The OAR Junior Team is open to experienced and inexperienced High School students (grades 9-12) interested in rowing and coxing. During the summer session students from Middle School, who have completed grade 7, are also welcome.

Rowing is a sport for life and many young rowers will learn to love rowing on Budd Inlet and may continue with rowing in college as young adults or even into old age. Rowing is a highly aerobic sport, which also develops strength, endurance, flexibility and extraordinary discipline. OAR rowers go out daily in good weather on Budd Inlet, and enjoy a beautiful setting with views of the mountains, the Olympia skyline, and often seals or eagles show themselves.

We row out of the OAR boathouse at the north end of Swantown Marina. While the rowing practice may vary a lot from day to day, the experienced rowers may expect to row from 4 to 8 miles a day, out toward Gull Harbor, or along the Cooper Point near the Country Club, or down to the 4th street bridge. All practices are attended by an experienced rowing coach in a motor launch for providing teaching, encouragement, and safety.

Rowing practices are five days a week, generally Monday - Friday. In the Fall, Spring, and Winter, the practices are after school. In the summer, the practices are early in the morning.

OAR IS A YEAR-ROUND ROWING CLUB
Rowing at OAR is a 4-season sport, but every season is a new start and no Juniors are obligated to participate in every season. Summer for Juniors involves early morning practices on Budd Inlet, learning rowing skills and how to enjoy the sport. In the Fall season the emphasis is on longer distance rowing for endurance training. Fall races range from 5 to 8 miles in length. In the Winter the kids have an optional gym and weightlifting class, coached in an indoor environment such as CrossFit Gym or YMCA. The Spring season is the most competition- oriented season. Spring races are "sprints" ranging from 1000 to 2000 meters in length (4 to 8 minutes duration, typically, depending on the level of the rowers and the conditions of the waterway.) starting in mid February and ending with the NorthWest Regional Regatta in late May.

Typically the season dates are:

• Mid June to first weekend of August (Summer "Fun" season)
• Labor Day to end of October (Fall "Head" season)
• November through January (Winter "Gym" season)
• Early February to end of May (Spring "Sprints" season)

RACING
Races are held on our home waters, or at the lakes and inlets of other rowing clubs. Races range from two clubs in friendly dual meets, to a thousand or more rowers in formal multiple day regattas involving mosot of the clubs around the Pacific Northwest region. Ragattas often include both adult and junior rowing events.

Common venues for regattas for OAR (in addition to Bull Inlet) are Vancouver Lake, Seattle's Lake Union, Lake Stevens, the Willametter River, and Dexter Lake (near Eugene, OR). Most regattas start early on a Saturday morning (usually we arrive before dawn) and end late on the same afternoon. OAR organizes a food tent, boat loading and rigging, shared rides, and other amenities for rowers and parents. In the event of winds over about ten miles per hour, or heavy fog, the regattas may be canceled or delayed, or the racecourse might be shortened, or the planned race schedule adjusted to accomodate the conditions.

Parents are welcome to attend and enjoy regattas. As well, we usually ask for parent-volunteers to help prepare and cook food in our portable kitchen. Sometimes we ask for volunteers to help run our home regattas by posting times or other pleasant duties. Regattas are usually a fun community event with lots of excitement around the races, and socializing around the club tent.

Regattas can also be chilly and wet. So, to be comfortable, we recommend parents wear lots of warm and waterproof clothes - even blankets in the cold season. Bring a portable beach chair and mug (we have hot water for coffee and tea in the food tent). Binoculars will help you see and enjoy the races.

HOW TO GET STARTED
OAR offers an annual Learn to Row day on the first Saturday morning in June at the boathouse. Anyone is welcome to come and try it out, get in a boat with some experienced rowers and a coach, feel the burn of the muscles on the ergometer and meet the OAR community.

But any Juniors may join as novice rowers at the start of any of our four seasons. Feel free to contact one of the Junior Program Parent Coordinators (see "contacts" page) to ask about how to learn to row.

We will require all new rowers to take a swim test at a local pool - Rowers must be able to show that they can tread water for ten minutes in typical workout clothing. We also require that all rowers provide evidence of a physical examination by a family doctor when starting to row, which should be updated annually. There is a code of conduct at OAR that defines appropriate standards for participation, sportsmanship, respect for people and equipment, as well as the obligations of the coaches and club to provide a safe and challenging athletic environment.

Rowing is a demanding sport. Anyone who is thinking about rowing can spend some time self-training through running, biking, weight-lifting, or calisthenics. Anyone starting rowing should be able to run a mile or two at a steady comfortable pace without needing to rest.

When you start, you will find that the physical training and abilities will increase as your skills develop. Coaches will provide advice and training programs to help new rowers develop strength, aerobic capacity, flexibility and endurance while they learn to row and train with the other members of the crew.

WANT TO GET IN SHAPE?
Rowing at OAR is done by all ages, from 14 to ... I've observed 80+ year olds at the finish line at several regattas. Rowing is a low impact activity, favored by many people who have experienced difficulties with knees, or back problems, or shin splints, in other athletic pursuits. Rowing uses practically every muscle in your body, develops poise and balance, timing and aerobic conditioning, and it's fun, too.

Parents, while you are coming out to races to enjoy watching your child row, maybe you should consider rowing for yourself. OAR offers classes on both sweep and sculling styles, regularly from March through September each year. A schedule of rowing introductory classes is posted elsewhere on this website. After you learn to row, you can join in a structured program if you wish, rowing up to several days a week on Budd Inlet with other rowers of similar skills and athletic interests. Scullers who complete the introductory class and join OAR have access to the single shells and can take a boat out alone, or with other scullers in coached sessions. If you're looking for an all-body workout, in a beautiful environment, with an energetic community, think about giving rowing a try. Maybe your Junior Rower will even let you share a boat and row with you someday, if you work at it hard enough to keep up, that is.