For anyone looking to build the sport of Coastal rowing, Liteboats are a great way to go! Jim, our dealer in Florida, shares his thoughts on Liteboat answers to beach sprints rowers and the development of this sport.
“In 2019, we decided to assemble a matched fleet of Liteboat LiteRace rowing shells to promote the growth of Coastal Rowing and Racing in the United States. The fleet comprises four LiteRace 1X, four LiteRace 2X, and two LiteRace 4X. Since then, we have conducted numerous demonstrations, training sessions, and races utilizing the fleet of LiteBoats.
When COVID restrictions were lifted, we hosted the first official USRowing race. Since then, we have been contracted to hold USRowing Beach Sprint Trials in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. These trials are used to select US athletes for international competitions and the World Rowing Coastal Championships. Each event has grown bigger, and this year’s trials had 56 entries. A three-day event was held at the end of June for Juniors and Adults. While everyone was ultimately there to win, the Coastal spirit was on full display as information and help were shared, old friends reunited, and new friends were made. In the end, every team and athlete was cheered on as they gave their best efforts.
With the announcement of Coastal Rowing Beach Sprints being added to the 2028 Olympics, we have seen a significant increase in interest for both training and racing at our location. Virtually every current US Coastal Rower has trained or raced here in Sarasota. Several of the top US athletes took their very first strokes in a Coastal Boat with us. Many rowers return to Sarasota to continue training with us and our equipment to improve their skills. We received many positive comments about the quality and capabilities of the Liteboats. The boats have been rowed hard in every condition suitable for Beach Sprint Racing, and we have not had a notable failure. This is the best proof of an excellent design and well-built boat. The reputation of the boats is also helping promote sales, as we are seeing more interest from athletes, coaches, and clubs wanting to engage in the sport.
For anyone looking to build the sport of Coastal rowing, Liteboats are a great way to go. All you need is one boat and a stopwatch to get started. The Beach Sprint format is fast, fun, and highly entertaining for everyone. It requires minimal equipment, is easily watched by spectators, and is safe to operate. It can also be modified as needed to run drills at different locations for fun and demonstrations. When not racing, the boats are excellent for other rowing activities, such as learn-to-row and leisure rowing.
Here is a quick explanation of Beach Sprints produced by World Rowing: https://youtu.be/mNurHtr_ihc?si=chxRfzEe3GmH8Pxb
We are encouraged to see the excitement and new awareness that Beach Sprint Racing is bringing to grow the rowing community.”
Jim Henderson – Liteboat dealer in Sarasota, Florida
