Cal's men's and women's crews are up in Seattle to fact off against UW tomorrow morning at the Montlake Cut, right next to the football stadium, for their annual get together, the biggest dual race of the year. The men's first varsity 8 race pits the #1 Bears against the #2 Huskies. Both schools have such deep programs that they'll be racing first through fourth varsity 8's, plus a freshman boat, on the men's side, while the women will have four varsity 8's each plus two races pitting the schools' first and second varsity 4's.
Why is this the biggest race of the year, at least on the men's side? How about because Cal and Washington have each won 9 of the varsity 8 national championships at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association regatta over the last 25 years. Both teams, especially their first V8's, have been impressive against other competition this spring, but they don't go head to head until The Dual, which has been a preview of the IRA championships over the last quarter century, and this year promises to be no different.
I'll be up there in person tomorrow morning, but for those interested, the races will be streamed on the Big 10 Network (what a weird thing that is to type) @ https://www.bigtenplus.com/en-int/livestream/schoch-cup-washington-vs-california/1917735. There's a fee to sign up, but it's worth noting that the advent of drone cameras has made the worst spectator sport you can imagine (1.25 mile races in a straight line) into one of the best -- drones giving you a view of the oarsmen/women close up as they expend every ounce of energy they have over 6 minutes is just spectacular viewing.
TMI but Go Bears!