Ridgewood’s Men’s Youth Eights boat racing at the 2024 Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston, Massachusetts. Credit: Mark Riedel
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, a club-record 10 rowers from Ridgewood Crew competed at the 59st annual Head of the Charles Regatta (HOCR) in Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts, on October 20.
The Head of the Charles is the largest three-day rowing regatta in the world. This year, roughly 12,000 athletes from 828 clubs and more than two-dozen countries rowed in over 2,600 entries at the event. The HOCR is so popular that teams that have not qualified at previous years’ races must apply and win a draw to get a chance to participate.
Once there, competitors must confront one of the most challenging head race courses in the world, passing under six bridges and completing numerous sharp turns, including a full 180-degree hairpin, along the 4,700 meters from start to finish.
“The Head of the Charles is unlike any other race. When you race here, you’re competing among the best in the country, if not the world, on a highly demanding, technical course,” said Ridgewood Crew Head Coach Boris Roque-Alvarez. “I’m incredibly proud of how our rowers navigated this prestigious event and represented Ridgewood Crew on such a prominent stage.”
Both of Ridgewood’s boats raced on the final day of the event, which is mainly reserved for youth competition.
Senior Julia Smith competed in the Women’s Youth Singles race early Sunday morning, finishing 33rd overall out of 43 boats with a time of 23:20.588.
Senior Julia Smith at the 2024 Head of Charles Regatta, in Boston, Massachusetts. Credit: Mark Riedel
In what’s often called “the coxswain’s race” due to its challenging navigation requirements, Ridgewood’s Men’s Youth Eights boat showcased both rowing power and exceptional steering skills. Senior Caterina Kirchhoff-Lajonchere, in her debut season as coxswain, masterfully guided the crew through the course’s notorious bridges and turns, while strategically maneuvering among competing boats. Despite being new to coxing this fall season, Kirchhoff-Lajonchere demonstrated remarkable command, maintaining both precise steering and vital crew motivation throughout the race. The boat’s rowers included senior Lucas Evers, juniors Will Nasr, Sam Scharfenberg, Matt Moomjy, Uhmjoo Han and Michael Shkop, along with sophomore Tristan Riedel and freshman Graham Richardson. In a race featuring 90 boats, which was tied for most in any event at the three-day regatta, Ridgewood finished 38th, with a time of 16:04.437.
By finishing in the top half of their event, Ridgewood Crew earned an automatic qualification to that same event in the 2025 HOCR.
Full times and results for Ridgewood Crew at the 2024 Head of the Charles (https://www.regattacentral.com/regatta/results2/?job_id=8995&org_id=0).
About Ridgewood Crew
In the program’s 20-year history, Ridgewood Crew rowers have competed and excelled in both national and international competitions and its athletes have attracted interest from top rowing colleges and universities around the country. Ridgewood Crew offers several ways for you to experience our mission: join the team, volunteer, or donate. Student athlete programs begin with Learn-To-Row for middle schoolers. For more information contact Ridgewood Crew at http://www.ridgewoodcrew.com.
great to see Ridgewood making such a great splash!
Way to go!