November’s Featured Umpire: Benjamin Wiebe

Written by Benjamin Wiebe

I’ve always had a passion for water sports, and grew up kayaking competitively. I was introduced to rowing in the Winter 2023 term at the University of Waterloo, so my journey began with the erg, which I really enjoyed at the time… I’m not so sure I do anymore.

Over my summer break in 2023, I joined Hanlan Boat Club in Toronto, where the head coach created an accelerated program, building upon my kayaking experience, so that I could advance to the competitive morning sessions instead of following the traditional Learn to Row route. During my first season, I competed in regattas and started to immerse myself in the world of rowing.

After my first regatta, feeling unsure about how the regatta system worked, I decided to become an umpire to better understand the rules and improve my own racing. To become a level one assistant umpire was a short online module, level two was an in-person course learning from experienced umpires about what they look for to ensure races are safe and fair. Fast forward to 2024, I’ve logged my hours and passed the exam to become an official licensed umpire.

Coaching is another route I began to pursue as a way to learn, this time from the perspective of what coaches look for in athletes. In 2024, I completed RCA Weekend One, RCA Coastal Weeks One & Two, worked as an assistant coach for the Junior Development Program and helped with the rowing component of a YMCA camp at Hanlan.

One of the reasons I became both an umpire and coach early in my rowing career is that being a successful athlete means understanding how people struggle with technique and improve over time. I’ve picked up drills and tips that yes, have helped me teach others, but they have also been unlocks in my own learning and technique. I better understand why we do each drill, helping me to do more targeted technique refinement. As an umpire, having a strong understanding of the rules is helpful for explaining them to athletes and knowing what you’re allowed to do as an athlete yourself. Plus, as an umpire, you get a front-row seat to watching races unfold, which offers unique insight into racing strategy and technique.

Rowing has been an incredibly fun sport for me because there’s always something new to learn–whether it’s improving technique or physical ability. Every training session presents an opportunity to grow. This upcoming year (Winter 2025 to Fall 2025), I’ll be the President of the Rowing team at the University of Waterloo, and I’m excited to expand the sport and introduce my peers to rowing, just as Waterloo did for me. I’m really appreciate with the rowing community and how supportive it is, and I look forward to many more years of competing, umpiring, and coaching.