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Two-time world champions Duncan Free and Drew Ginn will boost an Australian rowing team at close to full strength for the second World Cup regatta of the year in Lucerne starting Friday.
The men’s pair are joined by world champion lightweight double scull crew Amber Halliday and Marguerite Houston in making their first international appearances of the year ahead of the Beijing Olympics.
However Halliday was wary of improvement from other crews in 2008.
“China will be looking to improve from last year and Canada usually does really well in Lucerne”, Halliday said.
“We are not doing a full taper for this event, but hopefully we’ll still put a decent race together when we’re that little bit tired.”
The Australian men’s and women’s eights will go into the regatta full of confidence after winning gold medals at the first World Cup meeting.
The women’s eight stormed to a commanding six second victory in Munich, but the addition of the US in the Lucerne field promises to make it tougher.
And the men’s eight will strike world champion Canada in a field that features the majority of the crews that will contest the Olympics.
“The Canadians are the benchmark crew after 2007,” said Australian men’s eight member James Chapman, who missed the first World Cup victory through illness.
“Every crew will see how they are preparing for the Olympics against the benchmark.
“However we won’t be looking at that until after the racing is over.
“We will be looking at what we are doing in our boat to make it go as fast as it can.”