Niagara College’s broadcasting program is providing coverage for the World Rowing Championships in St. Catharines this week – which isn’t a surprise to those close to the program.
Professor Peter ‘Dutch’ VandenBerg says he’s got a great mix of current students and alumni who have come together to help put this production together.
Alumni Carter Hendriks (2022), Carter Vahrmeyer (2019), Gabe Klassen (2017) and Jon Kitiwano (2019) have rejoined their alma mater to lead a team of current BRTF students and other alumni through an intense production week along the Royal Canadian Henley Rowing Course.
Dutch says that speaks volumes to the sense of community within the program at Niagara College, regardless of your graduating class.
In terms of the shoot itself, Niagara College has 24 members of its broadcasting team on the shoot, which includes 18 cameras (11 robotic) along the 2000m course. The event is being streamed on CBC Gem, as well as World Rowing’s website and Youtube channels.
VandenBerg says it’s an interesting shoot to try and pull off, but they’ve done an excellent job to this point.
For a truly unique perspective, VandenBerg mounted a camera to the boat of the official who follows in-line with the rowers. Graphics supplied by Swiss Timing will allow the NC team to showcase key rowing metrics at each of the 500-metre markers like boat speed and stroke rate, which help the production team tell the story. VandenBerg credits infrastructure enhancements at the Royal Canadian Henley Rowing Course, including more fibers, for equipping the NC team to deliver a high caliber broadcast.
Niagara College’s broadcasting program is no stranger to high-profile shoots. In the past, its provided coverage for the IIHF Women’s U-18 World Championships, Canada Summer Games and the FIBA U-18 Americas Championship.
Between higher-profile sporting events, to day-to-day Junior B games and everything in between, VandenBerg says Niagara College is often at the forefront.
Outside of the broadcasting realm, Niagara College also has its fingerprints on the rowing competition itself. The aligner hut, a hut on the water to mark the start line, was build by the college’s carpentry and renovation students.
(Written by: Matt Latour)
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