- April 23, 2024
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There’s a unique camaraderie with the Halifax Rowing Association.
Along with giving away Halifax Rowing t-shirts at the event, volunteers delivered smiles to fellow rowers and onlookers on Saturday at the Halifax River near Daytona Beach.
“We have a great group of members and the camaraderie between all of us is fantastic,” said Bonnie Bird, member of the Halifax Rowing Association.
The Halifax Rowing Association hosted its 21st Annual Summer Regatta this weekend to help raise funds for the club and build the area’s rowing community.
Approximately 500 rowers from 31 teams participated in 332 events during the 2-day event. Some teams came from as far as New Orleans and the club proved that they can put on an exceptional event.
Since starting the club in 1994, the association built its very own boathouse in 1996, which now houses all of the different boats for Halifax’s different teams. In order to pay for the boats, these summer regattas are increasingly necessary and the dues for the club become essential.
Some of the boats can cost up to $60,000.
“We’re trying to get out into the community and talk about the sport and its health benefits,” club president Sami Bay said. “We put on these events to pay for the equipment we use, and we want to continue to raise awareness because it’s a sport that has really changed the lives for me and my family.”
Halifax has a hard time garnering attention to its program due to the area not being a hotbed for rowing.
In bigger cities like Orlando, Jacksonville and Miami, rowing programs are considered high school sports.
Since that’s not the case in Ormond Beach or Daytona Beach, the club is working hard to get the word out and to remind people how much talent is in their boats.
“The big thing for me and for us is to get the high schools on board,” said Laura Leffler, member of the Halifax Rowing Association. “In Orlando, Jacksonville, Miami and elsewhere it’s a high school sport and here we can’t get recognized as a high school sport. We’re only considered a water sport around here.”
If the high schools don’t respond, there’s solace in knowing the community has been for years.
The association is best known for having rowers come very early in the morning, usually around 5:30, to get their exercise for the day before work or school. It’s routine for the rowers, and it’s an exercise that’s good for the body and the mind.
“My favorite part is the exercise,” Bird said. “You’re completely sitting down in a boat and you’re getting a full body and mind workout. To me, that is the best part of rowing.”
