Nevada’s First Collegiate Rowing Regatta Slated for Lake Las Vegas

The first collegiate rowing competition in Nevada has been scheduled for March. The Lake Las Vegas Collegiate Invitational will take place on the 320-acre private, man-made lake at the Lake Las Vegas residential, golf and resort master-planned community in Henderson. The collegiate, club, high school and Olympic sport was introduced in the state this past year with the formation of the Lake Las Vegas Rowing Club and Las Vegas Scorpions men’s and women’s rowing program at Nevada State College.

Hosted by the Lake Las Vegas Rowing Club, the event is free to attend and will feature top and up-and-coming West Coast programs in dual-sprint 2,000-meter races in varsity, junior varsity and novice eight-person and four-person categories. In addition to Nevada State College, participating men’s teams from Oregon State, University of California, Santa Barbara and San Diego State University, and two of the top-ranked NCAA women’s teams from the University of Washington (No. 5) and University of Southern California (No. 14) will compete.

Races will be from 9-10:15 a.m. and 3-4:15 p.m. on Saturday, March 4, and 9-10 a.m. on Sunday, March 5. Visit llvrc.org for the final schedule.

“We are so excited to bring rowing — or crew — and the Lake Las Vegas Collegiate Invitational to the state and Southern Nevada,” Jim Andersen, regatta organizer and coach of the Lake Las Vegas Rowing Club and Nevada State College teams, said. “This event presents a wonderful opportunity for the public to view and learn about this fast-growing sport at a great venue; and for our men’s and women’s teams to compete with high-caliber teams, particularly at this stage of the program’s development.”

Andersen, who has coached multiple national championship club teams with former students competing on successful college and Olympic teams, said the Lake Las Vegas lake and MonteLago Village provide an ideal venue and backdrop for rowing competitions.

“The design and size of the lake, viewing areas and Southern Nevada weather conditions provide perfect racing conditions with flat water, multiple spectator viewing opportunities in and around MonteLago Village that are close to the action and finish line, and length and width that can accommodate up to eight lanes and a 2,000-meter course.”

In addition to the Lake Las Vegas Rowing Club, the Lake Las Vegas Collegiate Invitational is supported by the Lake Las Vegas community; Raintree Investment Corp., developer of the master plan; and Nevada State College.

For more information, sponsorship and volunteer opportunities, visit llvrc.org or contact Jim Andersen at Jim@LLVRC.org or 415-309-9421.

Free parking is available during the event at the Hilton Lake Las Vegas Resort &Spa parking garage, which is adjacent to MonteLago Village. For information, visit lakelasvegas.com.