My Weekend Competing for the University of Calgary Dinos

By: Ellie Deane

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A wrap up on my weekend competing for the University of Calgary Dinos at Canadian University Rowing Championships in Montreal, Quebec. Thursday morning was an early flight from YYC – YUL arriving early afternoon, driving straight to the course to rig boats and a quick row to see the course, all in the rain and wind. Unfortunately, Montreal was in the edge of the weather system that hit the likes of Jamaica and Cuba mid last week meaning we had quite a lot of rain and wind for most of the trip. Most of Friday was spent at the course, with 1 row in the morning, a quick trip back to the hotel to warm up and have some lunch before 2 rows in the afternoon. Saturday was the first day of racing, a time trial format to determine the finals for Sunday. Coming in 10th we were through to the B final on Sunday, once again coming in 10th overall for Canadian Unis, 4th in the B final. Overall, it was an incredible experience and will definitely be a highlight of my time at UofC, getting to meet and race against some of the best university rowers in Canada, rowing at the Montreal Olympic Basin and getting to travel and see another city with some friends that I will have for a lifetime.

If you choose to do an exchange, I highly recommend reaching out to different clubs and sports teams at the University, no matter the level you want to train or compete at, you get to experience another way of doing things and it has really helped put into perspective how lucky we are at home as well as things I will change on my return.