Early rowers: High school students take to waters of Great Salt Lake

As the sun peeks over the Wasatch Mountains and gleams off the Great Salt Lake, most people across the valley are still entrenched in a dream world — but not Utah Crew. You'll find these motivated high school students and their coaches propelling themselves across the lake as fast as their bodies will allow. And it's early — 5:30.

When people think of rowing, they naturally think about Ivy League prep schools. Harvard, Yale, Cornell ... but Salt Lake City?

Rowing may not be the most popular activity in Utah, but more and more people seem to be gravitating toward the difficult but tranquil sport.

"Last summer we had a handful of rowers," said Nicole Harmony, a Utah Crew coach, "And now we have like 30."

Harmony says the beauty of rowing isn't just the competitions, but the physical activity and personal peace it brings a person. It's an individual sport, but when you put together the sum of all parts, you get the whole of a team. But still, it's a battle with one's self, an excruciating yet rewarding experience.

"It's a mind-body connection," said Harmony, a Rutgers crew alum. "It really makes you aware of how your body's moving through space."

Harmony came to Salt Lake about three years ago and thought she was leaving rowing behind in Boston. To her surprise, she's now more involved in rowing than she ever was back east. Harmony says she loves to coach, and seeing the kids get confidence and enjoyment from rowing is an extremely rewarding experience.

Mar Janna Dahl, a co-founder of Utah Crew, started the nonprofit organization in 2004. Dahl was rowing in an adult league at the time and noticed there weren't any avenues for kids to get involved in rowing. Utah Crew was born and has been getting bigger every year. Dahl says everyone needs to be part of something, and there is no better choice than Utah Crew.

"Everyone needs a place to belong," said Dahl. "In Utah Crew, everyone has a place in the boat and a job to do (for the team)."

The kids that row usually are those who are not as fond of the basketball court or aren't interested in scoring touchdowns. The kids want to be involved in something, work toward getting fit and be part of a group that "absolutely adores" each other. The latter may be most important.

These high school students don't just row together. They ski. They hike. They yoga. And the best part is, at an age where kids tend to stay within their own cliques and fail to venture off to make new friends, this assemblage of students have formed from many high schools across Utah.