First ever Surf-Boat rowing challenge on Sunday at Mt. Lavinia Beach

The first ever Surf-Boat rowing challenge in Sri Lanka will take place on 28 April at Mt. Lavinia Beach. A sport that is massively popular in countries like Australia and New Zealand, although unheard of in Sri Lanka, is likely to sweep spectators off their feet if they come over to witness the inaugural event.

Described as ‘one of the most visually spectacular sporting disciplines’ in the world, it usually involves a crew of five persons; four, oarsmen (or women) and a ‘sweep’ who stands tall on the stern guiding the boat and crew trailing a long steering ‘sweep’ oar.

The crews stand in the surf waiting by their boats for the umpire’s whistle. Thereon, it’s an adrenaline rush as they jump into the boat and row outward to the ocean braving the surf to reach the buoys typically 400 m out from shore, from which they will turn back and make their way hoping to be the first to reach shore, a team member dashing from the beaching boat to be the first to reach the winning post.

Although on paper it sounds simple, one must not forget that in contrast to a typical rowing stint, there are the waves to battle as well and depending on the conditions even the elaborately trained might find it difficult to tackle. In fact, the reason why the sport is regarded as highly entertaining is because on some occasions the boats are seen tipped on a wave with the chance of it toppling over tipping its occupants straight into the water.

With the unpredictability of the sea, collisions between boats are also common. However, it rarely involves any danger and only adds to the thrills and the spills involved with Surfboat rowing. Teamwork, technique and timing with strength being secondary determine the success of a team.

Surfboat rowing was introduced to Sri Lanka by Indian Ocean Marine Affairs Cooperation (IOMAC) in 2012. Some brave rowers were encouraged to take to the waves to try out this exciting sport for the first time in Sri Lanka. After the success of this preliminary training and orientation effort by popular rowing Coach Hiran Doranegama at Mt. Lavinia beach, IOMAC and the newly formed Surfboat association thought it appropriate to hold the first ever challenge this year which will encourage this sport at school level by giving way for Royal and St. Thomas’ rowing teams to take the lead.

Both principals of the two leading schools Warden Prof. Indra de Soysa and Upali Gunasekara of Royal have extended their whole-hearted support and encouragement to launch what may well become another area of healthy competition between their schools that may endure for 100 years and more as with cricket and rugby.

Colombo Rowing Club Captain Maheel Gamage and Mahima Weerasinghe who are organising this event, said that they hoped that there will be several teams, even one consisting of old boys from both the rival schools competing against each other.

Teams from the Universities of Moratuwa and Colombo as well as a likely competition between the forces and a power boat race with participants from the fishing community are also on the agenda. The event is to take place at Mt. Lavinia Beach near the Belize Restaurant and will kick off early around 7:00 a.m.

IOMAC is partly hosting the event with the newly formed Surfboat Association and Secretary General of IOMAC Dr. Hiran Jayewardene says the reason why he wanted IOMAC to be a part of this event was to popularise ocean-related activities and sports. He said that “Even though we are an island nation we still don’t have a beach culture such as those seen in other coastal nations like Australia. IOMAC’s mandate comprises international cooperation in marine affairs related to the Indian Ocean and in its broader mandate includes promotion of development of recreation and tourism in the marine sector.”

Jayewardene also added: “With this is in mind IOMAC as well as the Surfboat Association hopes to take the sport further to the masses by organising similar events in venues such as Negombo, Trincomalee , Arugambay and Weligama. An international event is also a possibility in the future: To include teams from countries such as those from Australia and South Africa, thus attracting sporting enthusiasts from other parts of the world which will be a boost to the country’s tourism sector too, in the long run.”

A practice session will be held on 27 April at Mt. Lavinia Beach. All are welcome to be a part of the adventure. For more information visit the facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SurfRowingSL or contact the management on [email protected] and call on 0777 726 525 or 0775 254 159.