THE SPORT OF ROWING “People’s rowing was included in school and university physical education programs. It was introduced to army, police and factory workers and was included as part of obligatory Soviet GTO3048 physical testing system. This system was instituted by government in 1934 for physical training of the population. “These boats were available in boathouses, parks, beaches, etc. Any citizen could rent for a small payment such boat and have recreational rowing. “Also, many competitions were held for these boats all over the country from ‘30s to ‘80s, from local level at clubs, universities, schools, factories, army divisions up to USSR National Championship. Racing rules were similar to classical rowing, and races were run at various distances depending on the course. “In addition, these boats were for beginners’ initial sculling training in any boat club. I began in such a boat. The same for rowing, kayaking and canoeing novices. And they were used as off-season fitness training for competitive kayakers, canoeists, swimmers, wrestlers, cross country skiers, skaters, different athletics, etc. “As a preparatory stage to top level of rowing, Olympic Champion classical Aleksandr Berkutov3049 was USSR Champion in this boat. Also first Soviet World Canoeing Champion Gennadii Bukharin. In 1951, first USSR Canoeing Team squad to compete in Olympics was entirely selected for Helsinki from the best Soviet people’s rowing athletes. “Also we used such boats for USSR Blind Rowing Program in Ukraine (coxed- doubles only).3050 3048 GTO was Russian abbreviation for: ‘Ready To Work And Defend!’ 3049 1956 Olympic Doubles Champion 3050 “My own idea of a rowing program for the blind in 1962 and 1963 came from learning about this Soviet project. We used four-with shells at Lake Washington Rowing Club with Moscow Olympic Album, 1976 People’s Doubles in Moscow “Thanks to people’s rowing, from 1930s to 1950s, rowing became popular and fashionable even with scientists, writers, actors and government officials. sighted coxswains in Seattle and in Vancouver, and then it moved down to Oakland.” – Ted Nash, personal conversation, 2011 850
