Thousands of athletes from nearly 800 clubs and 29 countries will travel to Boston this weekend for the 53rd Head of the Charles Regatta. It's the largest two-day rowing event in the world and rowing's biggest annual stage, as the competition typically draws 400,000 spectators to the banks of the Charles River.
Historically in the United States, rowing has been a coastal sport, with East and West Coast teams dominating regattas.
But is there a shift happening as rowing picks up steam in the Midwest? This year, seven Cleveland-area teams will be racing in Boston -- including two universities, three high schools, and two clubs. Ahead of this weekend's competition, ideastream producer Stephanie Jarvis spent time at the Cleveland Rowing Foundation boathouse – and took to the Cuyahoga River for a look at Cleveland's growing rowing community.