Union College and St. Lawrence University squared off against each other for the Long Lake Cup in the Great Adirondack Boat Race, the final competition of each program’s rowing season. The event began in 2017 and has been held each year since, with the exception of 2020, during the Coronavirus pandemic.

The event has two separate races. The earlier one features the schools’ second varsity eight-man boats, along with each boat’s coxswain competing for the Long Lake Bowl. The latter trophy-bearing race pits the two schools’ top eight men’s varsity rowers, along with each boat’s coxswain, against each other. Union won both events Sunday, winning the Varsity-B race by four boat lengths and Varsity-A by three-quarters of one boat length.

Both events race a 2000-meter course that begins at the Long Lake Town Beach. The route heads northeast along the lake. It’s a one-way course, with the teams crossing the finish line, then taking a more relaxed row back to the beach. Unlike many collegiate rowing events that start on a small dock, rowers had a wet start — wading into the frigid waters of Long Lake and stepping into the boat. Nobody flipped.

Per tradition, each boat’s coxswain was carried into the boat, keeping their feet dry. The boats were held in place by a non-racing supporting member of the team and carefully maneuvered to line up in unison. The coaching staff, who were on engine-powered boats to the side, gave commands to ensure the crew boats were even with each other.

St. Lawrence University men’s Varsity-B rowing team gets ready to race the Great Adirondack Boat Race — an annual rowing competition between St. Lawrence University and Union College — held in Long Lake on Sunday. From right, Nate Makowka (coxswain), Logan Roderick, Coleman Hayes, Luke Rucolas, Kai Wilson, John McCormick, Austin Phelps, Matt McGee and Charles “Chuck” Levy. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

After a set of final checks, the boats were released, with rowers stroking in unison to get their boats up to speed as quickly — and efficiently — as possible. The rowing boats, also known as shells, are such that the rowers face backwards. It’s the job of the coxswain — who sits in the stern and faces toward the bow, or front, of the boat — to ensure that the rowers are catching and finishing their strokes in good form.

At the same time, the coxswains feed information, such as speed, strokes per minute, split time and information on the other team, to the rowers. They often use a microphone and sound system that allows rowers on the other side of the long shell to hear commands, even through the thunderous noise of the oars crashing through the water, often with other rowing boats in close quarters.

Sarah DeRosa, a senior, was the coxswain for Union’s top varsity boat. She raced for the final time with the team on Sunday. DeRosa picked up the sport 10 years ago and despite a season that had some “rough” results, she was proud of the team for pulling together to cap off the year in a strong fashion.

“I love these boys,” she said. “It was an awesome way to finish out the season and make everything go right in the end and then finish out my career.”

Although there was a bit of a breeze, DeRosa said it was nothing the team hadn’t encountered before. The team got off to a fast and clean start — and didn’t look back.

Union College’s Varsity-B men’s rowing team gets ready to race the Great Adirondack Boat Race — an annual rowing competition between St. Lawrence University and Union College — held in Long Lake on Sunday. From left, Charlie Whiteford (coxswain), Miles Fee, Nick Meyer, Josh Vaidman, Kenny Kromer, Dan Vega, Wolf Bodge, Reed Will and Cody Morrison. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

“We sunk our teeth in around the third 500 (meters),” she said. “And with about 250 meters to go, we built up that rating for our sprint and just kind of cooked it to the finish line.”

In addition to all of the strategic information conveyed during the race, DeRosa said the most important part of her job was serving as a motivator. This was especially important for an all-body sport that demands grueling training regimens at the collegiate level.

“It’s a physically and mentally challenging sport,” she said. “It’s physically deteriorating, but then every stroke is a chance to get it right, so when we’re working and things aren’t going well, we try to emphasize that there’s always that next stroke you can take to fix whatever was wrong with the stroke before.”

Union men’s varsity rowing assistant coach Cody Rule, who is in his third year with the program, said the Great Adirondack Boat Race caps off the season while taking the sport back to its origins. While the modern collegiate calendar is often full of large regattas that see several boats racing against each other at once, the early days were largely comprised of dual-meets where two boats faced off against each other. Rule said it was nice to get back to this.

“Really the philosophy between the two programs is that the rivalry between Union and St. Lawrence is not only healthy for the colleges, but we think it’s healthy for the sport as well,” he said. “(This) sort of takes the sport back to its roots — this old style of dual racing — we think it’s important to hold the sport accountable to its foundations.”

St. Lawrence University rowing coxswain Hannah Lyman and Laurentian supporters Mark and Porter Brackett smile at the Great Adirondack Boat Race — an annual 2000-meter rowing competition between St. Lawrence University and Union College — held in Long Lake on Sunday. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

Rule said the weather on Long Lake Sunday morning was favorable for a strong performance. While there was some wind, he said it was “fairly predictable,” and the waters remained generally calm. He added that the cooler temperatures in the 40s, while perhaps making it uncomfortable for some watching from shore, were what the athletes thrived in.

With abundant sunshine and the Seward mountains standing tall in the background, Rule said the setting could not have been prettier.

“These students really have earned the opportunity to row in such an iconic location,” he said.

Town of Long Lake Recreation Department Events Coordinator Jake Fisch was on hand throughout the race. He said the town was thrilled to play host to the annual event.

“No better backdrop, especially on a bit breezy but beautiful sunny day,” he said. “Here on Mother’s Day, we’re seeing lots of families come out. It’s just another great opportunity to get people together and see something that they wouldn’t normally see.”

Union College’s Varsity-A men’s rowing boat barrels down Long Lake during the Great Adirondack Boat Race on Sunday. The annual competition between Union College and St. Lawrence University saw Union win the Varsity-A and Varsity-B races this year. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

Fisch added that the race brings activity to Long Lake outside of the busy season and shows that the Adirondacks can provide a venue to niche sports like rowing that don’t traditionally receive as much attention locally as other water sports like canoeing or kayaking.

“It helps put our outdoor infrastructure on the map in terms of getting people out when we’re not in our busy tourism season to come and see the lake and the beautiful scenery,” he said. “It’s neat to see a sport with such a long-standing tradition come to our little town.”