Hitting Early Form under the Southern Sun: Hamburg’s U23 Team Kicks off Season Preparation with Training Camp at Lago Di Pusiano

Summer-like temperatures, calm water, and perfect training conditions – Hamburg’s U23 team found ideal conditions at northern Italy’s Lago di Pusiano for a successful start to the competitive season.

To kick off the 2025 rowing season, Hamburg’s U23 squad set up its training camp at Lago di Pusiano in northern Italy during the first two weeks of March – and encountered almost perfect conditions there. The idyllically located lake in Lombardy, framed by the foothills of the Alps, has been a popular training location for national and international teams for years – and once again lived up to this reputation.

Especially in the first week, Lago di Pusiano showed its best side: With spring-like, at times almost summer-like temperatures, mirror-smooth water, and hardly any wind, the Hamburg rowers were able to intensively focus on technique and rhythm in small boats. This was also the training focus: targeted preparation for the upcoming competitions – including the long-distance race in Leipzig, the 2000-meter erg test, and the small boat championship.

Housed directly at the regional performance center, the athletes benefited not only from the excellent waterfront location but also from the optimally equipped indoor areas. Strength and ergometer training could thus be seamlessly integrated into the program – without long distances or organizational hurdles, which meant a clear location advantage.

“The training camp was an all-around successful start to the season for us,” was the unanimous opinion within the team. With a solid foundation under their belts, the Hamburg U23 team now looks forward to the upcoming races with motivation – and the chance to recommend themselves for greater challenges.