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Aspiring rowers attend event
The Steel City Rowing Club on James Street participated in the nationwide program designed to introduce people of all ages to the sport of rowing.
The nonprofit organization opened its doors on Saturday to offer Valley residents hands-on rowing lessons, demonstrations and on-the-water instruction.
"Rowing is a great way to teach cooperation, discipline and trust," said the club's executive director Dori Tompa, 36, a graduate of Franklin Regional High School and Carnegie Mellon University.
Tompa competed in the 1996 U.S. Olympic rowing trials in Atlanta and is a five-time United States Champion.
She is married to Ladislau Tompa, a seven-time Romanian national rowing champion during the 1980s.
Those who braved the steady drizzle on Saturday to grab an oar and don a life jacket with the Tompas had the opportunity to try rowing, as well as dragon boating.
Originating in ancient China, dragon boats are long, elaborate canoes decorated with a dragon head and tail. They seat 22 people including 20 paddlers, a steersperson and a drummer, who sets the pace.
"When I first picked up one of these oars, it was pretty heavy," said 9-year-old Joshua Hrynda of Penn Hills who attends the St. Irenaeus School in Oakmont.
But Hyrnda said his experience swinging a baseball bat prepared his young muscles well for paddling the dragon boat.
"It was a little scary at first," Hyrnda said. "But then it just got really fun."
A Boy Scout troop from Ford City also made the journey to Verona on Saturday for a chance to get out on the river.
Boy Scout Matthew George, 14, of Ford City, and his sister Nicole, also 14, walked up the boat ramp dripping with water from head to toe.
"At least they didn't tip the boat over," Melody George said, as she greeted her sopping wet children.
"I'm hoping they really like (rowing) a lot," George said. "It is one way for the kids to be outside and get some exercise."
A number of members of the Steel City Rowing Club were on hand to teach the new rowers some basic techniques.
"A lot of people don't realize what rowing is," said National Learn-to-Row Day volunteer Karen Cornell, 19, of Pittsburgh, who rows competitively for Rutgers University in New Jersey. "It's different from kayaking or canoeing because you use your legs, too."
Cornell said she loves the feeling of being in motion on the water and the strong sense of camaraderie among rowers.
"Rowers are good friends from the start because we share suffering," joked Cornell's friend and fellow SCRC member Meghan Gabb.
Twice per day, Gabb, 17, makes the 45-minute drive from her home in Sewickley to Verona to row.
"I was playing basketball when I first tried rowing," Gabb said. "Right away, I was like 'forget basketball!'"
Gabb and Cornell said they hope National Learn-to-Row Day introduced a whole new generation of rowers to their favorite sport.
But for the young rowing newcomers, Saturday boiled down to something a little simpler.
"It was just a ride," said Richard Smail, 11, of Ford City, with an ear-to-ear grin.
To learn more
For more information about the Steel City Rowing Club, call 412-828-5565.
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