Thank You, Friends of Illini Rowing!
Just 10 days ago, we published an article asking for your help raising money to purchase a King Racing Shells Coxed 4+. We asked for 14,000$, in order to make the down payment on the shell. At the time, we wrote that this would be a two stage fundraiser. You all, our friends, alumni, and families, raised over 20,000 dollars. What does that mean? It means that we no longer need to do a two stage fundraiser, and the remaining cost of the boat will be covered by the naming rights for the boat and a seat name (if you are interested, please contact Coach Zoe). To say that the team is grateful for this support would be an incredible understatement. We expect that this new shell will last for 20 years, like her predecessors, which means that 5 entire 4-year generations of Illinois rowers will race in this boat, more rowers than have been on the team in its whole history.
Our rowers and coxswains are incredibly excited to get the chance to race in this new shell, all thanks to your generosity and support. Modern shells include integrated mounts for cox boxes and stroke coaches in a vastly more comfortable cockpit for our coxswains, and stiffer riggers, better slides, and better seats for our rowers. No more will our women’s team athletes have to suffer slider bites every time they get into a 4+, as they did with XXS; and both squads will now be able to put two coxed 4s side by side at practice, as the new 4+ will be suited for 95% of our athletes. We are also excited to have another boat painted in the orange and blue of our school and team, and are looking forward to racing a new, fast coxed 4 this May, and in future years at the Head of the Charles.
To all those who have raced in XXS, we promise we’ll continue the incredible legacy of that boat, in which our team won two gold medals at ACRA. We’ll ensure that this new shell will have a legacy just as long as XXS, and one that’s a little more comfortable for the rowers who race her. Thank you all again for your support. To give you all something to look forward to, here are the swatches that were sent to us by King of our boat’s future paint scheme.