (Single rowers can request or recruit a partner.)  Rowers will be evaluated on how quickly they (not the pair) complete the 1,000 meters.  Points will be awarded as follows:  anyone finishing under 4 minutes gets 5 points, times under 4:20 get 4 points, under 4:40 is 3 points, and 1 point for participating.
Bench Pulls	How strong is that body swing?  What will give out first, your arms or your back?  Rowers will be evaluated on how many bench pulls they can complete with a 45-pound bar in 30 seconds.  The highest number wins!  Rowers must complete a full bench pull from arms straight to bar touching the bottom of the high bench for a pull to be counted.  (Slamming the bar into the bench is not required!  Warning:  Breaking our bench will cause disqualification from the Super Rower Challenge!)

 

 

 

 

 

Race Floor Procedure

 

 

Warm Up Area

• Warm-up ergs are available before your event.
• Please allow competitors in earlier races to warm-up before you.
• 5-10 minutes before the scheduled race, rowers will be directed to the Race Floor.
• Pay attention to announcements made in the warm-up area.
• Log cards and heart rate monitors are NOT permitted.

Race Floor

• Alert officials to any health-related issues.
• Each erg is numbered.
• Go to your assigned erg.
• A Timer will check that the name on your wristband matches your assigned erg number.
• Log cards and heart rate monitors are NOT permitted.
• Each athlete is permitted one person only, standing behind them, for support on the Race Floor

Before The Start

• Get settled quickly.
• Adjustments are allowed to the foot stretchers and vent only.
• Vent may not be changed once the Race Official has started an event.
• Erg fans should not be moving at the start of the race.

Start

• Rowers will take the start command from the PM3 monitor on the Concept2 Erg. The visual commands will be "Sit ready", "Attention," "ROW." The clock starts with the "ROW" command and not after the handle is pulled. The Race Official will verbally announce "Sit ready", "Attention," "Row" as well.
• The Concept2 Venue Racing System will detect and alert a false start.
• Rowers who make more than one false start in a single event may be disqualified at the discretion of Race Officials.

During The Race

• If your erg becomes disconnected from the Concept2 Venue Racing System do not stop rowing. After about 10 seconds the PM3 monitor will display “KEEP ROWING” at the bottom of the screen. All data is retained on the PM3. Your time will be recorded on your race card and entered manually into the race system.
• If any other mechanical problem develops early during an event alert the Race Official or a Timer immediately. You will be moved to an unoccupied erg.
• If a problem develops late in the event, you will be rescheduled following an appropriate rest period.
• Remember that information on the PM3 monitor reflects times and positions for your section of ergs only. Your event may use more than one section and in that case your monitor does not reflect your place in the overall event. Row your hardest, best race.
• Rowers may be disqualified if the handle is allowed to slam the erg!
• Although not recommended, headphones may be worn during competition. They cannot interfere with the rower’s ability to hear instructions from the Race Official or Timers.

End of Race

• Alert the Race Official or a Timer immediately if you experience abnormal breathing or other health problems.
• Stay at your erg until instructed to leave.
• Under normal circumstances times are recorded automatically by the Concept2 Venue Racing System. However Timers may opt to record time manually as well. BE SURE YOUR TIME IS RECORDED CORRECTLY. The rower may be asked to initial to indicate that the recorded time is correct.

Relays

• All four rowers will compete on the same erg.
• Rowers must change rowers on the erg at the appropriate interval.
• Rowers are permitted a coach or erg holder.
• Rowers may be disqualified if the handle is allowed to slam the erg!

Protests

• Address any protests to the Race Official or Regatta Director immediately after your race.
• The Regatta Director will adjudicate the complaint following consultation with the Race Official
• Other complaints regarding the regatta should be addressed to the Regatta Director.

PM3 Monitor Display

When all rowers are at the sit ready position, the monitors will automatically begin the Start Sequence.  Adjustments to the display must be done before the Start Sequence is displayed.  Once the Start Sequence appears, it is not possible to adjust the monitor display.  (It is forbidden to change the drag factor once the race has begun.)