Time Standards Announced for the World Rowing Indoor Championships

The second World Rowing Indoor Championships will take place on February 24, 2019, at California State University in Long Beach, California. The excitement is building as the race season kicks into gear. Visit our US and Canada and international race calendars to find an event near you. Although anyone can enter, Concept2 will fund athletes who meet certain time standards. 

In previous years, Concept2 ran a satellite regatta system, whereby up to four qualifiers from each satellite race in the US or Canada received funding towards attending the world championships. This year, we've decided to expand the program by offering a $400 USD travel stipend to anyone who meets or beats the 2000m time standard for their category at a Concept2-sanctioned event in the US and Canada who then goes on to compete at Long Beach. There are time standards for both able and para-rowers.

As well as a change in how funding works, there's a number of other new things to look forward to this year. The race is also the first ever USRowing Indoor National Championships, which means that USRowing will be awarding national championship medals to the top three US finishers in each of their events. There's also a slight change in age categories for this race. Unlike most indoor rowing races, as an official World Rowing event, it will use the same age classification as it does for their on-water world championships. Your age category will be based on what your age will be on December 31, 2019, not your age on the day of the race itself. We understand this year that means that some athletes will "age up" for the first year of this change and expect some exciting competition.

In addition, there are also slightly different age categories this year designed to even out performance with aging. Instead of 30-39 and 40-49, these are now broken down to 27-35, 36-42 and 43-49. The 80+ categories are also a bit different, and now run as 80-82, 83-85, 86-88 and 89+. These age groups will be familiar to masters on water competitors who race in categories "A" through "M" in regattas. Competitors on water can now represent their similar age groups indoors.

The entire day promises to be a feast of indoor rowing. As well as the 2000m world championship races, there's also additional events that are part of the Long Beach Sprints, including 500m and team races for masters and juniors. While we're hoping the event will be broadcast live on the internet, the best seat in the house will also be the seat of an erg, so if you're thinking of taking part, registration is now open. If you have any questions, please contact us at indoorracing@concept2.com, and we hope to see you in Long Beach!