Row, row, row your boat

{image source: riversportokc.org}

Think Oklahoma City is just a boring, small town with nothing to do? Think again! Who would have thought that a city in the heart of the nation is one of the world’s premier locations for rowing, canoeing and kayaking? And it happens to be home base for several world-class athletes training to compete in the Olympics. Really, how many cities have a Boathouse District? Currently, Oklahoma City boasts two multi-million dollar boathouse facilities, and there are future plans for construction of two additional boathouses, a finish line tower, a whitewater rafting and kayak center, and a race venue that includes grandstands, state-of-the-art race course infrastructure, a 2000m wind screen, permanent lighting for night racing and stadium-sized jumbotron screens. Even if you're not training for the Olympics or haven't even set foot on a boat, there are still plenty of opportunities to learn how to row or kayak alongside the elite. 

One of these opportunities is the Corporate Rowing League, which happens to be my newest challenge! That's right, my work has a rowing team, and I decided...why not join this season. Tonight was the first meeting and orientation for this season, so I toured the boathouse facilities, learned important safety tips and am now excited to begin this adventurous new endeavor.