As Audience

Memories recalled from new crews comprise streams of stimulating pictures. Advocates claim for higher achievement in the next year; the opposites, whose names may be evoked sometimes, enjoy the most treasurable moments and leave for their goals silently. Memoirs of senior crews are collection of scattered shots; of which time and process are getting blurred. Some of them, who have suffered from pain or physical injuries, develop a strong sense of belonging; of whom the more devoted present passionate speeches. Memories recalled from highly experienced crews comprise series of history, recording all the treasures engraved in their hearts. No matter how gorgeous the history is, all things mold when time goes by.

I was born in the glorious time of CUHK Rowing Team, and proud of the yellow blades and the yellow uniform; however, glory is not born in nature. I remember what a coach has said before, “Don’t think that you become strong whenever you put on the yellow uniform, put it off if you do not row well.” The first time I watched a men-coxed-eight event; our boat rocketed across the finish line and won the race by more than a length. At that moment, I could not help admiring the senior crews and realize the honor CUHK Rowing Team deserved. Two years later, I found it not always true. This year, the same situation as that before, I was no longer surprised but admired the beauty of youth. I paid my full attention to the boat of new crews, wondering how it could reach the third place from the fifth within five hundred meters. Here was a paternal society. Winning back the Men Overall Championship was far more impressive than claiming Women Overall Championship for seven years consecutively. After all, we were all inspired from the recovery of honor. No matter what the results are, we cry for our suffering, happiness, excitement and glory. If youth has a physical state, it is like the reflection of tears, shiny and transient; taste of sweat, bitter and unforgettable.

I am committed to CUHK Rowing Team with strong sense of belonging. I am proud to say so though I am small, without great achievement and even not involved in summer training this year. In the past, new crews were taught to respect senior crews; senior crews, who had rowed for three years, were highly appreciated; coaches or crews, who had spent three years or more on the team, were objects of worships; inevitably, practice turned to custom and custom turned to burden.

We are family. What make Shing Mun River charming are the people and our time when we dared to do anything we desired. People who enjoy competition today will find new faces here but have the same story. My challenge is no longer in the river but in the unforeseeable future which can be bright and brilliant as well. Remember we are not passers-by when we meet again someday. It is such a treasure to row in the river; go ahead and enjoy as you would never regret.

看比賽

要是每一年划艇有不同的感受，看比賽也是一樣。現役運動員看比賽，聲嘶力竭，比競賽中的還要緊張，整個人融入比賽的畫面去；退役運動員看比賽，看到的是一頁頁被翻開的相簿，相簿的塵埃一下子被抖出來，在陽光底下飄揚，朦朧的、閃爍的，再璀璨也得逝去。外行人看比賽不會明白這種感受。只要曾在河上流過一點血淚，也就算是個內行了。

新人回顧比賽，是一連串驚心動魄的過程，喜歡它的會默默許下來年再創一番成就，討厭它的就收起最珍貴的片段，悄然離去，偶然會有幾個人記得這個人的名字；舊人回顧比賽，是一幕幕零碎的鏡頭，分不清年月，比賽的過程卻不如往年的清晰，吃過些苦頭的也就多了愛家愛國的宏觀思想，再投入些的，滿腔熱誠，連番壯語。年資愈久的，是一部訴不清的歷史，記載的是刻骨銘心的人和事，然而再斑斕也不免帶點霉味。

我「出生」在中大划艇輝煌的年代，「自少」就沾了光，對於黃槳黃戰衣有種莫名其妙的驕傲。可是這驕傲並不是與生俱來的，記得有教練說過「不要以為穿上戰衣就覺得自己很強，划不好就配不上戰衣」。第一年看男子八人艇比賽，舊人艇一支箭似的衝出來，不到千五米已領先別人一艘艇位之多，心想中大划艇果然名不虛傳，舊人應有如此神力。過了兩年，並非必然。今年重見此景，沒有多大詫異，目光卻落在新人艇如何在短短 五百米 從第五爭取至第三位置，惦念的是青春在燃燒的火。我們生於一個父系社會，七年連奪女子隊全場總冠軍來不及重奪男子隊全場總冠軍的高興，就是慶功宴所歌頌的都是男子隊林林總總的往事。畢竟，失而復得的喜悅是振奮人心的。無論戰果如何，男的女的上艇後總得哭成一團。如果青春是有形態的話，那是淚水的光，閃爍而短暫；汗水的味道，鹹澀卻讓人良久回味。

我是中大划艇的人，有強烈的歸屬感，雖甚卑微，無甚麼豐功偉績、輩份資歷，今年也沒有付出半點幫忙，也不恥於承認這一點。從前新人看舊人，頭總是要仰起來的；若有人整整划了三年，應予以掌聲嘉許；若有教練或隊員在艇隊上耗了三年以上，那得敬若神明，打從心底的佩服。這不免成了壓力。

我們是一家人。要說城門河哪裡值得依戀的話，就是那裡的人和敢作敢為的青春歲月。今天的人享受比賽，躊躇滿志，他朝回顧比賽，看到的是一張張陌生的臉孔，卻有著相同的故事。是的，我的挑戰已不在城門河上，而在那觸不到的人生路上，同樣可以燦爛多姿。他日相遇，若是曾在中大划過艇的，勿作陌路人。可以在城門河上比賽確是一種福氣，人若有這樣的資格，好好地投入其中吧，不要多想，他日回望也不會後悔。

二零零八年七月十五日 第十四屆大專划艇錦標賽