Crashing Valentines Day with records

Three World Records fell at the CRASH-Bs, the World Indoor Rowing Championships in Boston, USA. The Valentines Day erg regatta lived up to its reputation with athletes from plenty of nations fronting up to go as hard as they could over the 2,000m distance.

A number of current World Record holders were amongst the almost 2,000 competitors that came to take advantage of the unique racing conditions. Held at Boston University’s Agganis Arena, the event is played out on top of an ice hockey rink with extra rubbish bins accommodated for in case of racing over-exuberance.

Exuberantly pulling a personal best (but missing out on the World Record) was German junior Felix Bach. Organiser Linda Muri described the situation: “Bach caused the chain on his machine to form a loop and kink with his violent, front end lifting start. We let him start over again in the following heat.  His coaches prudently held down his erg till his rhythm lengthened out.  Turns out, he finished with a four second PB, 5:51.8. ‘Wicked fast’ as we say here in Boston.” 

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