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Regional Coastal Race Module Comes to Thailand

Thailand played host to the 1st Regional Coastal Race Module (CRM) coach education programme to be organised in Asia for 2023, which concluded yesterday in Pattaya, Thailand.

The CRM ran over three full days, from 22-24 April 2023, covering both theoretical sessions delivered in a classroom and practical, hands-on sessions on Jomtien Beach.

 

The CRM was organised using the new World Rowing syllabus for coastal rowing, with the generous support of Olympic Solidarity, the Thai National Olympic Committee and the Rowing and Canoeing Association of Thailand (RCAT), with the full support of the Asian Rowing Federation (ARF).

21 coaches from 12 Asian Rowing Federations participated: THA – UAE – SRI – CHN – PHI – KOR – HKG – KSA – JPN – MAS – INA – IRQ.  Three coaches are also being trained to be future World Rowing certified coach educators to support further courses on the Asian Continent.

Before water sessions, all coach trainees were tested in the pool to demonstrate their swimming capabilities over 50m and their ability to stay afloat for at least 3 minutes. Safety is always a central and indispensable factor during any World Rowing development activities – in this particular activity special focus was put on safety in the sea context.

During the training, coaches had the chance to learn about the comparatively new discipline of coastal rowing, safety measures and safe management of sessions, race techniques and logistics, risk assessment, setting up a course and organising a beach sprint regatta, and safeguarding participants in rowing. The course was delivered by World Rowing coaching experts Chris Perry, Laryssa Biesenthal and Fay Ho. Mr Liu Dehai, ARF Secretary General, also attended and fully participated as a coach trainee during the course.

Due to the excellent collaboration with RCAT and their hardworking staff, the course ran smoothly, and all participants experienced the warm Thai hospitality in “The Land of Smiles”.

Over the coming days Thailand will host the World Rowing Beach Sprint Asian Qualifiers for ANOC World Beach Games 2023 and 2023 Asian Rowing Beach Sprint Championship which run from 25 April – 1 May 2023. Federations achieving the top two positions in the CM1x, CW1x and CMix2x events will be offered Beach Sprint places for their NOCs at the ANOC WBG to be held in Bali in August.

This competition will also allow the CRM coach trainees to practice their new coaching skills supported by the World Rowing experts whilst in action with their teams on race days.