How a Crew of First-Time Rowers Found Friendship, Fitness, and a Whole Lot of Heart

How a Crew of First-Time Rowers Found Friendship, Fitness, and a Whole Lot of Heart

What happens when you mix a Rowing Canada athlete, a group of women spanning over three decades in age, and a wildly ambitious international erging competition?

You get The BA Crew—a team of mostly first-time rowers who may have finished near the bottom of the leaderboard, but absolutely crushed it where it counts. (What does “BA” stand for? Sorry—we’re sworn to secrecy. You’ll just have to use your imagination.)

Brought together through a connection to Shawnigan Lake School or the unstoppable Jennifer Parfitt (Head of Rowing), it all started as a simple idea: rowing for fitness and wellness. Most of the women didn’t know a scull from a sweep. But led by their powerhouse coach—Katie Clark, a bona fide Rowing Canada athlete—they showed up, strapped in, and pulled their hearts out.

Then someone casually mentioned The Kraken Erging Competition.

Cue the nervous laughter. An international indoor rowing showdown? For this brand-new crew? Why not! With a mix of courage, curiosity, and classic type-A energy, they dove in.

They trained. They laughed. They groaned through workouts. And they rowed.

At the Kraken, no records were set—but something far more powerful emerged: connection, confidence, and a tight-knit community.

Months later, they still meet twice a week—rowing when weather allows, erging when it doesn’t. Their group text pings daily with encouragement, hilarious memes, rowing photos, and the occasional “ouch, my quads.”

“This team isn’t about medals,” says Coach Katie. “It’s about movement, community, and the magic of showing up—for each other and for ourselves.”

The BA Crew may not have topped the scoreboard, but they took home the biggest win of all: newfound friendships, forged in effort, laughter, and the beautiful chaos of saying “yes” to something new.

This article was submitted to Rowing BC by Sierra Acton. Have an idea for a future story? Share it with us!