For rowers who have been cramped inside on the ergometer all winter, the start of the season brings a welcome reality check.
Both the heavy and lightweight men's crew teams will be competing in their first events of the spring season this weekend at home and at Rutgers, respectively.
"In the fall, the guys were getting to know who I am and my methods," said coach Fred Honebein of the men's heavyweight team. "I think we're a different team from what we were in the fall."
The heavyweights will be rowing in four events against George Washington on Saturday. The Colonials will be trying to compete well enough to join the Eastern Sprints league, an addition that Honebein says will definitely "deepen the sport."
"Athletes develop. If we're to take them lightly, we're going to make some mistakes. We want to go as hard as we can," Honebein said.
The women's team will be heading back to the Schuylkill on Saturday to race against Georgetown, MIT and George Washington, looking to improve upon its last-place finish at last weekend's Connell Cup.
"We took a step back after last weekend," head coach Mike Lane of the women's team said. "This week we focused on getting our crews confident with each and every stroke. We went back to basics a little bit. Our expectations are pretty simple on Saturday: . to perform at our full potential."
The Quakers will be racing both in the morning and afternoon in preparation for Eastern Sprints in May, which will also feature some events at both times.
Though all the teams are optimistic about their spring starts, Honebein brought the weekend back down to earth.
"What I think, and what's reality, could be completely different."
The river is the only place to find out.
