Nevada City’s David Vertin is a Gold Medal winner in the US Rowing Southwest Masters’ Regional Championship held July 1, on Lake Merritt in Oakland, California. The Masters Division features rowers age 30 and over. Vertin’s winning time was 4:28 for the 1,000 meter course.
Said Vertin, “Winning this race was a big milestone for me, having just entered this sport last year. I am absolutely thrilled.”
Vertin, a frequent visitor to Maine, began thinking about rowing as a sport while rowing a recreational rowboat in the Atlantic Ocean. Once back in Nevada City he paid a visit to the Sac State Aquatic Center, took lessons, and then launched into his racing career honing his skills on a “single” boat as a member of the Sac State team.
“I was anxious to start racing as soon as possible. That’s why I chose the single boat option because I was unsure as a novice whether or not I would qualify for to race with an eight man crew team,” said Vertin. His coaches from the outset started encouraging him to join them which he did starting off in the Novice Class as a single. In mid-April, he began training six days a week with 4 to 5 two-hour sessions with the eight man crew, and 6 two-hour sessions with the single.
“It was great.” he said. “They have an unbelievable state-of-the-art facility on Lake Natoma, with an indoor rowing center that kicks in when Day Light Savings ends. We use rowing ergs which are rowing machines along with an excellent, highly skilled and experienced coaching staff.”
Mr. Vertin, a semi-retired businessman, owns the Cedar Creek Horse Logging and Milling and Nevada City Carriage Companies.
“My goal for next year is the win the Crash B event, an indoor tournament, which would then qualify me to be sent to Boston fully sponsored by my team. There I would be competing in the 60-70 age group. If that happened I would have a shot at being rated in the top five rowers in the world, in my division in this 2,000 meter race.”
Vertin now in his mid-60’s hopes to continue with competitive rowing well into his 70’s.
“Due to my work, I know a lot about horses. Right now I feel like an old race horse, and they are letting me race,” he concluded.