The Fall Race
The Head of the Hooch Regatta, or, as it is often called, Hooch is a popular fall race in the rowing community. Teams from all around the country come to Chattanooga, Tennessee to stand a chance to participate in the competition each year. Every rower is looking forward to this fun and exciting event, hoping to make long lasting memories along the way. The local rowers on the Orlando Area Rowing Society (OARS) team are always excited for this event. This is true for twin sisters Maija and Anna Andert, juniors at Olympia, who have been on the team since eighth grade and have previously attended Hooch. They are planning on going again this fall.
Yearly Traditions
Every year there are more opportunities to reach new milestones and make meaningful connections. As A. Andert said, “Some ways to make this experience memorable is to honestly just have fun with it.” Many teams go the extra mile and order team shirts for everyone to wear, fostering a sense of community on and off the boat. Since Hooch is much lengthier than the other races, a 5k course in total, compared to the 1.5-2k courses for the spring, it is important to not put too much pressure on yourself. In this case, preparing mentally and physically is crucial. Teams start practicing 5 days a week in preparation for the Hooch, building both strength and endurance in anticipation for the longer course.
Competition Prep
Teams adapt to the enduring course by lowering their rate, the amount of times they move the handles back and forth, each time they race, allowing for better results. A. Andert said, “to tackle them best you usually go about 2-6 strokes per minute, lower than your usual sprint race average speed.” This builds up stamina, preparing the rowers to perform to their best ability, as the race approaches. According to M. Andert, “We put in a lot of extra work and extra meters before Hooch, so we can make it down the course with a good time.” In addition to regular practices, there are two races prior to the big one, the Head of Henderson and the First Coast Head race, that are 4.5-5k meters long. These two courses are very well regarded among rowers, since they provide a preview of what Hooch might bring. The main difference between these head races is the way they begin, with each boat starting 20 seconds after the one before them.
The line up of each boat, or the distribution of responsibilities between the rowers on one vessel, is usually arranged by the coaches. They decide who works best in each position, basing their judgement on the rowers’ performances at practice. This step is crucial since the correct placement of the rowers on the boat can sometimes be the deciding factor between first and last place. Although, sometimes there is a tough competition for a certain position on the vessel, every participant has enough opportunities to practice, improve their skills, and prove to the coaches that they are worth the spot they hope to get.
Overall, Hooch is a challenging but rewarding race that many rowers look forward to from one year to another. Aside from the competitive, yet supportive spirit of the competition, the combination of a gorgeous view and the cozy weather of the fall makes all of the hard work done in preparation for the race completely worth it.
