An epic battle between Barrett North and Sam Parish at the first annual IMIRF in 2008
By Martin Taylor
It’s official– Orcas Island Rowing Club (OIRA) is challenging Orcas Island and the rest of the world to show who is the fittest at their indoor rowing competition IMIRF (Island Madness Indoor Rowing Fest). Actually to win this contest you must be fit, physically strong and strong willed. It takes a lot of drive to maintain the kind of output necessary for long enough to win. Fortunately it takes little skill to use the rowing machines commonly know as “ergs”. Health clubs and gyms all over the world have rowing machines. They are the most efficient workout exercise. OIRA thinks they have the fittest individuals and the fittest team! Can you show them otherwise?
IMIRF is a contest to see who is the fastest on a rowing simulation machine. These machines are used by rowers as well as non rowers alike to get in shape. You will find one in most gyms these days. They are great machines for burning calories and staying or getting fit. The most common distance for erg competitions is 2km (2 kilometers). OIRA has held IMIRF annually for the last four years. It’s mostly been an internal event. But the event is open to all comers. Every individual, every sports team, club, health club, any group or individual of any kind is challenged to come compete at IMIRF. 2km on the erg takes between 6 and 10 minutes depending on the individual. To win this competition you have to be strong, fit and be able to drive yourself hard. The event was originally conceived by OIRA coach Craig Canine. It is modeled after the most prestigious and the original erg competition called “The Crash ‘B’s”. The “Crash B’s” are open to all who can meet the tough qualifying times over 2k. One of Orcas finest, Tina Brown, who is the head coach at OIRA won the women’s collegiate category at The Crash ‘B’s in 1988. If you compete in IMIRF you can compare your times to those of the best in the world in your category. How do you measure up?
Individuals and teams are encouraged to compete. There will be trophies in a number of categories including best man and woman overall, best junior boy and girl, best over 60 time for men and women. If any club, company, team or group wants to come as a team you are most welcome and the club will setup a team or teams to compete against you for best average time. Challenge the rowers for the best erg times. This event is a serious challenge, but it is well worth entering even if you only intend to mainatin a pace where you can keep smiling all the way through. Erging is good for you at any pace and OIRA is a fun group to be around.
Craig Canine, the man who brought the pain of IMIRF to Orcas
For information: www.orcasislandrowing.org, martin@orcasdigerati.com or 376-6935. Turn up at the Odd Fellows by noon on Saturday March 10th to compete or to watch. No pre-registration is required. There is no charge for entry although donations of $5 or more per entrant are encouraged to help cover the cost of the event and support the junior rowing club. No experience is required, but all contestants must be healthy and in good physical shape. Consult with your physician if you are in any doubt about your ability to do a hard physical workout.
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