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HOW Hosts the First-Ever Comet Crush Erg Classic
On Saturday, February 28, Hope On Water and Hackensack Crew hosted the first-ever Comet Crush Erg Classic at Hackensack High School's East Wing Gym. Over 100 athletes, came out from 9 different rowing clubs across New York and New Jersey for a day of racing that brought together middle school, high school, collegiate, masters, and adaptive rowers, all on the ergs.
A Day for Everyone
The Comet Crush was built to be a race for everyone, and it showed. Athletes of every age and experience level took to the ergs, from middle schoolers just getting started to masters rowers who have been at the sport for decades, alongside adaptive athletes competing in their own category. That range is part of what HOW set out to create: an event where the entire rowing community, not just one age group or skill level, has a reason to show up.
The Arshay Cooper First Responders Challenge Cup
The day also debuted a brand new event: the Arshay Cooper First Responders Challenge Cup, named in honor of rower, author, and activist Arshay Cooper. Inspired by the film "A Most Beautiful Thing," in which former Chicago gang members and police officers found common ground on the water, the Cup brought together teams of police officers, firefighters, and EMTs for a 2000 meter relay race, each team made up of four athletes racing 500 meters apiece.
Hackensack Police Department and Hackensack Fire Department went head to head in the inaugural showdown, and Hackensack PD took home the win and the bragging rights. The crystal trophy with a custom wooden base crafted in-house by a Hackensack HS rower will stay with the department until next year's Comet Crush, when it will be back up for grabs.
HOW and Hackensack Crew created the Arshay Cooper First Responders Challenge Cup and it's already inspired similar events elsewhere. North Channel Community Rowing in Evanston, Illinois held its own version of the Cup, where firefighters beat out police and the local CARE Team, and more communities across America are expected to take part in the coming years.
Community, Not Just Competition
The Comet Crush Erg Classic raised funds to support Hope On Water, helping invest in the future of the student athletes we serve. None of it would have been possible without the volunteers, sponsors, and first responders who showed up and put in the work behind the scenes to make the day run smoothly.
Thank you to everyone who competed, coached, volunteered, and cheered from the stands.
We're already looking forward to next year!
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