As found in The Daily Tribune – Salt Lake City 30 August 1888

Rowing in Utah?

 

The Great Salt Lake has played host to rowing since the late 1800’s. In fact, the Salt Lake Boat Club hosted a large regatta in 1888 that brought single scull, double scull and four man boats from Chicago, St. Louis, Moline and St. Paul. The regatta was a “success” as 55,000 people attended the event where the four-oared race set a Western record for the one and one half mile course. Many of the boating crews found the water “like a mirror” and were excited “to be able to go back home and announce the wonderful time made in that four-oared race.”
 
Between 1888 and the early 1980’s little history can be found about rowing on the Great Salt Lake. Rowing made a comeback at “The Lake” during the 1980's with Salt Lake Sculling & Crew. The organization became affiliated with US Rowing and started to maintain a boathouse in cooperation with the Utah Division of Parks and Recreation at the Great Salt Lake State Marina.
 
Great Salt Lake Rowing, Inc. (GSLR) was launched in 2002. Great Salt Lake Rowing has their boathouse located at the Great Salt Lake Marina.
 
Sculling and sweep rowing are now part of the Annual Utah Summer Games. The Great Salt Lake Rowing organization is also a recognized part of the annual Sailfest activities along with the Great Salt Lake Yacht Club. Sculling is also a part of the University of Utah Continuing Education curriculum.