ISU Rowing Team Drowning

[CY88CE11]

Iowa State Crew Club’s President Describes Events Leading up to Fatal Boating Accident

AMES, Iowa — The president of the Iowa State Crew Club has released more information about the moments leading up to the fatal boating accident on Little Wall Lake. Five members of the Iowa S…

who13.com

Sounds like the wind caught them by surprise. I can't imagine the survivors' guilt. Terrible situation all around.

 

[Gunnerclone]

I recommend the Windy app highly. Just looking at an nws forecast page for a location doesn’t even cut it in golf or for cycling. Let alone something on the water.

 

[ForbinsAscynt]

it’s all very sad. I do recall knowing it would be windy in Ames prior to the weekend. In fact, I remember seeing on Facebook the local cycling club cancelled all rides.

 

[Tornado man]

Iowa State Crew Club’s President Describes Events Leading up to Fatal Boating Accident

AMES, Iowa — The president of the Iowa State Crew Club has released more information about the moments leading up to the fatal boating accident on Little Wall Lake. Five members of the Iowa S…

who13.com

Sounds like the wind caught them by surprise. I can't imagine the survivors' guilt. Terrible situation all around.

That's not what the residents around the lake were saying - powerful winds were present way before the crew went out. There was one resident that said he couldn't understand why they went out there in the first place.

 

[HFCS]

Somehow I just found out about this. So sad to see kids killed doing something active they enjoy.

I can imagine the winds and low water temperature could be a lethal combo.

No rowing experience but I've had a few moments surfing that were completely terrifying, water is no joke. Since I'm not expert level I pretty much adopted a policy of only surfing on what looks like the ideal day for me in terms of weather and surf conditions...sometimes it results in my driving 60-90 minutes round trip for no surfing after I see conditions in person, but that's just the way it is.

 

[ISUAlum2002]

That's not what the residents around the lake were saying - powerful winds were present way before the crew went out. There was one resident that said he couldn't understand why they went out there in the first place.

Yeah, I think the winds were sustained nearly all day, if I remember that day right. Feel like it's a situation like someone already mentioned; the crew was eager to get out on the water, probably had it planned for a while.

 

[GMackey32]

The water wasn’t like glass that day. I drove by around 9:10 and the water was already rough. Little Wall Lake hasn’t had calm water this year until yesterday

 

[Die4Cy]

Yeah, I think the winds were sustained nearly all day, if I remember that day right. Feel like it's a situation like someone already mentioned; the crew was eager to get out on the water, probably had it planned for a while.

I know from their FB page that they had just gotten their skull and gear back from refurbishing the day before.

 

[chuckd4735]

The water wasn’t like glass that day. I drove by around 9:10 and the water was already rough. Little Wall Lake hasn’t had calm water this year until yesterday

Did you read his timeline? Do you know it wasn't rough when they showed up at 730 AM and launched at 845 AM?

 

[GMackey32]

Did you read his timeline? Do you know it wasn't rough when they showed up at 730 AM and launched at 845 AM?

I did. I live right by there. It was windy like that all morning even before I drove by. Little Wall hasn’t been calm all spring until yesterday. It’s even rough today.

 

[ISUAgronomist]

Iowa State Crew Club’s President Describes Events Leading up to Fatal Boating Accident

AMES, Iowa — The president of the Iowa State Crew Club has released more information about the moments leading up to the fatal boating accident on Little Wall Lake. Five members of the Iowa S…

who13.com

Sounds like the wind caught them by surprise. I can't imagine the survivors' guilt. Terrible situation all around.

Here's wind speed from a weather station 7 miles from Little Wall Lake. The red lines are 7:30am. I know conditions can vary over a short distance but the sustained wind was over 12 mph all night and near 20 mph before 6am.

 

[Acylum]

Not nice to say but I’m not sure I’m buying this: https://kcci.com/article/isu-crew-c...-events-leading-up-to-fatal-accident/36022717
Throw in they were probably anxious to try out their refurbished equipment as posted above, and I think it’s likely there was some poor decision-making involved.

 

[Tornado man]

Not nice to say but I’m not sure I’m buying this: https://kcci.com/article/isu-crew-c...-events-leading-up-to-fatal-accident/36022717
Throw in they were probably anxious to try out their refurbished equipment as posted above, and I think it’s likely there was some poor decision-making involved.

Yes, I think statement like this by her will need to get verified via the investigation, by others around the lake at the time:

"We arrived at Little Wall a little after 7:30 a.m., and it was very calm that morning. The lake was like glass near some of the shorelines and very tiny ripples everywhere else."

 

[Acylum]

Yes, I think statement like this by her will need to get verified via the investigation, by others around the lake at the time:

"We arrived at Little Wall a little after 7:30 a.m., and it was very calm that morning. The lake was like glass near some of the shorelines and very tiny ripples everywhere else."

That statement doesn’t jibe with what @ISUAgronomist posted right above me. And then “out of nowhere “ it went from calm to rolling waves and whitecaps? I’m not trying to place blame on anybody in particular, I’m sure she feels horrible. She’s already admitted the forecasted winds were right at the cutoff for launching.

 

[Die4Cy]

No question, anyone who was around that day understands there very being there was a case of human error.

I'm sure everyone involved deeply regrets the choices made that morning.

 

[GMackey32]

Here's wind speed from a weather station 7 miles from Little Wall Lake. The red lines are 7:30am. I know conditions can vary over a short distance but the sustained wind was over 12 mph all night and near 20 mph before 6am.

But people read the timeline of the President of the club, who could be held responsible, and won’t believe the science available or the nonpartisan posters who refute his statement.

 

[Tornado man]

But people read the timeline of the President of the club, who could be held responsible, and won’t believe the science available or the nonpartisan posters who refute his statement.

I'm sure the investigation(s) now being conducted would verify or refute her statement.

 

[Land Grant]

No question, anyone who was around that day understands there very being there was a case of human error.

I'm sure everyone involved deeply regrets the choices made that morning.

I think this is the best response. Club sports are run by the students; they lack resources and often times expertise. How many experienced rowers even live in Ames? Of them, how many will volunteer to coach -- especially if practices are usually early morning when waters are calmest? Yet these students are out there trying to do something new and exciting. Not unlike rock climbing, mountaineering, scuba, or even team sports like rugby. There's something admirable in this.

Still, in almost all rowing teams and clubs I know about practicing rowers are accompanied by a motor boat. Nothing fancy, often just skiff with a 15-20 hp outboard. That would have made a difference here.

 

[Rabbuk]

I think this is the best response. Club sports are run by the students; they lack resources and often times expertise. How many experienced rowers even live in Ames? Of them, how many will volunteer to coach -- especially if practices are usually early morning when waters are calmest? Yet these students are out there trying to do something new and exciting. Not unlike rock climbing, mountaineering, scuba, or even team sports like rugby. There's something admirable in this.

Still, in almost all rowing teams and clubs I know about practicing rowers are accompanied by a motor boat. Nothing fancy, often just skiff with a 15-20 hp outboard. That would have made a difference here.

There was a kayak that saved at least one of them.

 

[BikeSkiClone]

There was a kayak that saved at least one of them.

I thought that was one of the people who live on the lake, of which there were a few people who jumped in either by swimming or kayaking to save them. Apologies if I'm mistaken.

I also am puzzled by the club President releasing a statement if the investigation is ongoing. I understand they may not be thinking clearly due to grief, stress, possible feeling of guilt, or wanting to put something/anything out to answer the building number of questions, but the club adviser stepping in before that was released would've been the thing to do, especially if it turns out to be in conflict with reality/what the investigators find.