The 2013 Red Bull XRow

Above is a trailer from the 2013 Red BullXRow. Not a race for softies…

On Saturday, 5 October, the annual Red Bull XRow, called the cruellest rowing race in the world, was held in Switzerland. Crews from around the world raced across lakes and land starting in Zug and finishing in Lucerne. After the crews, racing in eights, have rowed across Lake Zug, they picked up their boats and carried them over land to the shores of Lake Lucern, where they put them in to row the final leg. That is altogether 19 km of rowing and 7 km of cross-country running – at the highest speedy possible!

The home favourite team ‘Swiss Selection’ won in a time of 2:09:30. The German team ‘Light Bulls’ came in second, only 35 seconds behind.

The top five teams:
Swiss Selection (SUI): 02:09:30
Light Bulls (GER): +00:00:35
International Light Bulls (ITA/NED): +00:01:35
Team Croatia (CRO): +00:02:53
Germania – All Stars (GER): +00:03:52

Red Bull XRow 2012: Come Hell or High Water

HTBS has written about the Red Bull XRow before. The 2012 race was rowed on 6 October from Zug to Lucerne. Switzerland defending its title from last year, hard pressed by two German teams. There was also a race for women, but only one crew from the Netherlands started. It is said that there was also to be a Junior category, but there are no news about competitors and/or winners. Read more here.

2011 Red Bull XRow - A Race In Hell

There is no question about it, Red Bull XRow, a 18-kilometre rowing race and 7-kilometre running race with your 100-kilogram heavy eight on your shoulder, is a race in Pain. It must be the hardest rowing race in the world. This year’s race, from Zug to Lucerne, was won by Swiss Selection with Frankfurter RG Germania in second place and Seeclub Zürich coming in on third place.

2011 Red Bull XRow

A new and different rowing competition was held in Switzerland during the past weekend (I think), The Red Bull X-Row, where crews are rowing from Zug to Lucerne, and running with the boats between the lakes! I have not found any results as of yet, but this is what The Red Bull web site writes about the race:

“Red Bull X-Row is brand-new, innovative event concept that combines the popular Swiss sport of rowing and running. The Swiss landscape has long been calling out for bullish rowing event, with its picturesque backdrop and beautiful lakes. In days gone by rowing and running went hand-in-hand, and Red Bull are going back to the glory days in a race crossing three separate lakes, and also the land between them with the boats hoisted on the teams’ shoulders. 40 teams of 8 rowers plus cox will compete, among them the Switzerland national rowing team and British former World Championship and Olympic rower Toby Garbett, ensuring that Lucerne is welcoming the very best caliber of athlete back to its shores.”

Get more information by visiting Red Bull’s web site.