2004 Ice Rowing 
Olympia Area
Rowing Association
P.O. Box 7148
Olympia, WA 98507 
 Info@OlympiaAreaRowing.org
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OAR Junior Team


OAR Juniors

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 rowing in college or even later.

Rowing is a highly-aerobic sport that 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 sightings of seals and eagles.

Rowing practices take place at the OAR boathouse at the north end of Swantown Marina. While the practice may vary a lot from day to day, experienced rowers may expect to row from four to eight miles a day, out toward Gull Harbor, or along the Cooper Point near the Country Club, or down to the 4th Ave bridge. All practices include an experienced rowing coach in a motor launch for teaching, encouragement, and safety. Rowing practices are five days a week, 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 four-season sport, but every season is a new start and no junior rowers are obligated to participate in every season. Summer for junior rowers involves early morning practices on Budd Inlet, learning rowing skills and how to enjoy the sport. In the Fall, the emphasis is on longer distance rowing for endurance training. Fall races range from five to eight miles in length. In the Winter, juniors have an optional gym and weightlifting class, coached in an indoor environment such as one of the local gyms. The Spring season is the most competition-oriented. Spring races are "sprints" ranging from 1000 to 2000 meters in length (four to eight minutes duration, typically, depending on the level of the rowers and the conditions of the waterway.) .

Typically the season dates are:
  • Mid June to first weekend of August (Summer season)
  • Labor Day to end of October (Fall season)
  • November through January (Winter season)
  • Early February to end of May (Spring 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 Budd Inlet) are Vancouver Lake, Seattle's Lake Union, Lake Stevens, the Willamette River, and Dexter Lake (near Eugene, OR). Most regattas start early on a Saturday morning (usually we arrive before dawn) and end early evening of the same day. 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 junior rowers 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 80+ and older. 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 their bodies, and develops poise and balance, timing and aerobic conditioning.

Parents, while coming out to races to enjoy watching the juniors row, should consider rowing themselves. OAR offers classes on both sweep and sculling styles, regularly from March through August each year. A schedule of rowing introductory classes can be found on the website. After learning to row, adults can join in a structured program, 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 single boats, and can take one out alone or row with other 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.   

Junior Winter Training 2011-12 Information
 
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