I recently had the opportunity to demonstrate the Oar Board® Rower in Victoria at the Oak Bay Marina. I was totally amazed and excited to see how easily people were taking to rowing a standup paddle board and enjoyed letting everyone know how they can incorporate rowing into their lifestyle for fitness and fun.

It was a perfect, peaceful, summer day for an early morning, mid-afternoon or evening row.

The setting at the Oak Bay Marina is idyllic for getting out on the water, but you can launch your paddle board and Oar Board® Rower combination from just about anywhere. You are no longer bound to rowing only at a club and can now enjoy the freedom of getting out on your favorite lake, river or part of the ocean.

I was so touched to see how many fitness lovers and outdoor enthusiasts were really inspired by the idea of getting out on the water to test row the Oar Board®.

From Whitehall Rowing & Sail, we have supplied many water lovers with rowboats and sailboats over the years, and now more recently with the Oar Board® Rower and our inflatable standup paddle boards, we are helping to get more and more people out enjoying the ocean and lakes.

During the demonstration day, many people shared with me that they were surprised and amazed and how lightweight and easy it is to use the Oar Board®. They were excited to imagine getting out and rowing with family and friends around Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.

In less than 5 minutes the Oar Board® fit-on-top rower converts any paddle board over 10′ (3m) into a sculling boat.

And everyone really likes the idea of being able to take Oar Board® with them on vacation. The new Oar Board® inflatable standup paddle boards easily roll up into their backpack for transporting. And it is equally as easy to unroll and inflate Oar Board® standup paddle boards at your destination.

The Oar Board® is definitely a hit in Victoria!

I really love my job promoting fun, fitness, tranquility and connection with water and nature!

About Diana Lesieur
As the Oar Board® Sales Manager, Diana loves rowing, hiking and traveling to exotic places. She is a top notch all water rowing instructor and winner of the long distance rowing events in the R2AK 2015 and 2016. Diana is the go-to person regarding the Oar Board®. Diana says, “I love rowing and there’s nothing better than promoting what you’re passionate about!”

For more information about the Oar Board® Rower, inflatable standup paddle boards, paddles, oars and other accessories, contact Diana at:

Oar Board®
A Division of Whitehall Rowing and Sail
Phone 1-250-384-6574
Toll Free 1-800-663-7481
International 00+1-250-361-2621
Email sales@OarBoard.com
oarboard.com/oar-board-sup-combo-packages
oarboard.com/buy-now
oarboard.com/about-us
oarboard.com/contact-us

Having worked for Whitehall for over a year and half now, the time had come (and I finally found the time) for my partner and I to take a boat out for an extended cruise, complete with camping gear, food, water, beverages, etc., for the Canada Day long weekend in July. Even the forecast looked favorable with sun, warm temperatures, and moderate winds.

As a bit of background, I grew up in Ontario and as a kid I was fortunate to spend a lot of time on the bays and inlets of the Great Lakes but I hadn’t spent much time out on the open ocean dealing with three metre tides and especially the currents and eddies they create in and around the Gulf Islands here on the west coast of British Columbia. Tide tables in hand, my partner (she’d only been rowing about five times with me but is a crazy strong cyclist) and I launched the Whitehall Spirit Tango 17 from Cattle Point on the southeastern tip of Victoria, BC.

Our destination was a small island that is part of Gulf Islands National Park. It is only accessible by boat and has no inhabitants other than deer, raccoons, and mice we came to find. Because it has only seven campsites, and that it was so beautiful and secluded, my partner and I are sworn to secrecy as to its name and location… though we can be bribed with chocolate. Suffice it to say we rowed for about three and a half hours to reach our destination, including a break for lunch. The boat rowed beautifully, and even loaded with all our gear there was still plenty of freeboard. The Tango 17 tracked extremely well in all conditions.

“Oh, you’re the couple that rowed over! Cool boat!”

We arrived on the island on Friday evening with plenty of daylight to set up camp, do a bit of exploring, and have a leisurely dinner. At that point we were the only people on the island. By Saturday, eight others had kayaked over in two separate groups and our Tango 17 was certainly a standout in the fleet of vessels pulled up above the high tide line. “Oh, you’re the couple that rowed over!” “Cool boat!”

Saturday was another day of exploring, lazing in the sun on deserted beaches, and enjoying the views and solitude of the island. Sunday we awoke to mirror calm waters. After a lazy breakfast, we packed up our gear and began our journey back. At one point, we were rowing over smooth, long period rollers about a metre high – it was like rowing up and down hills. Rounding Ten Mile Point, things changed dramatically as the west winds came strong right at us from the Strait of Juan de Fuca, making the last 3-4 kms more challenging. Wind, chop, and an incoming tide slowed our progress. By that point we had been rowing for almost three hours and were beginning to tire. True to form our Tango 17 lived up to its billing as an “all-water rowboat” and got us safely into the protected confines of Oak Bay, and into the marina without a drop of water in the boat, and callouses on our hands well earned!

Altogether we rowed about seven and a half hours and I’d have to say row-camping was extremely comfortable. Plenty of capacity and easy access to gear, using our legs for most of our power, and the ability move about a bit when we needed a break… the trip was truly as much about getting there as being there. We could easily see spending a week or more doing an island hopping rowing adventure in the Tango 17. We are already planning our next expedition row.

For more information contact:

Michael Marek
Sales Manager
Whitehall Rowing & Sail
Phone 250-384-6574
Toll Free 1-800-663-7481
Email michael@whitehallrow.com
whitehallrow.com/find-your-classic-whitehall-spirit-boats
whitehallrow.com/about-us

The Adventure Row and Fitness Row SUPs are perfect for paddling or sculling. They are specially fitted with deck rings that make the installation of the Oar Board® Rower even easier than on a standard SUP. Getting fit and having fun out on the water has never been more affordable or as simple to do. Exploring and camping, anywhere on the planet where there’s a bit of rowable water has never been easier.

The Oar Board® Rower, produced by Whitehall Rowing & Sail, can be ordered direct and ships worldwide. Enjoy the low-impact whole-body workout, strength, flexibility and cardio benefits that regular rowing provides.

Used to row in college?
New to rowing?
Ready for fun and a great workout?
Share our passion!

Find out more about the Oar Board® at:

Website
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Facebook Page
Facebook Group (Oar Board® Rowing Community)
Twitter
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Soundtrack music “Windows Rolled Down”, Artist: The 126ers, YouTube Audi Library

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