The Head of the Charles
Jonathan Zelken M'07
On October 23 and 24, Boston will be alive in the spirit of sport and tradition. For forty years, the last weekend of October has attracted an upwards of thirty thousand spectators to the banks of the Charles. From novices to the world-class, most competitive rowers have at one point or another experienced The Race of the fall season in Boston. The race welcomes high school entries, club entries, university entries, and international entries; the victors are world champions in every right. Events include the single, the pair, the double, the quad, the four, and the eight; there are heavy and lightweight classes, different age classes, and races designed for the physically challenged. If you've never seen the race, or heard of it, I strongly urge you to check it out. New York Athletic Club single sculler and national champion Geoffrey Hoffman feels it is the electricity of community spirit that makes the event so memorable, "everyone shows up and the whole waterfront is lined with people; it's pretty rare, especially in a sport like rowing, to experience that kind of energy." Mr Hoffman will be rowing in the Men's Championship Single at the Charles. At the time of writing, this author is planning on rowing for Cornell's BMA Boat Club Alumni 8. Barring any acute arthritic hip attacks or recalcitrant back pain, I will row with 7 other Cornell alumni and one other Tufts Medical Student (Jordan Siegel M '08, CU '01), in the pursuit of gold. Last year we came close, 7th out of 53 eights; this year we only invited recent graduates who were in the first Varsity for the majority of their rowing careers. I think we have a good chance at medalling, and would be an unreal feeling to win. Another Tufts medical student, Samantha Minc M '06 rowed for Riverside Boat club last fall and may do so again this year. For more information, please contact me at:
or visit the website:
www.hocr.org