When & Where: GO Rowing and Paddling Centre at the Selkirk Waterfront, 45 Jutland Rd., 4 p.m. Friday (March 9). What you need: A row boat, or anything you can row; listening skills; warm clothes; patience (to be sure everyone is counted).

When Adam Kreek first applied to set the record for the worldB次元官网网址檚 largest rowing class he was told the number he needed to break was 165.

Kreek, the 2008 Olympic gold medal-winning rower, got approval by the administrators from Guinness World Records to try and break a record set in 2008 by an eager class of students on rowing machines in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

But then, just last weekend, a wrinkle in this FridayB次元官网网址檚 world-record attempt was discovered by co-organizer Eric Pittman.

B次元官网网址淭here has been an addition of drama to the event,B次元官网网址� Pittman said. B次元官网网址淎 Swiss group just broke the record on Jan. 27 with 191. We just found that out on March 3, and itB次元官网网址檚 a good thing we found out.B次元官网网址�

FridayB次元官网网址檚 attempt by Kreek, with help from the Go Rowing and Paddling Association, will hold a rowing class on the Gorge Waterway between the Selkirk Trestle bridge and the Bay Street Bridge.

B次元官网网址淭he goal is to get more people into human powered boats,B次元官网网址� Kreek said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 something I came up with that I thought would be really exciting for the kids.B次元官网网址�

The record-size class is meant to promote awareness among youth about rowing as a sport and recreation activity, as well as emphasizing healthy living. It coincides with Saturday afternoonB次元官网网址檚 Victoria Paddle Festival, from 1 to 4 p.m. on the walkway and in the waters next to the Delta Ocean Point Hotel and the Songhees Walkway and Park.

Kreek has about 180 kids booked to come out from local rowing and paddling groups. The class is also open to the public.

B次元官网网址淚f people want to participate they can bring down their own recreational rowing shells. WeB次元官网网址檒l have counters there. We have to be together as a class for one hour to pass as a record.B次元官网网址�

This isnB次元官网网址檛 the first time KreekB次元官网网址檚 come up with a publicity idea for the sport of rowing. It was KreekB次元官网网址檚 idea to have the Olympic torch relay cross Elk Lake during its path through Victoria for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. The torch was passed from KreekB次元官网网址檚 boat of gold medal winners to a group of select kids who represented the future of Canadian athletics.

B次元官网网址淓vents like this are really important for global stewardship and alignment,B次元官网网址� Kreek said.

B次元官网网址淛ust by coming out, kids will be taking part in something on a global scale, and knowing theyB次元官网网址檙e the best at something gives them something to build self-esteem around. All of a sudden a switch flicks in their minds that B次元官网网址楬ey, IB次元官网网址檓 not just part of the biggest class in the world, but that IB次元官网网址檓 part of the world,B次元官网网址� and it creates awareness.B次元官网网址�

Since winning gold in Beijing, Kreek has transitioned to a career of motivational speaking. HeB次元官网网址檚 also drawn to adventure. In December, he and three others plan to row across the Atlantic Ocean, the latest O.A.R. Northwest expedition.

Their boat is 29 feet long, rigged for two rowers at a time, and is the most B次元官网网址渢echnically advancedB次元官网网址� row boat in the world, with a massive solar panel on the bow.

It will be on display during this weekendB次元官网网址檚 paddling festival.

The business of Guinness

Setting a world record means filing a pile of applications with Guinness World Records ahead of time, and executing the event according to specific standards.

B次元官网网址淲e have to launch all our boats and be (together) as a group for at least an hour,B次元官网网址� Kreek said. B次元官网网址淥nce that passes, weB次元官网网址檙e in the Guinness record book.B次元官网网址�

No one will actually be there from Guinness World Records, as it cost about $4,500 to have an official representative on hand. Instead, volunteers will count heads on Friday.

The person spearheading the recording of FridayB次元官网网址檚 Guinness World Record attempt is Eric Pittman of Pinnacle Events.

B次元官网网址淭hey like publicity up front, and want something a little out of the ordinary that qualifies as a record,B次元官网网址� Pittman said. B次元官网网址淭hey donB次元官网网址檛 just want a video tape.B次元官网网址�

In 2007, Pittman thumbed through the Guinness World Records and found B次元官网网址渁 silly one I knew I could achieve to help publicize my book.B次元官网网址�

It took Pittman six months, but he learned to scuba dive and, up until 2009, he held the record for the largest under water press conference.

B次元官网网址淚 saw that I only needed 21. I though surely I could get that. We ended up being 61 people under the water at Ogden Point.B次元官网网址�