USRowing Diversity Invitational Makes Waves in Rochester

August 26, 2012

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Rowers from all over the country were drawn to the Genesee River in Rochester, N.Y., on Saturday for the USRowing Diversity Invitational. The second annual event drew more than 125 rowers from more than a dozen cities from as far away as Phoenix. Sponsored by MVP Health Care, the City of Rochester and Rochester Gas & Electric Corporation, the event featured competition among USRowing's community outreach and America Rows Affiliate programs.

According to Lydia Boddie-Rice, founder of event host Cross Current Minority Rowing, the sport of rowing is underrepresented both economically and ethnically and her organization is out to change that by providing access to waterways and the opportunity to row competitively.

Cross Currents was successfully launched in 2006. Rochester has an active and growing rowing community and this first-of-its-kind program in upstate New York provides minorities with the equipment, resources and training to fully participate in this non-traditional, under-represented sport.

For rowers who traveled from out of town for the USRowing Diversity Invitational, airfare as well as lodging was provided at no cost.

“Rowing is only the beginning of a path to a better lifestyle,” USRowing Inclusion Manager Richard Butler told the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. “We’re able to take youth who may not have had college on their radar and say, ‘Hey I can get into college with rowing. It’s a total lifestyle change.”

On Friday, rowers went on a tour of the Rochester Institute of Technology and the University of Rochester, the first college tour for many students.

Launched in February 2010, America Rows, a nationwide diversity and inclusion initiative, is aimed at increasing awareness of rowing and introducing the sport to a diverse group of Americans. The initiative will provide support, both organizationally and financially, to existing and planned programs across the country.

“The USRowing Diversity Invitational was created to showcase the diverse richness of USRowing's athletes," said Butler. "These adult and youth athletes represent the physical, racial, ethnic and economically underrepresented populations who embody a low percentage of USRowing memberships.”

View photos of the event at www.ccminorityrowing.com. For more information about America Rows, visit www.usrowing.org.

About Cross Currents Minority Rowing
Successfully launched in 2006 in Rochester, New York to provide minority residents with the opportunity to participate in water-related activities, focused on rowing. Rochester has an active and growing rowing community and this first-of-its-kind program in upstate New York, and quite possibly New York State, provides minorities with the equipment, resources and training to fully participate in this non-traditional, under-represented sport.

About USRowing
USRowing is a nonprofit organization recognized by the United States Olympic Committee as the governing body for the sport of rowing in the United States. USRowing’s official suppliers include Boathouse Sports, Vespoli, WinTech, Filippi, Croker Oars, Rudy Project, Concept2, Nielsen Kellerman, PowerHTV and Ludus Tours. USRowing also receives generous support from the National Rowing Foundation and its corporate sponsors and partners ANXeBusiness Corp, Voxer, EZ Dock, EMCVenues and The Perfect SNAQUE. For more information, visit www.usrowing.org. USRowing has created The Row to London to engage sponsors leading up to the 2012 Olympic Games, with proceeds going to help ensure the U.S. team’s success. Opportunities also exist to partner with America Rows – supporting diversity initiatives and adaptive programs. For more information, please contact Beth Kohl at beth@usrowing.org.

Allison Frederick

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