When COVID-19 restrictions shut their club down, the coaches of the Maroochy River Rowing Club had to innovate to keep their teenage rowers motivated.
Their answer: online group training where the teens are coached on home rowing machines, with many rowers achieving personal best times.
It is a stark change from their usual dawn training along the picturesque Maroochy River, but it is protecting the team's camaraderie.
Club president, Russell Muller, said the COVID-19 closure initially raised fear among its young rowers and their parents.
"A lot of kids will use this sport for anxiety issues," he said.
"They have a strong physical workout on the water and it's mentally refreshing for them.
"And parents have supported that totally, so [the club closing] was a big concern."
Online coaching, no membership losses
The club's head coach, Donna Muller, immediately pivoted to online coaching sessions to keep the momentum going.
"A number of the rowers actually already had rowing machines at home," Mr Muller said.
"Some purchased machines and we also hired out all the rowing machines from our clubhouse, which helped cover some of our fixed running costs.
"While our main sport is on the water rowing, the backup and training is done on the rowing machine indoors.
"So, we've had that advantage, and we've been able to improve our indoor rowing times as well."
As many small regional sporting clubs suffer under COVID-19 restrictions, Mr Muller believes his club will emerge stronger than ever, with no membership loss.
"We already had a strong base and three of our rowers had been selected for the Queensland team this year, there is such a strong camaraderie in our club," he said.
"And with Donna engaging them in the Zoom lessons and through conversations so they're still enthused … when these doors do open again, you know, we'll be up and running quickly."
He is hoping restrictions will ease soon and the rowers can tentatively take to the water again in small groups.
While the team carries on rowing on dry land, virtual training will never fully match the experience of being on the river, Mr Muller said.
"On these early mornings we will travel in the dark, up to the upper reaches of the Maroochy River.
"As you round some of the bends, there'll be a misty fog across the water.
"It's absolutely stunning. To feel that experience, that tranquillity, it's unbelievable."
