During the winter months of the years, Shocker Rowers try to find opportunities to continue improve their racing skills and remain motivated in preparation for the spring season.

On Saturday, Shocker Sprints offers an indoor racing opportunity for rowers and non-rowers to compete against each other at the Heskett Center.

“We set up the rowing machines and connect them to each other,” assistant rowing coach Jane Detwiler said. “We have different categories and heats kind of like a track meet with masters, juniors, lightweights and open. We do have special categories for intramurals and Greek participants that want to try it out.”

This is an opportunity for competition and a fundraiser for the Shocker Rowing program.

Participants interested in competing in events beyond the 500 meter race will have to pay a fee.  Those interested in competing in the 2,000 meter and 30-minute races will be charged $25 while the four-person team race will be charged $20, $5 per person.

Shocker Sprints begins at 9 a.m. with day-of registration opening at 8 a.m. The last event is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

“It’s a fun event for our athletes,” Detwiler said. “It’s something that they train for and look forward to. There’s a lot of excitement that we have tried to build up around that, so it’s like race day for us.”