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SALT LAKE CITY — In the last several years, an unusual body of water in Salt Lake City has become a venue for a sport you might not have known is even done here in Utah.
A team called Utah Crew is a nonprofit rowing club.
"It is quite a bit of work. I think what I like about it, it's got a great team aspect," said Utah Crew team member Pavel Asparouhov. "I feel like there is no other bond that is closer than the one that you have with the people in your boat.
You may be wondering where in Salt Lake City you can find a body of water that's straight enough — and long enough — for a crew. Welcome to the Jordan River Surplus Canal. It was designed for irrigation and flood control, not rowing.
It takes off from the Jordan River around 2100 South and heads more or less northwest to the marshes of the Great Salt Lake. Unfortunately, bridges over the canal limit how far the crews can row.
"Race courses are two kilometers. You want to train over a course of about 5 kilometers. We've got 1.8," Asparouhov said.
Many Utah rowers have their sights set on college — perhaps at an Ivy League school — where having "crew" on your resume' might be helpful.
"Individual performance is important. But it's a very team-heavy sport," said Utah Crew team member Stefan Jovanovic-Hacon. "There's a lot of skill involved, yet you have to be strong and you have to continue practicing."
Race courses are two kilometers. You want to train over a course of about 5 kilometers. We've got 1.8.
–Utah Crew team member Pavel Asparouhov
Another team that works out in the canal is from the Waterford School, who placed fourth in a national competition earlier this year.
In some ways, the canal is great for the sport. It's so narrow that even on windy days, the water stays pretty smooth. And spectators can get right up next to the action. But as far as facilities go, it's not so great.
Utah Crew has to work out on their rowing machines in a parking lot. That's possible thanks to the generosity of the Nickerson Company. Nickerson also allows them to store boats outside, in a company yard. That means they have to carry their boats a couple of hundred yards across a busy street every time they're ready for a work out. Outdoor storage also means the shells are often exposed to winter ice and summer sun.
"Just today we had a rib on one of our boats crack, and that's probably because of the constant exposure to sunlight, which destroys the boats," said Utah Crew head coach Nelson Mills.
They had been hoping there might be money to build a boathouse if Salt Lake City voters approve a recreation bond that was proposed earlier this year by Mayor Ralph Becker. But the mayor and City Council recently decided to back off and not put it on the ballot this year.
"Definitely disappointing, but we do know — I have talked to people, and they tell us — it's a real possibility next year," Mills said.
For now, they have to make do with what they have.
"It could be better. But it's definitely, it's a good place to practice," said rower Sadie Gowans. "I mean, it's the best we have and it's worth it, to come every day."
There's a long-term worry that the Nickerson Company will end its generosity and reclaim its own storage space. Utah Crew is hoping a foundation or private contributors will see the value in funding better facilities. That might open up rowing to the community so the public at large can give crew a try.
"More people means more funding as well," Jovanovic-Hacon said. "I definitely think it could get bigger and it should get bigger."
Besides Utah Crew and the Waterford crew, there are two more in Utah: the Park City Rowing Academy works out on Jordanelle Reservoir and Great Salt Lake Rowing works out of the marina at Saltair.
