Things to Know About Rowing
- Fun, travel, and competition. Rowing involves racing adrenaline, sunset practices, sunrise regattas, road trips, and boatloads of memories!
- Two seasons and year-round conditioning. Athletes can participate in the fall (longer distance races), spring (shorter races), or both. This makes crew a popular sport to do in conjunction with another fall or spring sport. In between seasons, athletes can elect to participate in optional conditioning programs.
- No experience needed. Most of our rowers had never touched an oar before high school. Rowers automatically join the "novice" team for their first two seasons to learn the sport. There are no tryouts. If you put in the work, there's a seat for you in a boat.
- Join any time. Late starter? No problem. Rowers and coxswain are welcome in any grade.
- The ultimate team sport. Every oar stroke affects the boat's success. There are no heroes or fall guys in crew. We win together.
- Everyone has a seat on the boat. You don't have to be a "typical athlete" to thrive at crew. Rowers come in all shapes and sizes. Some love to row while others may decide to be a coxswain.
- Full body workout. Contrary to popular belief, rowers use their legs even more than their upper body. You're guaranteed to get in great shape! Crew is also low impact and less prone to injuries than other sports.
- More than just a sport. Rowers prioritize school, and they support one another in their academic success. Rowers build grit, confidence, and interpersonal skills that benefit them throughout their life. Crew also opens new doors for college!
- Time and dedication. During the season, practices are usually weekdays from 5:15-7:30. Regattas (races) are on Saturdays, and there are typically 4-6 per season. Parents carpool and volunteer to keep the team running smoothly.
- Lifelong friends. Crew is about more than racing - it's friendships and a strong community. There's no better feeling that winning a race with your teammates!
Helpful Resources
FAQs
Where can I learn more about rowing?
There are some great resources on the US Rowing website. You're also always welcome to ask questions of the coaches or other parents!
Do rowers receive awards/letters?
Yes! These are distributed at our end of season banquets. Please note, rowers are considered "Novice" until they complete 1 entire year of rowing.
What will I need?
- Snug fit or spandex tops and bottoms for practices. Loose clothes can get caught in the slide when rowing!
- Uniforms for regattas. Novice rowers don't need a formal "uni." Instead, you'll wear a Huron Rowing t-shirt and spandex bottoms. You might also want a long-sleeved spandex top to wear under the uniform t-shirt on colder days.
- Wrenches (size 7/16 or 11mm) for rigging and de-rigging the boats. It's helpful to have one that is non-ratcheting and one that is ratcheting. If this is not an option, get two that are non-ratcheting. Mark your wrenches with your name.
- Water bottle. It's helpful to have a small one for the boat and a large one for race days.
- Running shoes for warm-ups
- Crocs/slides for easy on and off at the dock
- Extra socks (at least 3 pairs on regatta days!)
- Water-resistant bag or protection for your bag on rainy days
- Sunscreen
- Band-Aids and sports tape for blisters
- Hat or visor to protect your face from the sun
- Sunglasses
