Bellingham rowing clubs take to Lake Whatcom, Bellingham Bay

While Whatcom County hardly qualifies as a rowing hub, it certainly has the start-up goods: scenic venues, a climate for year-round activity, and hordes of can't-sit-still recreationists.

"Bellingham is blind to its potential in rowing," says Carlos Dinares, a native of Barcelona, Spain, who trains high-level oarsmen on Lake Samish. "It's like if you live in Tibet and don't hike."