Northern Virginia Rowing Club Programs.
Session I - The Learn-to-Row Session – June 4 to June 30 – Cost $145
The NVRC learn to row (LTR) program is designed to take adults from never having been in a shell before to rowing with experienced rowers by all eight in the single month of June. Attendance the first three practices is mandatory as it is pretty intense and provides all of the primary instruction in the rowing stroke (practiced on land with Concept2 ergometers (rowing machines) and on the water in shells) and the related equipment.
Novices and experienced rowers will get on the water at 6:30pm. For the first week the novices will join experienced rowers in the eights on the water. After initially rowing by novice pairs to apply the basic erg stroke to the water, we will row by fours (each novice pair following an experienced pair). In the second and third weeks, we will expand the novices rowing by sixes with two experienced rowers providing stability to the shell and continuing to perfect the timing and balance of the boat. During the last week, we will row mostly by sixes but as the boats improve in their timing and balance, we will also row by eights for short periods of time.
Session II - Building Technical Stroke and Endurance Rowing - July 5 to September 1 – Cost $300
Novices will take out eights by themselves to build on what they learned in the LTR program and begin building up some endurance for longer rows. Generally, the novices work towards rowing one or more novice eights in the fall races and will practice rowing by eights to get ready. Occasionally, an extra experienced rower may join the novice boats and vice versa.
The experienced rowers will divide up into those who wish to row on a recreational boat and those who wish to try out for the competitive boats (men's and women's). The recreational boats will be those who are not primarily driven to competition and instead are just interested in long comfortable rows and getting exercise, and enjoying the peace and quiet of the Occoquan in a boat whose goal is to technically row well - coaches will be working to insure that the boat is set well. Those rowers interested in competition will be turning in erg scores and demonstrating their capabilities to the coaches in hopes of being picked for a seat on the competition boat or boats. While erg scores and power to weight ratios are important, the ability to move the boat and also to match with the other rowers on the boat will be considered by the coaches in choosing the best eight and second best eight (or four) rowers.
Session III - The fall regatta season - September 6 to November 6 – Cost $300
Rowing on the Occoquan in the fall is something special - the cooling temperatures, the leaves changing color, the bald eagles turning lazy circles in the sky, the deer along the shore. The novices are still practicing to match strokes and balance the eight on a regular basis. Recreational rowers are simply drinking in the wonder of being alive and getting exercise on the water. The competition rowers are finally fitting together in their respective boats and pushing for the best possible speed over a 5,000 meter course.
During September to mid-October practice everyone (novices, recreational and competition rowers alike) is getting ready for the three head races - The Occoquan Challenge, The Occoquan Chase and the big daddy of them all, the Head of the Occoquan. Each course is slightly different and provides new challenges and all of the boats have a great time and sense of accomplishment when it is over and done.
Please send any questions about NVRC or the adult programs to Kathy Clowery at ktclowery@gmail.com or Clint Spooner at scs@nixonvan.com
NVRC Junior Program - Cost for rowers $400, Cost for Coxswains $50
The Northern Virginia Rowing Club is providing an opportunity for experienced high school rowers (both boys and girls) with at least one year of experience required (two preferred) to row in eights, fours and maybe even an octuple a few times. Join us for a fall rowing program dedicated to improving skills, getting in lots of miles, and competing in some of the local head races. There will also may be an opportunity for 1 select girls and 1 select boys boat to row in the Head of the Charles (depends on getting an entry accepted - additional costs and practices will be required for those interested). The program will run from Wednesday 7 September 2011 to Sunday 6 November 2011. Practices will be held four days a week: Monday, Wednesdays and Thursday from 4:30 to 6:45 pm and Saturdays from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm at the Sandy Run Rowing Facility on the Occoquan River. Early registrants get preference in the event the program fills up.
Please send questions to Coach Bill Randall at cjsb@verizon.net