Rowing: Korean conditions add spice to battle for world gold

Lightweight four member Peter Taylor (second from left) says acclimatising to the Korean heat has proved difficult. Photo / Getty Images

Enjoy the spiced cabbage, the short beds and the searing humidity. That's the advice from Seoul Olympic Games bronze medallist Eric Verdonk as the New Zealand rowing team starts its world championship campaign in Chungju, South Korea, today.

Verdonk raced the single sculls in 1988 (at a similar time of year) and was one of three New Zealand crews to earn bronze. He said the conditions can be intimidating.

"The late summer temperature is hot during the day and influenced by the continental climate of China. Korea has a pseudonym, 'Land of the morning calm'. During the Seoul Olympics racing concluded early, as a predictable wind came up in the afternoon. The atmospheric haze also might be unnerving."

The heat times reflect Verdonk's theory, although the finals will be held late in the afternoon on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Chungju's man-made lake - about 110km south-east of Seoul - is further inland than the Han River which Verdonk competed on. Temperatures of about 30 degrees are forecast and the humidity is expected to be in excess of 90 per cent. It is just the second time the world championships have been held in Asia. The other was at Gifu, Japan, in 2005 when New Zealand won four golds in 40 magnificent minutes. That regatta is regarded as a catalyst in generating the sport's current success.

"[The regatta] has been a long time coming so they'll [Koreans] make a legendary effort to plug for a safe outcome and encourage [governing body] Fisa to hold future world championships in Asia," Verdonk said.

Verdonk says the New Zealanders might struggle with a number of factors.

"The food is different from Kiwi tastes with kimchi, a spiced cabbage in a multitude of preparations, being a feature of most meals. It is more a conduit for hot chili and an acquired taste. My message to the rowers would be 'go easy'.

"In addition, there are not many tall people in Korea, so finding long-enough beds and seats on transport that have leg room will become part of the 'creature comfort' discussions."

The venue is less than 200km from the North Korean border, well within missile range. North and South Korea are still technically at war; their conflict ended in a truce rather than a peace treaty 60 years ago.

A series of aggressive missives earlier this year raised safety concerns. Rowing NZ sought security advice from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and waited for Fisa to give the okay on its event inspection before sending athletes.

"I expect the champs to conclude without any major incidents," Verdonk said. "South Korea dots its Is and crosses its Ts. It is highly industrialised and affluent, with a lot of American business interests. North Korea might have flexed its military muscle but there is too much American influence in the region for this to get far."

The New Zealand team has appreciated acclimatising almost a fortnight before the start.

In a recent dispatch, Olympic bronze medallist Peter Taylor, whose experience has been instrumental shaping the unbeaten men's lightweight four this season, said dealing with the heat has been the biggest factor.

"The temperature is right up there. I have been to a few hot countries before, like Taiwan, China and Slovenia but they came in second to what I experienced [on arrival in Korea]. This is the reason why we are one of the first teams here, to allow our bodies to adjust so we are normalised before racing."

New Zealand team members have enjoyed the odd home comfort. A roomful sat down to watch the All Blacks beat the Wallabies last weekend when coverage was discovered on a hotel television channel.

• Andrew Alderson travelled to South Korea courtesy of Rowing New Zealand and its principal partner Bankstream.