One of North America's Largest & Oldest Rowing Regattas Comes to Lake Elmo

Written by Kris Janisch

More than 500 athletes are expected to descend on the Lake Elmo Park Reserve next week for a North West International Rowing Association regatta.

The 110th annual event, set for 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 3-4, will decide the winner of the Sir Thomas Lipton Cup, with high school, college and club teams from the upper Midwest and Canada racing on a 2,000-meter course. Forty-nine other trophies will be awarded to winners of individual races.

The Minneapolis Rowing Club is hosting the event, at which rowers use boats called “shells,” made of lightweight carbon fiber and ranging from 27-60 feet long.

“Rowing has a long history in the Twin Cities,” Mark Johnson, president of the Minneapolis Rowing Club, said in a release. “Our club’s first regatta was on Independence Day in 1879 on Lake Calhoun in front of 5,000 spectators. We are honored once again to host this unique regatta, and hope that it attracts others to this graceful, elegant sport.”

The Lake Elmo Park Reserve’s boat launch will be closed to public use from Friday, Aug. 2, through Sunday, Aug. 4, for event, according to Washington County.

Rowing is one of the fastest growing collegiate sports in America, according to the release, and rowers attending this year’s regatta have medaled at national and international regattas.

No admission will be charged to watch the event. The Lake Elmo Park Reserve is located at 1515 Keats Ave. N.