A quad skill powers down the Charles River during relay format racing at the Red Bull High Stakes in Cambridge, MA, USA on 22 August, 2015.

Rowing

Red Bull High Stakes: Head-to-Head Rowing Race

Name: Red Bull High Stakes: Rowing Competition
Uploaded: 2015-09-08T05:44:26Z
Duration: 3 min 29 s
Description: Over 200 accomplished rowers from across the country competed in this unique rowing regatta.

Over 200 rowers compete for bragging rights in a unique rowing regatta on Boston's Charles River.

By Scott Hart

2 min readPublished on 02/15/2017 · 9:32 PM UTC

Team Potomac at Red Bull High Stakes 2015
© Greg Mionske / Red Bull Content Pool

The SoCal Scullers from Huntington Beach, California, claimed first place and bragging rights in the first-ever relay rowing regatta to take place on Boston’s most famed rowing location, the Charles River at the Riverside Boat Club Boathouse.

Watch the highlight video below:

3 min

Red Bull High Stakes: Rowing Competition

Over 200 accomplished rowers from across the country competed in this unique rowing regatta.

Rowing a total distance of 2,000 meters each race, the four fastest times across all seven heats advanced to the semifinals. Team Potomac from Washington and the SoCal Scullers advanced after dominating their opponents.

As the sun lowered, the river flattened and the crowd gathered on DCR Magazine Beach drew closer to the shoreline to get nearer to the action. Flags went up, blades went in and both teams took off! Team Potomac started with an early lead, but it wasn’t long until former Head of the Charles Champions, the Graves brothers, caught up during the double scull race. Crossing the finish line 4 seconds ahead of Potomac, the 8+ boat from the SoCal Scullers dug their oars into the water and celebrated by chanting toward their fellow teammates.

Two competitors carry their boat along the docks at the Red Bull High Stakes in Cambridge, MA, USA on 22 August, 2015. — Competitors - Lifestyle
© Greg Mionske / Red Bull Content Pool

Overview of the Charles River, venue of the Red Bull High Stakes in Cambridge, MA, USA, on 22 August, 2015. — Venue
© Greg Mionske / Red Bull Content Pool

Competitors at Red Bull High Stakes 2015
© Greg Mionske / Red Bull Content Pool

This was the first time the rowing community saw a stake turn relay race at a regatta in North America, which added anywhere from 10 to 50 seconds to each team’s final time.

“The stake turn was very challenging, but three times around the course you start to figure it out. The strategy was to get as close to the buoy as you could before you started the turn, stay out wide and then crank on it,” said SoCal team member Stesha Carlé, the 2015 women’s National U.S. Rowing single and double scull champion. “Red Bull High Stakes was a great way to show off all-star athletes at a great venue.”

2015 Results

1st Place: SoCal Scullers

2nd Place: Team Potomac

High Stakes Award: Cambridge Boathouse

The SoCal Scullers stand by during relay racing at the Red Bull High Stakes in Cambridge, MA, USA on 22 August, 2015. — Competitors - Action
© Greg Mionske / Red Bull Content Pool

Competitors row through the relay transition at Red Bull High Stakes in Cambridge, MA, USA on 22 August, 2015. — Competitors - Action
© Greg Mionske / Red Bull Content Pool

2015 Red Bull High Stakes Champs: SoCal Scullers
© Greg Mionske / Red Bull Content Pool

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