Big boat is back Men's eight rowers off to final By ROB LONGLEY -- Sun Media

Canada's men's eight team finally got its Olympic regatta started and took the express route to the final on Monday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward IN DEPTH Women's eight barely qualify Action from Beijing

BEIJING -- Brian Price doesn't row in the powerful men's eight, but as the coxswain barking instructions from the back of the boat, he's got his hand on the throttle.

And for Monday afternoon's heat at the Shunyi Olympic Rowing and Canoe course, the 32-year-old from Belleville, Ont., had horsepower to burn.

Delayed by a day because of a lightning storm here on Sunday, the showpiece crew of Canadian rowing finally got its Olympic regatta started and took the express route to the final.

Yes, after a dominating performance, the big boat is back.

"It's like putting eight dogs in a cage, then letting them out and then throwing them right back in the cage," Price said of the effect the one delay had on his boys.

"They were pretty ready to go."

Considering they had raced in just one regatta this year -- a triumph in Lucerne, Switzerland in June -- it's little wonder the great Canadian eight were pining to get on the water for something other than one of taskmaster coach Mike Spracklen's gruelling workouts.

So go they did, surging to an early lead and even surviving the errant Aussies who had an equipment malfunction and crossed over into the Canadian's lane.

At the halfway point of the 2,000-metre race, they had opened up a boat length on the closest rival and later had the luxury of easing up for a win in 5:27.69, more than seven seconds in front of the Polish crew.

It was equal parts relief and a confirmation of power, the first level of atonement for the Athens debacle of four years ago.

"We'll look at the tape and then see areas we can improve," said Jake Wetzel, a silver medalist in the men's four in Athens and a first-time Olympian in the eight. "That's what we're going to be doing the next five days -- sharpening the saw.

"Now its about going out and becoming Olympic champions."

It surely was a far cry from the Greek experience which began to unravel in the heat when they were caught by the upstart U.S. crew.

Then, as now, the Canadians were world champions and heavily favoured, and expected to go directly to the final That boat -- which included Price and four other members of this year's squad -- never recovered from the initial defeat and for a variety of reasons finished a shocking fifth in the final.

"It feels like a lifetime ago," said Wetzel. "It's ancient history. It's four years ago, it doesn't matter."

Actually, with no offence to Wetzel, it does matter and in a very tangible way. Not only did the Canadians come here stronger and more experienced, they came focused and mindful to take nothing for granted.

With a mix of four veterans, including captain Kyle Hamilton and four newcomers, including Wetzel, this is one serious power boat.

Despite the delay which was more annoying than anything, a missing bow ball (it's a big thing, we're told) and the steering challenged Aussies, things couldn't have gone more smoothly for the Canadians.

Not only did they advance directly to Sunday's final, they did so with Price allowing them to gear down over the last 500 metres.

With the luxury of not having to be fully extended, the crew didn't reach the finish line depleted, a luxurious aid in recovery time.

"We didn't have the necessity of banging out the last 500," said Victoria, B.C.'s Dominic Seiterle. "We had some stuff left in the tank, which gives us a little confidence."

With the dominance they showed Monday, that confidence is well-placed. But after what most of them have been through, they are staying grounded.

They know that the British crew, which won Monday's other heat, will be tough as will the defending Olympic champion Americans. Then there are the upstart Chinese and the Australians who didn't have a chance to compete yesterday because of the mechanical woes.

But the Canadians also vow that this time they won't be surprised by anything the competition throws at them.

"That's why we work so hard," Seiterle said. "We do it so that on a good day, we'll win by 10 seconds, on a moderate day we'll win by three or four seconds and on a real crappy day, we'll still have enough to win the gold."