About the Northern Virginia Rowing Club
History
It was a beautiful Saturday morning in June 1999, and 10 would-be new rowers gathered at the boathouse with Coach Eric Rothstein, and NVRC was born. All but one had children rowing for Eric at Thomas Jefferson High School, and all but one had never rowed before. It was a time for the parents, and one TJ teacher, to try this sport that the kids so loved. The one woman with sculling experience became stroke. Eight novices got into the shell, with some trepidation, and set out for the first time on the water. The coach patiently explained the mechanics of the stroke, gave out a lot of new terminology, and the boat set off down the river rowing by twos or fours - and the rowers wondered when they would get to row by all eight (they were very naive). In fact, they didn't row by eight until shortly before the first head race that fall.
Since that day in 1999, NVRC has started each season with some experienced rowers mixed in with the novices - patiently reinforcing each part of the stroke, doing drills, and answering all those novice rower questions. The second season brought out new parent-rowers from other high schools in Fairfax County, and the team started to grow. NVRC has gone from one mixed boat in the fall head races (when just completing the 5k was a great accomplishment), to medal-winning men's and women's boats. The membership has expanded to include those without rowing-children and young adults. Some members have gone on to be coaches, award-winning scullers and champions on the erg (rowing machine). Everyone has gained an appreciation of rowing: the beauty of sunsets, foggy mornings and herons swooping by, and the ugliness (and challenge) of rain, cold, heat, humidity and calluses. Improved fitness, camaraderie and team spirit have come naturally, almost inevitably. Just ask us to talk about rowing and you'll get an earful . . . we love it!!
Coaches
NVRC has some of the finest coaches in the mid-Atlantic area. Head coach Ron Lim, a former high school rower, has been with NVRC from its inception, has been coaching adults and high school students for 16 years. He is currently the freshman women's coach at Thomas Jefferson High School. Check out his list of award and honors below. Ron has assembled an outstanding group of coaches for NVRC's programs.
- Ron Lim
- Any Fiebig
- Kim Ehrman
- Jim Fitsgerald
Sandy Run Boathouse
Since its inception, NVRC has rowed out of the Sandy Run Regional Park which is part of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (NVRPA). The three boathouses protect the sweep "fours" and "eights" rowing shells for many of Northern Virginia's most competitive high school rowing programs such as Thomas Jefferson, Woodson, West Springfield, Langley and others, as well as the singles, doubles and quads of the Occoquan Boat Club and various private individuals.
Directions
To reach Sandy Run, take I-95 south of the Beltway, exit at Lorton Road, turn right on Lorton, turn right on Furnace Road, right again on Ox Road (Route 123), left on Hampton Road, turn left on Van Thompson and follow it to the park entrance.
Map to Sandy Run