 "Photo: Mark Mulligan")
After traveling to Boston last weekend for one of the world's most competitive regattas, the Longhorn rowing team is looking forward to some friendlier competition back home.
Saturday, Texas will compete in the Pumpkin Head of the Colorado Regatta, a Halloween-themed annual regatta on Austin's Town Lake. The Austin Rowing Club sponsors the event and estimates that more than 300 boats from 25 high schools, colleges and private rowing clubs will participate in the regatta's 52 races.
Rowers and spectators often dress up in Halloween costumes during the Pumpkin Head, creating a festive atmosphere. Austin Rowing Club officials give out prizes for the best costumes during the awards ceremony Saturday night.
"This one is definitely holiday-oriented," sophomore Megan Lenard said. "People dress up. It gets you in the spirit for Halloween."
The Pumpkin Head's 5,000-meter course begins just east of the Congress Avenue bridge near the Four Seasons Hotel and continues under I-35 along the south shore of Town Lake, before looping aroundRed Bud Island in front of Longhorn Dam.
Crews then head west along Town Lake's north shore before crossing the finish line in front of Walter Beach across the river from Joe's Crab Shack. The Congress Avenue and I-35 bridges and Festival Beach are prime vantage points for spectators.
"Our course is unique in that you can see both the start and the finish," said Jennifer de Haas, the Austin Rowing Club's juniors head coach. "There's plenty of time to see the boats start and then walk down to the finish, so it's great for spectators."
The course is also unique because of the 180-degree turn at the island at Longhorn Dam. Since familiarity and practice make turns easier to navigate, the layout of the course favors the home team.
"We know the course," said Penny Cochrane, who will row in a varsity eight boat. "Especially this one, with the turn, we'll definitely have an advantage."
Varsity rowers look to capitalize on their home-lake advantage in the women's open four, women's open pair, women's open single, women's open eight and women's open double.
But the fact they're rowing at home won't help them against some of their toughest competition. Texas has multiple boats entered in all five varsity races, and the last thing they want to do is take it easy on each other.
"A lot of [this weekend] is intrasquad rivalry to see which pair will be fastest, which single, which eight," head coach Carie Graves said. "It's fast and festive."
The Pumpkin Head also marks the Texas novice rowing team's debut. This is the first competitive race for most team members, but they aren't letting inexperience stand in the way of confidence.
"Damn good," freshman Alana Sitterly responded when asked how she and her novice teammates would perform on Saturday. "Can I say that? We're going to do real well."
ROWING Head of the colorado WHEN: Saturday WHERE: Town Lake INTERNET: www.texassports.com NOTE: Beware of costumed rowers competing.
Be the first to comment on this article!