Rowing Away The Barriers

The Arkansas River is hosting a big party this Labor Day weekend. This is the first time the waterway has welcomed competitive rowing since the early half of the 20th century. The Six Bridges Regatta starts Saturday morning with the boat races lasting until late afternoon.

Lawrence Finn is a member of the board of directors for the Arkansas Boathouse, which is sponsoring the Six Bridges Regatta. He says, “Rowing is a very intensive workout. It’s a full body workout. It affords outdoor recreational opportunities on the water, which a lot of people aren’t accustomed to. And, the beauty of the sport here in central Arkansas is the beauty we have in the skyline and the opportunity to get that type of full, intensive workout while you actually see such beautiful scenery.” The sport of rowing is most often associated with East coast wealth, Ivy League degrees, and a tradition reserved for the elite. But, there is a handful of racially diverse rowers eager to introduce the sport to new faces. Dwayne Adams is one of them. “The last time I competed which was in 2004 in Spain, I was the only person of color participating. If I’m not mistaken, that was an Olympic year, and you didn’t have all of your athletes there,” Adams recalls. Adams, who is African American, started rowing after an accident in 1998 robbed him of his vision. As part of his rehabilitation, he learned the sport. He remembers, “I wanted to gain weight, venture outside on my own, and start rowing. I had my first race nine months after my accident.” Years later, Adams is teaching inner city children in his hometown of Philadelphia about rowing through the non-profit he founded, Breaking Barriers Rowing Education.  He believes rowing offers numerous benefits. “Rowing can take care of obesity and some of the violence by teaching discipline. In the sport of rowing, when one person speaks, the others listen. When you’re rowing together, it’s discipline and teamwork.” The 52 year-old introduces his new recruits to the sport by first taking them to an indoor facility where they train on rowing machines. The goal is to build physical strength and make sure they know how to swim, a skill that prevents many African American children from participating. “Well, family members don’t swim, and it trickles down to them. City pools are open, but the kids in the pool are splashing.” The organizers of the Six Bridges Regatta are aware of the lack of diversity in the sport. Finn says, “There is no race, six, or gender that is specific to this sport. This sport is inviting to those who actually want to get a great workout.” The Arkansas rowing team trains at the Arkansas Boathouse located on the North Little Rock side of the river. Athletes from Texas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Florida are competing in the inaugural Six Bridges Regatta. Finn hopes it’s the first of many regattas, and Adams is interested in bringing his program to Arkansas to train children to compete in a sport many may have never considered.