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Crew: �It�s like flying� Mail Tribune photos / Drew Fleming Members of "Row Ashland," a women�s crew team, practice Saturday on Emigrant Lake. The team, which will compete in April at a San Diego regatta, includes, from left: Diane Green, Paula Backus, Sheryl Cochran, Jean Crawford, Cathy Tronquet, Kim Murphy, Judith Cope and Diane Pasquini. Women�s team says rowing helps the body and the mind By John Darling ASHLAND � In the rapidly growing world of crew, women are finding the "perfect sport" � something that trims both upper and lower body, as well as providing team camaraderie without a competitive setting. It�s called "Row Ashland," and it�s open to all Jackson County women 27 or older. Sharing boats with the new Ashland High School girls crew on Emigrant Lake, some 20 women, ages 31-58, started three months ago and have been practicing twice a week in preparation for their first regatta this April in San Diego. "It�s great, athletically speaking," said Kim Murphy of Ashland, as she and eight others launched their 30-foot boat in windy drizzle. "But it�s so much more. When you get in that flow and in synch with everyone, it�s a really beautiful experience. It�s like flying." Crew has special appeal for middle-aged females who grew up in a world with no girls teams, said coach Jim Sims, an Ashland attorney and former crew coach at UCLA and USC. "Men have always crewed, so when middle-age men do it, there are plenty of experienced guys. But women are all starting out equal and learning together." Judith Cope of Ashland was "frustrated by the lack of team sports" in her youth. She�s drawn to crew by its demands to stay in top physical condition doing something challenging, instead of "having to do exercise that you should do." Rowing requires practice on an ergometer (rowing machine). It develops strong legs, abs, shoulders and back muscles, said Jean Crawford of Ashland, because you�re not just pulling an oar � you�re maximizing thrust with your legs as you push your seat along a track. "It�s a lifetime sport you can do into your 90s. It�s a lot of work, but I wanted to get fit and have energy." While crew members praise the good workout and fun sense of community, they save their best adjectives for the "feel" of it. "I love the pure nature of it, being on the water, rowing rhythmically, at the same time with seven other women," said Paula Backus. "It�s not just the athletics," said Murphy, "It�s almost a spiritual practice. You really get out of your left, logical brain. You have an unspoken communication with everyone." "I enjoy having to focus so hard on what we�re all doing that everything else in my mind just vanishes," said Crawford. "That sensation of rowing, of the boat gliding out from under you on the water � it requires tremendous focus to get it right, to get every stroke the same and in perfect unison, but when you do, it�s very pleasurable � kind of addicting," said Sims. Row Ashland women welcome newcomers, 11:30 a.m., first Saturday of each month, at Emigrant Lake boathouse; call Paula Backus, 482-3941. Men�s crew is forming; call Jim Sims, 488-4457. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.