Rowing is a lifestlye Drew van Bourgondien has happily adopted.

But itB次元官网网址檚 not one the 15-year-old originally set out for when she started at St. AndrewB次元官网网址檚 Regional School.

B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 know I was going to be a rower and I can easily say itB次元官网网址檚 become part of my life,B次元官网网址� she said on Sunday afternoon. B次元官网网址淐oach (Alia Zawacki) has taught us a lot and pushed us hard.B次元官网网址�

Van Bourgondien watched the final races of the high school city rowing championships at Elk Lake from her teamB次元官网网址檚 tent with many of her St. AndrewB次元官网网址檚 teammates. Theirs was one of the many collapse-able gazebos that leant a festival vibe to the regatta, and protected rowers and spectators from the rain.

Van Bourgondien won both events she raced in, the junior womenB次元官网网址檚 quad and eight. Full results from and

B次元官网网址淚t was a great weekend for us,B次元官网网址� said Zawacki, co-ordinator and head coach of the St. AndrewB次元官网网址檚 Rowing Academy. The former five-time national champ with the Vikes built the program herself, and will see many of the crews to nationals this spring.

B次元官网网址淭his is a very young program, our second year, so weB次元官网网址檙e particularly excited about winning so many junior (Grade 9 and 10) and Grade 8 events,B次元官网网址� Zawacki said.

St. AndrewB次元官网网址檚 won six of the city championshipB次元官网网址檚 25 events B次元官网网址� one behind overall leader Claremont, the regionB次元官网网址檚 other high school rowing academy.

Rowing, it seems, is becoming more popular with the youth of Greater Victoria.

B次元官网网址淔rom what I understand, the city rowing league started in the 1980s with about 40 rowers, and itB次元官网网址檚 up to 600 now,B次元官网网址� said Kevin Light, first-year coach of the Claremont rowing academy.

The Olympic gold-medalist and StellyB次元官网网址檚 grad heads ClaremontB次元官网网址檚 academy, but itB次元官网网址檚 the academyB次元官网网址檚 assistant coach Erica Shaw who leads the after school program.

B次元官网网址淭here are strong after-school rowers as well as academy rowers,B次元官网网址� Light said. B次元官网网址淨uite a few (Claremont) rowers choose to train outside of school with the Victoria City Rowing Club rather than the academy,B次元官网网址� Light said.

In addition to ClaremontB次元官网网址檚 seven wins at the city championships, the Saanich school had five second-place finishes. In three events, the senior womenB次元官网网址檚 quad and eight, and the junior menB次元官网网址檚 eight, Claremont finished first and second.

B次元官网网址淲e had a pretty good idea that they were a good overall crew, based on results from the earlier regattas,B次元官网网址� Light said. B次元官网网址淚t was just a matter of preparing properly and working hard.B次元官网网址�

More than anything, the key for young rowers is time in the water, Light said.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 say itB次元官网网址檚 about 80 per cent fitness, 15 per cent technique and only about five per cent strategy.B次元官网网址�

The most dynamic story on Sunday afternoon was the duel of St. Michaels University SchoolB次元官网网址檚 Jake McCallum versus Parkland secondaryB次元官网网址檚 Ethan Pennell in the senior menB次元官网网址檚 single scull.

Pennell, a Grade 12 student, won the event at the school rowing leagueB次元官网网址檚 Annual Regatta at Elk Lake on Oct. 21, with McCallum taking second. In the city final, however, it was McCallum getting the upper hand, but not without a little controversy.

B次元官网网址�(Pennell) and I clashed oars. It was pretty early in the race, not even 250 metres in,B次元官网网址� said McCallum, a former basketball player who is hoping to pursue rowing as a university athlete. B次元官网网址淥nce we came out of it I got a lead and just built on it.B次元官网网址�

Pennell finished second.

This weekend Elk Lake is host to 200 of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 top rowers, Nov. 9 to 11, for the 2012 RBC National Rowing Championships. Podium finishers will receive a share of a $20,000 purse.