YOUTH ROWING FAQ
Q: Youth Rowing.... Juniors Rowing? What's the difference?
A: For the most part, nothing, and the terms are often used interchangeably.
Q: I'm in high school and don't have any experience rowing. Can I join the High School Competitive Team?
A: Yes! You can sign up at the beginning of any fall, winter and spring season, or you can start rowing by taking our summer camps. Your first year of rowing, you are considered a "Novice", and only row and compete with other novice rowers.
Q: What happens after my Novice Year?
A: Novice rowers who have completed a spring season are considered experienced rowers and advance to the Varsity squad at the start the following fall. You will row and compete with other varsity rowers.
Q: I'm in the 12th grade and want to try rowing. Is it too late for me to join the team?
A: Not at all! Over the years we have had many seniors join the team for the first time, adding a whole new dimension to their final year of high school.
Q: I'm in 7th or 8th grade - can I try rowing?
A: Yes! We have a program specifically for middle schoolers in the spring and fall seasons for anyone who wants to give rowing a try. Many of our middle school rowers have gone on to join the High School Competitive Team their freshman year.
Q: I'm in 6th grade and want to try rowing. Is there a program I can sign up for?
A: The minimum grade for any rower at LOCR is 7th. Students who have finished 6th grade are eligible to begin rowing that summer before their 7th grade year.
Q: What are the rowing seasons?
A: Rowing is a year-round sport. However, the main competitive season for all categories of rowing - Juniors, Collegiate, Masters, National and Olympic - is spring, The spring season at LOCR generally begins mid-February and continues through the end of May.
Q: I'm not sure if I want to commit to rowing all year. Can I row just for one or two seasons?
A: Absolutely. We hope you'll row year-round, but if you choose to do another sport or take a season off that is okay too. The primary season for rowing is spring, followed by winter, when the team practices indoors building strength - in preparation for spring. If you were to choose which seasons to row the highest priority would be spring and winter.
Q: How often does the Competitive Team practice?
A: Practice is 6 days per week, Monday-Friday after school, and Saturday mornings.
Q: I participate in other activities and can't come to practice 6 days a week. Can I still be on the team?
A: Yes. We recognize that athletes are students first, and often participate in other scholastic and club activities. This is especially common Novice year and our coaches are flexible and will work with you. We hope by the time you advance to the Varsity squad that rowing will be your focus outside of scholastics, but we know that's not the case for everyone. With that said, the athletes who are in the top boats are generally the ones who come everyday to work hard and have fun. The adage "you get out what you put in" is especially true in the sport of rowing.
Q: If I'm on the High School Team do I have to compete in regattas? I just want to row for recreation.
A: Juniors rowing is a competitive team sport. Just like other traditional sports at your school, the rowing team practices with the goal to compete against other local and regional teams. Each spring season culminates in Regional Championships and for qualifying crews, the National Championship. Each year at Nationals youth rowers from boathouses all across the country are crowned Youth National Champions.
Q: How often will I be competing? Will I race at every regatta?
A: Depending on the season, LOCR competes at between 2 and 4 regattas. Some are local, rowing from downtown Portland on the Willamette, or at Vancouver Lake, while others are regional such as Dexter Lake south of Eugene, or events in Seattle. There is much more information about regattas that will be explained to everyone on the team early in the season.
Q: I can't convince any of my friends to sign up with me. Will I still have fun?
A: Yes! It is said rowing is the ultimate team sport. You are in a boat with other new rowers just like you, all learning how to do the same thing, overcoming the same hurdles, and achieving the same successes. You will make friends that may last well beyond your school years.
Q: How can I find out more information about rowing in College?
A: There is a wealth of information on the USRowing website. Colleges and Universities that LOCR alumni have rowed at include Oregon State, University of Portland, University of Washington, Bates College, Columbia University, Cornell, Drexel University, Duke, Northeastern, Occidental College, Santa Clara, Trinity College, West Point, William & Mary, UMass Amherst, University of Minnesota, University of Pugent Sound, University of San Diego and the University of Wisconsin.
Q: How much does rowing cost? Are there other fees I should know about?
A: We try to be as transparent as possible about fees. We've published a document on the Youth Rowing page that will give you an idea of a typical registration and regatta costs.
Q: This sounds pretty awesome! What do I do now?
A: Register! See the pages specific to the rowing program for you on our website, and sign up. If you've already missed the start date for the current season, check back in a couple of months and we'll have registration posted for the next season!
Q: My mom and dad want to get in on this rowing thing. Do you have something for them?
A: Yes! We teach adults in Learn to Row classes every spring, summer and fall. All the details are under the Learn to Row menu.
Q: Do you row all year long?
A: Our "on-the-water" seasons are spring, summer and fall. During the winter, generally November - February, we are inside and row on our state of the art Concept 2 rowing machines, aka ergometers, or ergs for short.
Q: What should I wear?
A: You shouldn't have to purchase anything special to participate in our Learn to Row camps or classes. But you'll want to dress weather-appropriate:
A: For the most part, nothing, and the terms are often used interchangeably.
Q: I'm in high school and don't have any experience rowing. Can I join the High School Competitive Team?
A: Yes! You can sign up at the beginning of any fall, winter and spring season, or you can start rowing by taking our summer camps. Your first year of rowing, you are considered a "Novice", and only row and compete with other novice rowers.
Q: What happens after my Novice Year?
A: Novice rowers who have completed a spring season are considered experienced rowers and advance to the Varsity squad at the start the following fall. You will row and compete with other varsity rowers.
Q: I'm in the 12th grade and want to try rowing. Is it too late for me to join the team?
A: Not at all! Over the years we have had many seniors join the team for the first time, adding a whole new dimension to their final year of high school.
Q: I'm in 7th or 8th grade - can I try rowing?
A: Yes! We have a program specifically for middle schoolers in the spring and fall seasons for anyone who wants to give rowing a try. Many of our middle school rowers have gone on to join the High School Competitive Team their freshman year.
Q: I'm in 6th grade and want to try rowing. Is there a program I can sign up for?
A: The minimum grade for any rower at LOCR is 7th. Students who have finished 6th grade are eligible to begin rowing that summer before their 7th grade year.
Q: What are the rowing seasons?
A: Rowing is a year-round sport. However, the main competitive season for all categories of rowing - Juniors, Collegiate, Masters, National and Olympic - is spring, The spring season at LOCR generally begins mid-February and continues through the end of May.
Q: I'm not sure if I want to commit to rowing all year. Can I row just for one or two seasons?
A: Absolutely. We hope you'll row year-round, but if you choose to do another sport or take a season off that is okay too. The primary season for rowing is spring, followed by winter, when the team practices indoors building strength - in preparation for spring. If you were to choose which seasons to row the highest priority would be spring and winter.
Q: How often does the Competitive Team practice?
A: Practice is 6 days per week, Monday-Friday after school, and Saturday mornings.
Q: I participate in other activities and can't come to practice 6 days a week. Can I still be on the team?
A: Yes. We recognize that athletes are students first, and often participate in other scholastic and club activities. This is especially common Novice year and our coaches are flexible and will work with you. We hope by the time you advance to the Varsity squad that rowing will be your focus outside of scholastics, but we know that's not the case for everyone. With that said, the athletes who are in the top boats are generally the ones who come everyday to work hard and have fun. The adage "you get out what you put in" is especially true in the sport of rowing.
Q: If I'm on the High School Team do I have to compete in regattas? I just want to row for recreation.
A: Juniors rowing is a competitive team sport. Just like other traditional sports at your school, the rowing team practices with the goal to compete against other local and regional teams. Each spring season culminates in Regional Championships and for qualifying crews, the National Championship. Each year at Nationals youth rowers from boathouses all across the country are crowned Youth National Champions.
Q: How often will I be competing? Will I race at every regatta?
A: Depending on the season, LOCR competes at between 2 and 4 regattas. Some are local, rowing from downtown Portland on the Willamette, or at Vancouver Lake, while others are regional such as Dexter Lake south of Eugene, or events in Seattle. There is much more information about regattas that will be explained to everyone on the team early in the season.
Q: I can't convince any of my friends to sign up with me. Will I still have fun?
A: Yes! It is said rowing is the ultimate team sport. You are in a boat with other new rowers just like you, all learning how to do the same thing, overcoming the same hurdles, and achieving the same successes. You will make friends that may last well beyond your school years.
Q: How can I find out more information about rowing in College?
A: There is a wealth of information on the USRowing website. Colleges and Universities that LOCR alumni have rowed at include Oregon State, University of Portland, University of Washington, Bates College, Columbia University, Cornell, Drexel University, Duke, Northeastern, Occidental College, Santa Clara, Trinity College, West Point, William & Mary, UMass Amherst, University of Minnesota, University of Pugent Sound, University of San Diego and the University of Wisconsin.
Q: How much does rowing cost? Are there other fees I should know about?
A: We try to be as transparent as possible about fees. We've published a document on the Youth Rowing page that will give you an idea of a typical registration and regatta costs.
Q: This sounds pretty awesome! What do I do now?
A: Register! See the pages specific to the rowing program for you on our website, and sign up. If you've already missed the start date for the current season, check back in a couple of months and we'll have registration posted for the next season!
Q: My mom and dad want to get in on this rowing thing. Do you have something for them?
A: Yes! We teach adults in Learn to Row classes every spring, summer and fall. All the details are under the Learn to Row menu.
Q: Do you row all year long?
A: Our "on-the-water" seasons are spring, summer and fall. During the winter, generally November - February, we are inside and row on our state of the art Concept 2 rowing machines, aka ergometers, or ergs for short.
Q: What should I wear?
A: You shouldn't have to purchase anything special to participate in our Learn to Row camps or classes. But you'll want to dress weather-appropriate:
- Layers of cool-max, polypropylene or fleece
- Bike or running shorts and a fitted shirt - baggy clothes will get caught in the equipment
- Athletic shoes and socks
- Hat and sunscreen