Crew races on a two-lane highway

In 1903, immigration and urbanization swept the United States. In 2002, we have strung fiber-optic wires even into the most remote nooks and crannies of the country.

Things have changed in the past 99 years, but from the time of Model T's to the decade of Escalades, Cal and Washington's men's varsity eight have raced.

The rivalry has spawned from tradition. The two crews usually race four times a year, and tomorrow at 9:08 a.m. they will race for the second time in 2002. The Huskies lost by five seconds in the grand final of the San Diego Crew Classic April 7.

"There won't be any margins like five seconds this time," said junior John Lorton. "They are notoriously strong in the second 500, and in the past we lost our resolve. I feel like now, we are tougher."

The battle is as marquee as one of the new Star Wars episodes, with Cal ranked No. 1 in the nation and the Huskies at No. 3. Three Washington eights will each battle in a heat with only Cal next to them.

"It's two heavyweights slugging it out again," said varsity coach Bob Ernst. "We are looking forward to squaring off with who we regard as the best crew in the country."

The best crew -- racing with a wacky home-water advantage.

Redwood Shores, the site of Saturday's competition, is the Fenway Park of crew. It's awkward and too small, but at the same time the rowers enjoy it because it's something different.

"You are surrounded by tech firms, and the lake is more like a canal. It's about two or three freeway lanes wide," Lorton said. "Redwood is only big enough for two crews at a time, and it's lined with houseboats on either side."

Nothing is conventional on this small manmade waterhole. Crosswinds at the start force the three-seat of each crew to hold a rope dangling above their heads at the start line in order to stay in one place after the boats are aligned.

"If someone releases it hard,it can smack the five seat in the face," Lorton said.

The course is also painfully short. Boats start with their sterns on land, and the finish line is only a few meters from a rocky shoreline.

"It's a pain in the butt," Lorton said. "You are already absolutely exhausted, then you have to go from full speed to a dead still in about 20 meters."

In between the challenging extremes of the course, there is a pedestrian bridge at about the 1,100-meter mark which is packed with Bear supporters. But there will be some Husky fans mixed in with all the gold and blue.

Lucas Ahlstrand, a senior from Oakland, Calif., will have his family on that bridge, and it certainly won't be rooting for the Bay Area favorites.

Once Ahlstrand came to Washington, Cal's freshman coach aggressively petitioned the NCAA that Ahlstrand lose a year of eligibility after competing at Orange Coast Community College, which didn't sit well with Ahlstrand.

"That was hitting below the belt," Ahlstrand said. "This is supposed to be a gentlemanly sport, and the way they screwed me over was not too gentlemanly."

The incident just fans the flames.

It is another variable in the equation that has always added up to a heated race and few handshakes afterward. Ahlstrand has no love lost for Cal, and come Saturday he and his family will fuel the whole team. Literally.

"The whole team is coming to my parents' house on Friday night, " Ahlstrand said. "We're having lasagna and chicken Caesar. My mom loves to do this kind of stuff."

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Washington's women's program will enter four boats in Saturday's action and, after amassing a record of 20-5 against Cal in the varsity race since the dual started in 1977, their rivalry is toned down.

Washington has the No. 1 women's varsity eight and the top program in the country. It relishes the competition from Cal's boats, which would love nothing more than to steal the upset this Saturday.

"It's an exciting moment when we actually have Cal lined up next to us," said Redmond-native Heidi Hurn. "They are our West Coast competition. They haven't beaten us in a while, but when you overlook Cal, you set yourself up for failure. You jinx yourself."

Cal tends to push hard for the first 1,000 meters in order to hear the cheers of their fans at the bridge, and the Huskies are prepared for the fast start.

"When someone moves on you, you move back," Hurn said. "That's the black and white of racing."

But the Huskies won't panic and let Cal dictate the pace of the race.

"Cal races to that bridge," said senior Jenni Vesnaver. "In the past, when we have gone down to Redwood Shores, after the bridge we have sped right past them."

Then, hopefully, the Huskies will hit the brakes before they hit the rocks.