NEWS RELEASE
NIAGARA COLLEGE
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Drawing upon their success broadcasting the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games to the world, Niagara College professor Peter ‘Dutch’ VandenBerg tapped his alumni A-team to lead the livestream production of the 2024 World Rowing Championships in St. Catharines, August 18 to 25.
Seasoned Broadcasting – Radio, Television and Film (BRTF) alumni Carter Hendriks (2022), Carter Vahrmeyer (2019), Gabriel Klassen (2017) and Jon Kitiwano (2019) have rejoined their alma mater to lead a team of current BRTF students and other alumni through an intense production week along the Royal Canadian Henley Rowing Course.
“The challenge with rowing is that it’s the biggest field of play, but we have a pretty adventurous plan on how we’re going to cover it,” said VandenBerg, program coordinator and industry expert. “With basketball and hockey being played within a court or rink, all of your broadcasting equipment is within reach. With rowing, you have to take a boat to the start line, a car or a boat to the finish line – so you have to be creative and well planned.”
The 24-person broadcasting team is operating 18 cameras strategically placed along the 2,000 meter course, including eleven robotic cameras and one at the start line mounted in the new Aligner Hut, built by students in NC’s Carpentry and Renovation Technician program. The eight-day event is being broadcast live on CBC Gem, www.worldrowing.com, and the World Rowing YouTube channel.
"Peter [Dutch] VandenBerg and the Niagara College broadcasting team are known for being innovative and thinking outside the box,” said Bill Schenck, Chair of St. Catharines World Rowing. “Their approach to covering the 2024 Mega Worlds exemplifies their commitment to elevating the viewing experience for a global audience, and this production is set to surpass anything we've seen before. We are deeply grateful for Niagara College's invaluable contribution to this event, and are excited to showcase their talent to the world."
For a truly unique perspective, VandenBerg mounted a camera to the boat of the official who follows in-line with the rowers.
“It’s a new perspective; I haven’t seen that in rowing. The view behind the group is going to be a game-changer.”
While the whole course is important to cover, VandenBerg has his eyes on the final stretch.
“The magic happens in the last 500 to 1,000 meters. That’s where you’ll find the majority of our production value, including live drone footage in some of the final races.”
Graphics supplied by Swiss Timing will allow the NC team to showcase key rowing metrics at each of the 500-metre markers like boat speed and stroke rate, which help the production team tell the story.
VandenBerg credits infrastructure enhancements at the Royal Canadian Henley Rowing Course, including more fibers, for equipping the NC team to deliver a high caliber broadcast. He also acknowledges the role that the N22 Canada Summer Games played.
“A lot of our equipment is from the Canada Games… a lot of the technological advancements in broadcasting are because of those investments,” he said.
For current students, broadcasting the World Rowing Championships – under the guidance of seasoned NC pros – is the experiential learning opportunity of a lifetime and a point of pride for NC.
“Niagara College is pleased to support the 2024 World Rowing Championships,” said Fiona Allan, Vice-President, Academic at Niagara College. “Our Broadcasting faculty, staff, students, and alumni are showcasing their talents beyond the classroom and highlighting our commitment to providing meaningful learning experiences that both enhance our students’ skills and positively impact our community.”
The experience is also a professional development and mentorship opportunity for alumni.
“Our grads give back,” said VandenBerg. “They want to come back, to do what was done for them, and be the person who mentors and inspires. It’s an incredibly inspiring nuclear reaction.”
VandenBerg described NC alum Hendriks as his “right-hand” during the Canada Summer Games. Hendriks – who is the Technical Producer/Engineer for the championship – works as an engineer at Dome. A recent career highlight was covering game seven of the NHL Stanley Cup Final.
Vahrmeyer has been working with World Rowing over the summer as Content Creator to produce all of the sponsorship content. Klassen is serving as Director and Kitiwano as Lead Audio Mixer and Audio Designer for the broadcast.
The crew had a chance to prepare, covering both the Canadian Secondary Schools Rowing Association Regatta and the 140th Royal Canadian Henley Regatta this summer.
Catch the 2024 World Rowing Championships in St. Catharines on CBC Gem, www.worldrowing.com, and The World Rowing YouTube Channel. For tickets to watch the races in person, visit: stcrowing2024.com/en/tickets.
From Aug. 18-25, 2024, St. Catharines is set to welcome the world for the 2024 World Rowing Senior, Under 23 and Under 19 Championships at the historic Royal Canadian Henley Rowing Course. Known for its legacy in hosting major competitions, including two previous World Rowing Championships, the Henley Rowing Course will bring together 2,500 athletes from over 60 countries in what is the biggest and most important World Rowing event of the season. stcrowing2024.com.
