Head of the Hooch- Race Day

Head of the Hooch

LSU Rowing competed in the “Last of the Great Fall Regattas,” Head of the Hooch, in Chattanooga, Tennessee on Saturday Nov. 5.

(The hectic scene as some of the 1600+ boats entered in Head of the Hooch launch and recover)

The morning started with temperatures in the high 30s and an hour-long fog delay.

Once the fog lifted, the women’s varsity 8+ was the first of our boats to compete. Next was the men’s varsity 4+, followed by the men’s varsity 8+ and the men’s novice 8+.

(The LSU Men's Varsity 4+ as it approaches the 4000-meter mark)

In the afternoon temperatures reached the mid 60s and the gusts of wind that had made the race course choppy the day before were nonexistent. The women’s varsity 4+ and the women’s novice 8+ A and B boats enjoyed the improved weather for their races in the afternoon.

Overall the results were underwhelming. Our boats finished in the middle of the pack in virtually all of the races.

The pool of talent at this race was unlike anything we had ever seen in head racing. The women’s college club novice 8+ division had 49 entrants, Earlier in the season at Hobbs Island, the same division had only eight boats entered.

(A shot of boats approaching the finish of the Women's Novice 8+ event)

The places we finished in each race may have been disappointing, but the weekend as a whole was immensely rewarding.

We competed in this year’s largest regatta in the country. We had a great time watching a day full of rowing among a close-knit group of friends at the most beautiful venue I could have imagined.

Our expectations for next year will without a doubt be raised. But for now we will head into the home stretch of the fall season content with this year’s experience in Chattanooga.

(All photos courtesy of Courtney Mills)