Tentative information for U23 Trials - July 9-11, 2007

Please check back periodically for updates.

Thursday's Time Trial to meet the MPS will begin at 7:30 a.m. Weigh-in will be at 5:30 a.m.

Heat Sheets and Results (Provided by Powerhouse Timing)

2007 U23 Selection Procedures can be found here

Events: M4+, M4-, W4-, LM4x, M2x, W2x, LM2x, LW2x, M2-, W2-, LM2- M1x, W1x, LM1x, LW1x.

Racing will be conducted from the Finn M. W. Caspersen boathouse at Mercer Lake.

Lightweights

Lightweights will weigh-in no less than one hour and no more than two hours before their first race each day of competition.

FISA Rules Apply: Light Men Boat Avg. 70 kg, Individual athletes cannot weigh more than 72.5; Light Women Boat Avg. 57 kg, Individual athletes cannot weigh more than 59 kg. Male coxswains must weigh a minimum of 55 kg (121.25 lbs.) A coxswain may only carry a maximum of 10 kg (22.04 lbs.) dead weight to meet this minimum standard.

New Parking Rules

Trucks, large SUVs and boat trailers must park on the dirt access road behind the boathouse. Please be cautious as this area is marshland and vehicles may have difficulty navigating in the mud.

Compact vehicles must park in the lot as you come off Post Rd. and not in the gravel next to the boathouse. 

Emergency vehicles will need to have a clear path from the paved road all the way to the tree line behind the boathouse. Any vehicle not following the outlined parking rules will be towed at the owner’s expense. 

You will NOT be able to drive your car behind the boathouse in order to unload your equipment. Please walk your equipment from the designated parking zones to the boat storage area.

Boat Storage

All boats will be stored outside on the lawn next to or behind the national team bays (far side of the boathouse). Your boat will be moved if it is elsewhere. 

The first opportunity for U23 World Championship Trials participants to practice on Mercer Lake will be Saturday, July 7, 2007. Please follow the practice times listed below and check in with USRowing staff for practice traffic patterns and boat storage before arriving.

Practice Schedule

Saturday, July 7: Course will be open for practice from 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. and after 6:00 p.m.-Sunset. **Be cautious of pleasure boaters on Mercer Lake. Lake use is at an all-time high during the weekends in the summer**

Sunday, July 8: Course will be open for practice 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. **Be cautious of pleasure boaters on Mercer Lake. Lake use is at an all-time high during the weekends in the summer**

Monday: July 9: Course will be open for practice 9:00-11:00 a.m. and after PM racing (if no TT, practice will be 6:00-Sunset).

Tuesday: July 10: Course will be open for practice after AM racing -11:00 a.m. and after 6:00 p.m.-Sunset.

Wednesday: July 11: Course will be open for practice after AM racing-11:00 a.m.

There is no access to shower facilities at the Caspersen Boathouse. Restroom facilities will be available.

Entries due Wednesday, July 4, at Midnight EDT.

Mandatory athlete meeting will be held on Monday, July 9, at 4:00 p.m.

A representative of each boat will be required to attend and confirm their participation at the roll call during the athletes’ meeting. Any crew failing to have at least one representative present at the meeting is subject to disqualification.

Race Schedule (Tentative and Subject to Change)

The U23 Trials schedule will overlap with senior camps and junior camps. As such, U23 athletes should be prepared to have blind (no cox) boat traffic around them during warm-up and racing.

Adverse Weather Conditions Policy

5th place in the LW1x will be dropped in Monday’s Time Trial.

5th and 6th place in the LM1x will be dropped in Monday’s Time Trial

All other crews race Tuesday in Final 1 of their event, unless they are uncontested.

Uncontested crews will race Wednesday in a final.

Boats for U23 Trials will be weighed per FISA regulations. 1x: 14kg; 2x: 27kg; 2-: 27 kg; 4x: 52 kg

Trials Winners Information

All trials winners are required to propose a coach at the trials, who is required to travel with the crew for the length of the world championships, including roundtrip travel with the crew.

All athletes winning berths at the selection trials must submit, in conjunction with their intent to compete, a payment per athlete to cover the expenses of food, lodging and local transportation during the world championships. Proposed coaches of boats at the world championships must submit payment in the full amount at the end of trials as well. The cost per athlete and per coach will be $1,400 per person. This price does not include any airfare from the U.S. to Scotland. Those plans and expenses are left to the coach and athletes, however athletes and coaches making the trip will be advised by USRowing staff of which dates they should arrive/depart Scotland.

Boat logistics: All crews are responsible for securing competition equipment while in Scotland. USRowing will be able to provide contact information for international boat manufacturers.

Eligibility

U23 athletes must meet birthdate requirements of FISA. Athletes are not permitted to row at trials using national team blades or wearing past national team uniforms. Please plan accordingly. 

Registration Information

• Register online through RegattaCentral at www.RegattaCentral.com 
• Entry Fee: $25 per person
• Registration deadline: Wednesday, July 4, 2007, at MIDNIGHT (EDT).
• USRowing membership is required: visit www.USRowing.org to renew or join.
• U23 National Team Trials are open to all club and unaffiliated athletes.
• There is no opportunity to double between events.

Directions to Mercer Lake and the Caspersen Olympic Rowing Center

From Route 1 North or South

• Take the Alexander Road Exit (east) off of Route 1 towards the Princeton Junction Train Station
• Alexander Road dead-ends at North Post Road
• Make a right hand turn on to North Post Road
• Proceed through two stoplights
• Stay on Post Road past the Conover Fields and the Mercer Oaks Golf Club. This road will take you right to the boathouse
• After these fields, there will be a 'road closed' sign at the entrance to the park, on the boathouse side of the lake.
• Ignore this sign and head straight down the access road; the boathouse will be on your left as you reach lake. 

From North on Route 206

• Route 206 into Princeton
• Left at traffic light by Borough Municipal Building onto Nassau Street 
• Go three traffic lights to Washington Road
• Washington Road to U.S. Route 1 South
• Use directions for "From North and South via U.S. 1" 

From Hightstown (Route 30)

• Take Route 30 south and turn right at the Church Road traffic lights
• Stay on Church Road and Cross Old Trenton Road
• The next light will be Village Road . Make a left onto Village Road
• The next light will be Post Road . Make a left onto Post Road
• Follow the directions for "From Route 1 North or South" to the boathouse

From Allentown (Route 130)

• Take Route 130 north and turn left at the Church Road traffic lights
• Stay on Church Road and cross Old Trenton Road .
• The next light will be Village Road . Make a left onto Village Road
• The next light will be Post Road . Make a left onto Post Road
• Follow the directions for "From Route 1 North or South" to the boathouse 

Accommodation Options in Princeton

• Holiday Inn: 609-520-1200
• Red Roof Inn: 609-896-3388
• Best Western: 609-452-2500
• Comfort Inn: 732-297-7400

All competitors are guests of the Finn M. W. Caspersen boathouse.  Please be courteous to your fellow competitors and year-round tenants of the facility.