Sociogenesis of Rowing

Rowing is one of the oldest and most traditional sports. It first became popular in ancient Rome, Greece, Egypt and many other empires where rowing served as a means of transportation during both war and peace times. It didn't take long for people to start using rowing as a means of competition and racing. Rowing then developed in England where official races were organized on the Thames River. The first documentation of these events goes as far back at 1716. The first official race between two 8's was between Oxford and Cambridge in 1829. This marks the date of the beginning of rowing as an official sport. Rowing was an Olympic sport in the first Olympic Games in Athens, Greece in 1839.

Formal competitions have made rowing increasingly popular, namely the ability to watch the exhilarating sport in the Olympics. The sport has reached every corner of the world. In the 2012 Summer Olympics, some countries represented in rowing include Uzbekistan, Russia, Peru, Romania, Japan, and Iran. A similar race to the Oxford/Cambridge race has since ensued in the United States between Harvard and Yale.

Races used to be much more simple. Line up the boats in what seemed like an even starting point, and see who gets to Point B the fastest. However as rowing has grown and expanded, so have it's rules and competitiveness. Boats now line up in stake boats to ensure an exactly even start. I have raced on courses that are completely lined with buoy's every meters. This not only que's the competitor into exactly how far into their race they are, but also ensures a more straight course. Timing is also much more efficient now than it used to be, with picture reviews of photofinishes. I placed first by .002 at the Canadian Henley -- if that race was 100 years ago it would have been a tie!

Technology has also greatly improved rowing equiptment. Boats and oars are extremely high-tech and lightweight. Instead of wood, they are now made out of the strongest and lightest carbon-fiber and other innovative materials. People used to wear much more baggy clothes while rowing, but now competitors wear tight, aerodynamic spandex and race in uni's (one piece spandex uniform).

Although rowing has come so far and reached so many places in the world, I think because the sport is so expensive a lot of people are missing out on it. For example, a new Vespoli 8 would cost upwards of 30,000. That is not including oars, riggers, tracks, seats, footstretchers, shoes, fasteners, etc. Teams also often have to travel far to races which gets expensive. Therefore I think the biggest challenge rowing is facing is that it is almost exclusive to the middle and upper class. The sport could become so much more popular, but we would have to find a way for more people to be able to participate.