‘A celebration of rowing’

By Lyndsie Kiebert
Reader Staff

Patricia Sudick is a longtime rower who noticed that something was missing on the tranquil autumn waters of the Pend Oreille River.

When Sudick moved to Priest River and “witnessed the fall waters with little boating activity,” she resolved to see boats — specifically rowing shells — on the water. In 2011, she got Gonzaga University rowers to commit to participating in a regatta in Priest River. When a Washington State University women’s rowing crew signed on, the Head of the Pend Oreille Regatta was born. 

Put on by the Pend Oreille Rowing and Paddling Association, the ninth annual regatta takes place Friday, Sept. 27-Sunday, Sept. 29 and consists of two categories: a 1,700-meter head race and a 1,000-meter stake race, open to sweep and sculling youth, collegiate, master and para-rowers with a no-fee entry registration. 

A rowing team participates in the
2011 regatta. Courtesy photo.

Participating rowing clubs from all over the Northwest and Canada will gather at The Mudhole, a recreational park and campground located in Priest River, and the action kicks off Friday afternoon with a practice session.

Sudick said entrants have typically been drawn from within about 100 miles of Priest River, but that has changed in recent years with rowers coming from a much larger regional pool.

“It has only been in the past three years that we have started to have West Coast rowers,” she said. “This seems to be a growing trend.”

Official regatta competition begins Saturday, Sept. 28, when spectators will get the chance to see the various teams preparing their boats for the day.

“It’s quite a spectacle to witness coxswains and coaches direct teams while they unload and maneuver 62-foot racing shells,” organizers wrote in a statement.

Several different classes of racing will occur throughout the day, wrapping up with a medal ceremony and locally-prepared barbeque meal. Rowers are invited to stick around Sunday, Sept. 29, and take advantage of the calm fall waters of the Pend Oreille River.

Sudick said that the Head of the Pend Oreille Regatta is the only rowing regatta in Idaho. She noted that there are two fall regattas in eastern Washington — the Head of the Spokane and the Head of the Snake. Though it’s not a traditional regatta, she said there’s a rowing sprint competition during the summer in Coeur d’Alene.

At its core, the Head of the Pend Oreille Regatta is meant to shine a light on the growing sport of recreational rowing.

“[It’s] a celebration of rowing with friendly competition,” Sudick said.

For more information on the regatta, contact [email protected], visit porpa.org or find Pend Oreille Rowing and Paddling Association on Facebook.