Rowing FAQ from REC.SPORT.ROWING

                     Table of Contents
                     -----------------
     
                   I.  Introduction:  Why do we do this?
                  II.  The Boats:  What kind of boats are used?
                                   What do the symbols mean (eg. W8+)?
                       - Sweep
                       - Sculls
                       - Weight classes
                 III.  Terminology:  What do some of the terms mean?
                       - Equipment (hatchets, sculls, riggers, etc.)
                       - The rowing cycle (catch, drive, feathering, etc.)
                       - Other (coxswain, stroke, crab, etc.)
                  IV.  Race Formats: What is the usual distance of a race?
                                     How long can they take?
                                     Why is a head race called a head race?
                       - Standard
                       - Start Procedures
                       - Head Races
                       - Bumps
                   V.  Ergometers:  What do rowers prefer?
                                    What's a CRASH-B?
                                    What's with the different settings?
                  VI.  Rowing Books and Magazines:  How can I subscribe to a
                                    rowing magazine?
                 VII.  Addresses of Interest:  Who can I contact for more
                                    information about rowing?
                                    What is USRAs e-mail address?
                VIII.  Rowing Camps: Are there places where I can learn how
                                    to row?


I . Why do we do this?:  There are many reasons I suppose.
 -----------------
 One View.....
  "Karen rowed for what the venerable American shell builder George
  Pocock called "the symphony of motion."  As dawn breaks over the river,
  the shell is lifted from its rack out into the morning.  On another rack
  the oars hang ready to be greased and slipped into the locks.  Then,
  awakened to the river and the feel of the oars, the oarsmen blend in
  fulfillment of the shell.  The symphony is not of competition.  It
  is the synchronous motion over water, the harmonic flexing of wood
  and muscle, where each piece of equipment and every oarsman is both
  essential to, and the limit of motion itself."
                                   - The Shell Game (Stephen Kiesling)


  And yet another view...
 from an article by Brad Lewis in which he describes his feelings near the 
 end of the singles final race that would determine who would represent the 
 U.S. in the 1984 Olympic singles competition:
   "I led by three or four feet, with Biggy (John Biglow) surging closer on 
   each stroke.  I hated him in those last few seconds; he was the only reason
   my guts were being strewn over the water like an oil slick.....
    I pressed one last time, and looked at the finish-line flagman.  In that
   instant the flag jumped down and then up.  The up stroke, identifying the
   second place finisher, was for me.  John Biglow was the victor.
    I stared into the green-brown water watching my bloody soul drop through
   the depths, slowly rocking back and forth, occasionally glinting in the
   light, and then finally disappearing."
                           - from ROW magazine "Death at the Single Trials" 



II. What kind of boats are used?
---------------------------
   The boats (or shells) are basically of two types and reflect the 
 two forms of rowing---sweep rowing and sculling.  In sweep rowing each 
 rower handles a single oar (about 12.5 ft or 3.9 m long) in sculling a 
 rower uses two oars (each about 9.5 ft or 3 m long).  The word shell is 
 often used  in reference to the boats used because the hull is only about 
 1/8 to 1/4 " thick to make it light as possible.  These shells are also rather 
 long and as narrow as possible.
   Each rower has his back to the direction the shell is moving and power is
 generated using a blended sequence of the rower's legs, back and arms.  The 
 rower sits on a sliding seat with wheels on a track called the slide.
   Each oar is held in a U-shaped swivel (oarlock) mounted on a metal 
 pin at the end of a rigger.  The rigger is an assembly of tubes that is 
 tightly bolted to the  body of the shell.  The subtypes of rowing shells 
 are classified according to the number of rowers in the shell.  

 - Sweep Boats (each rower has one oar): These shells can have a 
         coxswain---a person who steers the shell (using a rudder) and 
         urges the rowers on.  I have included in parenthesis the symbol used 
         for each subtype along with some dimensions and weights.
            
         Coxed Pair (2+) - Two sweep rowers with a coxswain
         Coxless Pair (2-) - Two sweep rowers without a coxswain.

         Coxed Four (4+) - Four sweep rowers with a coxswain
         Straight Four (4-) - Four sweep rowers without a coxswain.
     or  Coxless Four     Steering is usually accomplished via a rudder
                          that is attached to a cable that is connected
                          to one of the rower's foot stretchers (this
                          an adjustable bracket to which the rower's
                          feet are secured).  The coxless pair has a
                          similar type of rudder setup.
                          
         Eight (8+) - Eight sweep rowers with a coxswain.  Eights
                        are 60+ ft (~18.5 m) long and weigh about 250 pounds
                        (~114 kg).


 - Sculling Boats (each rower has two oars) : These shells almost never have 
         a coxswain.  Steering is generally accomplished by applying more
         power or pressure to the oar(s) on one side of the shell.  The
         hands overlap (usually left over right in the U.S.) during part of 
         the rowing cycle. 

         Single (1X) - One rower or sculler.  Singles are about 26 ft
                      (8 m) long and less than a foot (0.3 m) wide.  Racing 
                      singles can weigh as little as 30 pounds (~13.5 kg).  
                      There are heavier (~45 to 50 pounds), shorter and wider 
                      versions often referred to as recreational singles.

         Double (2X) - Two scullers.  Most racing doubles can be also
                      used as a pair with a different set of riggers
                      designed for sweep oars.  When used as a pair a
                      rudder is usually added.  There are also recreational
                      versions of sculling doubles.

         Quadruple (4X) - Four scullers.  Often referred to as a "quad" and
                      usually has a rudder attached to one of the sculler's 
                      foot stretchers as in the straight four.  Most quads 
                      can also be rigged as a straight four using a different 
                      set of riggers.


 - Weight Classifications:  There are basically two weight classes
            for rowers---heavyweight (HWT) and lightweight (LWT).  
              Men (M): for team LWT boats, there is a 72.5 kg (~160 lbs) 
            individual maximum, and the boat must average no more than 70 kg
            (~155 lbs).
              Women (W): the individual maximum for team LWT boats is 59 kg 
            (~130 lbs), and the the boat must average no more than 57 kg 
            (~125 lbs).
              In the US, the women have an individual max only; no average.
            In some regattas in the U.S. (usually head races late in the season)
            these limits are increased by 5 lbs.
              A rowing shell is usually built with a particular weight class 
            of rower in mind.  Until just recently the Olympics effectively 
            had only HWT classifications.


III. What do the terms used in rowing mean?:
 -------------------------------------
   -  Equipment terminology:  
       Blades - The wide flat section of the oar at the head of the shaft.
                This term is often used when referring to the entire oar.

       Hatchets - (aka big blades or choppers or cleavers)  A relatively new 
               design of oar blades (although the idea has been around for some 
               time). These were introduced by Concept II (Spring 1992)
               and are what the names indicate---oar blades that have a
               bigger surface area than the "standard" blades and have a
               hatchet or meat cleaver shape.  The hatchets are a bit shorter 
               (by about 7 cm) than the standard blades. 

       Scull - This term is used interchangebly when referring to one of
               the oars used in a sculling shell, the shell itself or to
               the act of rowing a sculling shell.

       Seat -  The sliding seat that the rower sits on. The term "seat" also
               refers to the rowers place in the boat; the convention is to 
               number the seats from bow to stern, i.e. the rower closest to 
               the front of the boat is "1-seat" the next, "2-seat", et c. 
               The 1-seat is also commonly referred to as "bowseat" or just 
               "bow" while the sternmost (rear) seat is referred to as "stroke seat"
               or just "stroke". 

       Foot Stretcher - (or bootstretchers) An adjustable bracket in a shell 
               to which the rower's feet are secured in some sort of shoe or 
               clog.

       Rigger - (or outrigger) The device that connects the oarlock to the 
               shell and is bolted to the body of the shell.
  
       Oarlock - (rowlock or gate)  A U-shaped swivel which holds the oar 
               in place.  It's mounted at the end of the rigger and rotates 
               around a metal pin.

       Button (or collar) - A plastic or metal fitting tightened on the oar 
               to keep the oar from slipping through the oarlock.

       Pitch - The angle between the blade (on the drive when the blade is
               "squared") and a line perpendicular to the water's surface.

       Slide -  (or track)  The track on which the seat moves.

       Gunwale  (or gunnel, saxboard) - Top section on the sides of a shell 
                which runs along the sides of the crew section where the 
                rowers are located.  The riggers are secured to the gunwale 
                with bolts.
 
       Keel -  The center line of the shell.

       Rudder - Steering device at the stern.  The rudder in turn is 
               connected to some cables (tiller ropes) that the coxswain can 
               use to steer the shell.  Older shells have short wooden handles 
               (knockers) on the tiller ropes.  These knockers are used by the
               coxswain not only to steer the shell, but also to rap out the
               cadence of the stroke rate on the gunwale.
        
       Skeg  -  (or Fin) A small fin located along the stern section of the 
               hull.  This helps to stabilize the shell in holding a true 
               course when rowing.  All racing shells have a skeg.  The skeg 
               should not be confused with the rudder.

       Rigging - The adjustment and alteration of accessories (riggers, foot-
               stretchers, oar, etc) in and on the shell.  Examples of
               rigging adjustments that can be made are the height of the
               rigger, location of the footstretchers, location and height 
               of the oarlocks,  location of the button (or 
               collar) on the oar and the pitch of the blade of the oar.

       Slings - (or boat slings or trestles in the UK) collapsible/portable frames
              with straps upon which a shell can be placed temporarily. 

   
 -  Rowing cycle terms:  Starting with the rower at "rest" and legs fully
      extended with the oar blades immersed in the water perpendicular 
      (well...almost) to the water's surface.

       Release -  A sharp downward (and away) motion of the hand which serves 
                 to remove the oar blade from the water and start the rowing
                 cycle.  Yeh, yeh where does the stroke cycle really start?

       Feathering - The act of turning the oar blade from a position
                  perpendicular to the surface of the water to a position
                  parallel to the water.  This is done in conjunction with
                  the release.

       Recovery - Part of the rowing cycle from the release up to and
                 including where the oar blade enters the water. 

       Squaring - A gradual rolling of the oar blade from a position
                 parallel to the water to a position (almost) perpendicular
                 to the surface of the water.   This is accomplished during
                 recovery portion of the rowing cycle and is done in 
                 preparation for the catch.

       Catch -    The point of the rowing cycle at which the blade enters the
                 water at the end of the recovery and is accomplished by an
                 upward motion of the arms only.  The blade of the oar must
                 be fully squared at the catch.

       Drive -    That part of the rowing cycle when the rower applys power
                 to the oar.  This is a more (or less) blended sequence of 
                 applying power primarily with a leg drive, then the back
                 and finally the arms.

       Finish -   The last part of the drive before the release where the 
                 power is mainly coming from the back and arms.

       Layback -  The amount of backward lean of the rower's body at the end
                 of the finish.  Now we start again with the release and....


   -  Other terms of interest:

       Bow - The forward end of the shell

       Stern - The rear end of the shell

       Port -  The left side of the boat when facing the bow
               (stroke side in the UK and Ireland)

       Starboard - The right side of the shell when facing the bow
               (bow side in the UK and Ireland)

       Coxswain - The person who steers the shell and urges the rowers on during
               practices and in a race.  A knowledgable coxswain can also serve
               as a coach for the rowers and can be the difference between 
               winning and losing a race.

       The Stroke - The rower sitting nearest the stern (and the coxswain, if
               there is one).  The stroke is responsible for setting the stroke
               length and cadence (with the coxswain's gentle advice).

       Frig rigging - See Tandem Rigging. 

       Tandem rigging - Variations of rigging of sweep boats with adjacent riggers
                     being on the same side of the boat. Also known as Frig rigging
                     (UK). See below (the rigging terms below are the subject of
                     debate as to exactly what configuration they refer to, and
                     they are often used interchangeably). 

       Bucket rigging - The rigging of an eight or a four so that riggers 2 and 3
                     are on the same side. 

       German rigging - The rigging of an eight so that riggers 4 and 5 are on the
                     same side while the others alternate. 

       Italian rigging - The rigging of an eight so that bow and stroke riggers are
                      on the same side, with the others alternating in pairs. 

       Ratio - The ratio of the recovery time to the drive time.  The recovery
              time should always be longer than the drive time (how much longer
              I won't say...as someone wrote, the idea is to "move the boat on
              the pull through (or drive) and take a ride (i.e. relax) on 
              the recovery without sacrificing the very speed that they have
              generated").

       Rating - The number of strokes per minute.  Also known as stroke rating.

       Set -  (set of a boat)  The definition of this word that I have found
              that comes closest to what rowers mean by the set of a boat is
              "form or carriage of the body or of its parts".  In this case 
              the "body" consists of the shell and the rowers.  Items that
              can affect the set of the boat are the rower's posture, hand 
              levels, rigging (the favorite culprit...especially with the more 
              advanced rowers), timing at the catch and release and outside
              conditions such as the wind.  It is not unusual for rowers within
              a shell not to agree on what needs to be done to establish a
              "good" set, i.e. a level, stable shell that will provide the 
              basis for that symphony of motion.  

       Backsplash - This term is in reference to the water thrown back towards
              the bow direction (i.e. towards the direction of motion of the 
              shell) by the blade as it enters the water at the catch.  Many 
              excellent coaches and rowers (please correct me if this has 
              changed) would say that a small amount of backsplash is desired.  
              This indicates that the blade has been properly planted in the 
              water before the rower initiates the drive with the legs.  
              Obviously (maybe it isn't) the smaller the backsplash, the 
              better it is.  I suppose the ideal is, with a sufficiently quick 
              catch, no splash at all.

       Check - Any abrupt deceleration of the shell caused by some uncontrolled
              motion within the shell; an interruption in the forward motion
              of the shell.  The coxswain is probably the most acutely aware
              of this abrupt deceleration and it has been known to cause
              whiplash in some extreme cases.  

       Crab -   A problem encountered by a rower when his or her oar gets 
              "stuck" in the water, usually right after the catch or just
              before the release and is caused by improper squaring or
              feathering.  The momentum of the shell can overcome the rower's
              control of the oar.  In more extreme cases the rower can 
              actually be ejected from the shell by the oar.

       Jumping the slide - Another problem encountered by a rower when the
              seat becomes derailed from the track during the rowing cycle.

       Missing water - The rower starts the drive before the catch has been
             completed (or even started in some cases).  This is also referred 
             to as rowing into the catch.

       Skying - The fault of carrying the hands too low during the recovery
             especially when a rower dips his or her hands just prior to the
             catch (i.e. a sort of winding up).   This usually results in the 
             blade being too high off the water's surface.

       Washing Out - The fault of rowing the oar out of the water, i.e. the 
                  blade comes out of the water before the drive is finished. 


IV. Race Formats:  What are the usual racing distances and divisions?
------------ 
              The races have separate divisions---Men's (M), Women's (W),
             heavyweight (HWT) or open, lightweight (LWT) etc., then divided
             up into 8+'s, 4+'s, 1x's, 2x's and so on.  So for a typical
             regatta you might see separate races scheduled for M8+, W8+, M4+, 
             W4+ down (or up---depends on your cup of tea) to W1x and M1x.  
             There may be separate heavyweight and lightweight divisions that 
             would require a weigh-in for the lightweights sometime before
             the start of the regatta.

     - Standard:   The standard racing distance is 2000 meters (preferably
                straight) and usually has six shells racing against each
                other in their separate designated lanes which may or may 
                not be marked by buoys.  These races can take anywhere from
                5 1/2 to 8 1/2 minutes depending on boat class, weather 
                conditions, water current and the physical condition and 
                experience of the rowers.  
                  Other racing distances are 1000 meters for the older guys
                and gals (Masters) and 1500 meters for the Junior age division 
                (high school).  A description of the starting procedures
                is in a separate following section.  
                  Also, there is a match style (i.e. races with two boats head 
                to head in a single elimination format for each division)
                racing at a some regattas.  The Henley Royal Regatta in England
                comes to mind.  
                  From J. Wangermann:  The standard regatta format in the UK at 
                club level is 2 lane elimination,  normally over 4 rounds.  
                The reason is that all the rivers in the UK are far more 
                narrow and twisty than in the US (e.g the Cam, Isis, Avon, 
                Thames above London) etc.  For similar reasons, the length 
                varies.  Many regattas are two day affairs, the first day being 
                a sprint over 500 or 600m, the second day being a long-distance 
                affair of 800-1500 m

     - Starting Procedures:  (a brief description from R. Chen)
                Crews are expected to be at their starting stations two
              minutes before the scheduled time of the race.  Once the boats
             are locked on, the judge at start will supervise the alignment
             process.  When all crews are level, he/she will raise a white
             flag.  The Starter will then poll the crews by calling their name
             process.  When all crews are level, he/she will raise a white
             and saying "Ready?"  If a crew is not ready, its bowperson should
             raise his/her hand.  When all crews have been polled, the Starter
             raises a red flag, gives the commands "Are You Ready?  GO!," and
             at the command "GO!" drops the red flag.  Crews may break the
             plane of the starting line once the flag begins to move.
               In windy conditions, the Starter may dispense with polling
             the crews and use a "quick start."  Here, the starter says
            "Attention!" and if no crew responds, immediately raises the red
             flag and gives the starting commands.  In a FISA regatta, once
             the red flag is raised in a quick start, hands are no longer
             recognized, but in the U.S., the Starter will still recognize
             hands.
               In the U.S., the procedure of last resort is the "countdown
             start."  The Starter dispenses with further polling, and counts
             down "5-4-3-2-1 Are You Ready?  GO!"  Once the countdown starts,
             hands are not recognized, and the crews should use the five
             second countdown to point their boats.
               Crews can be assessed a warning for a false start, for being
             late to the start, or for traffic rules violation.  A crew that
             receives two warnings in the same race is excluded from the
             event.
               If a crew breaks equipment in the first 100 meters of the race,
             it should stop rowing and signal to the umpire, who will then 
             stop the race.  Broken equipment under FISA and USRA rules does
             not include a crab (fausse pelle) or jumped slide.   
               Once the race has begun, the Umpire (Referee in U.S. or
             Canada) follows in a launch.  He/she will instruct a crew only to
             avoid a foul or safety hazard.  If a crew is about to interfere
             with another crew, the umpire will raise a white flag, call the
             crew's name, and drop the flag in the direction where the crew
             should move.  If a crew is about to hit a known obstruction (such
             as a bridge abutment) the umpire will raise a white flag, call
             the crew, and yell "Obstacle!" or simply "Stop!"  If the umpire
             needs to stop the entire race, he will ring a bell or sound a
             horn, wave a RED flag, and call out "Stop!" if necessary.
              A crew that wishes to protest the race must raise a hand
             after it crosses the finish line and lodge the protest with the
             umpire.  This must be followed by a written protest accompanied
             by $25.00 USD (50 Swiss francs internationally).  A Jury will
             decide the protest after a hearing.  If the hearing goes in the 
             favor of the protest then the $25.00 is returned.


     - Head Races: These races are conducted later in the rowing season, 
                starting in late September.  They are about 2.5 - 3 miles
                long and the boats are started in their respective divisions
                separately at 10 second intervals.  These things are usually 
                conducted on a river with an assortment of bridges and 
                turns that can make passing quite interesting.  The winner 
                of each division is referred to as the "head" of that river.
                   Note: (from M. Mccrohan):  The Heads here (in Ireland) are 
                at the start of the year, between January and the end of March, 
                and are the long distance races that give an indication of the 
                effectiveness of the winter's stamina training. (Remember we 
                do not have to contend with frozen rivers etc during the 
                winter). Most of our heads would be from 2 - 5 miles long.
                Our local Head here in Galway is 3.5 miles, and is held on 
                St Patricks weekend...
       
      - Bumps:   (As someone pointed out, this is the Cambridge version, but it
                 should do just to get an idea of what bumps racing is about)

                  The bumps are a way of racing eights. It all basically comes 
               from rowing on a river which in most places is only just wide 
               enough for two boats to pass.
                 The basic idea is simple: you get a division of 17 (or 18) 
               boats who start in a column with 1.5 lengths of clear water 
               between them, and when the start gun goes the aim is to "bump" 
               the boat in front by making up enough distance for physical 
               contact between the two boats.  The two boats involved in the 
               bump drop out of the race by pulling in to the side of the 
               river and leaving the course clear for anyone behind (if the
               boat behind a bump catches the boat in front of a bump this is 
               an "overbump").
                 In the next day of racing the two crews swap start positions. 
               There are 4 days of racing in each set of bumps, and positions 
              are held over from year to year. Divisions are raced in reverse 
              order (ie worst first) and the crew ending top of a division 
              (because it started there and successfully "rowed over" the 
              whole course, or because it bumped the crew who started head 
              (top) of the division) gets to row as the 17th boat in the next
              division so if they bump there they move up a division the next 
              day.  The aim of the whole thing is to end up top of the 1st 
              division "Head of the River", or to go up four places 
              (ie a bump each day).



V.  Ergometers:  What do most rowers prefer and what in hell does CRASH-B
----------   stand for?

       "The ergometer simulates the physical demands of rowing, packaging
     the pains with none of the amenities that make it worthwhile..."
             - from Kiesling's The Shell Game 

       Almost all rowers use the Concept 2 rowing ergometerbut several other
    brands exist. Other brands prefered by rowers are the "Water Rower" which
    claims to closer simulate the feel of rowing on water and the RowPerfect.
    These things run about $850 new for a model D. Obviously ergometers don't
    float, but the Concept II is probably the primary off season training device
    for rowers.  Concept II has come out with a new version (model D) that is
    rather different from the older model B and only slightly different from
    the model C.  

    Settings (Model B):  Going from the "lightest" to the "heaviest" settings.
          Large gear wheel/vent completely closed       lightest
          Large gear sheel/vent completely open            |
          Small gear wheel/vent completely closed          |
          Small gear wheel/vent completely open         heaviest
    The newer Model C and D settings have just one vent adjustment that ranges 
    from 1 to 10.  
      Most rowers include weight workouts in their training program.


    CRASH-B:  (Charles River Association of Sculling Has-Beens
    or Charles River All Star Has-Beens) sprints:
      The penultimate event of the ergometer racing season in the winter 
    months.  It's also referred to as the  World Indoor Rowing Championships 
    and is held in Cambridge/Boston, Mass. in mid February.  The usual 
    "distance"  (as measured on an electronic monitor) is 2000 meters and the 
    winning times range from ~5:50 (open men) to ~10:00 (women coxswain).  
    The prize for a winning time is a claw hammer.  

    A little history from G. Knauth:
      CRASH-B stands for the Charles River All-Star Has Beens, a pseudonym
      coined by the founders, members of the 1980 US Olympic Rowing Team.
      The pseudonym coined by the founders was Charles River Association
      of Sculling Has-Beens, later changed I'm told so as not to put off
      sweep rowers.
      CRASH-B is an organization, headed by Kurt Somerville, that plans and
      runs the regatta, which takes place at MIT's Rockwell Cage.
      Concept-II supplies the ergs and brings winners of satellite regattas
      to the CRASH-B Sprints.  Community Rowing of Boston helps sell the
      ergs at a $50 discount when the regatta is over.

       There is a Nordic Track rowing machine that at least one ex-rower
    I know of uses.  


VI.  Books and Magazines: This is by no means meant to be complete. 
 -------------------    
     1) Books:
        Assault On Lake Casitas             The Shell Game
        by Brad Lewis                       by Steve Kiesling
   
        The Amateurs                    
        by David Halberstam
        
        The Complete Steve Fairbairn on Rowing        
        by Steve Fairbairn

        Complete Book of Rowing
        by Sir Steve Redgrave

        Rudern: GDR text of Oarsmanship
        by Dr. Herberger

        The Nuts and Bolts Guide to Rigging
        by Mike Davenport

        Regatta
        by Benjamin Ivry

        Rowing
        by Silken Laumann with Calvin Wharton
        photography by Michael Cullen
        history by Peter King

        High Performance Rowing
        by John McArthur 

        Rowing Against the Current : On Learning to Scull at Forty 
        by Barry S. Strauss 

        Mind over Water : Lessons on Life from the Art of Rowing 
        by Craig Lambert

        Textbook of Oarmanship : A Classic of Rowing Technical Literature 
        by Gilbert C. Bourne 

        The Art of Sculling 
        by Joe Paduda(Editor) and Les Henig (Contributor) 

        The Book of Rowing 
        by D. C. Churbuck 

        Thomas Eakins : The Rowing Pictures 
        by Helen A. Cooper 


   For a catalog of these and other rowing books contact:
       The Rower's Bookshelf
       Box 440A
       Essex, MA  01929
       Ph: (508) 468-4096


  2) Magazines:

       American Rowing Magazine
       201 S. Capitol Ave., Suite 400
       Indianapolis, IN  46225
 
       Regatta (Amateur Rowing Association)
       6 Lower Mall
       Hammersmith, London
       W6 9DJ

       Rowing News
       PO Box 831
       4 West Wheelock St.
       Hanover, NH 03755
       Fax (603) 643-0606
       info@rowingnews.com


V. Addresses of Interest:  Who can I contact for more information?
---------------------
    Just about every major or not so major city  I know of in the U.S. has at 
  least one rowing club where a person can learn how to row.  You don't have to 
  have rowed in college to get involved in rowing.  As a matter of fact a 
  substantial percentage of currently active rowers never rowed in high school 
  or college.  The USRA in Indianapolis should have information on individual
  rowing clubs throughout the U.S.

       United States Rowing Association (USRA)         
       201 S. Capitol Ave.
       Suite 400
       Indianapolis, IN  46225
       Ph: (317) 237-5656
       e-mail address:  members@usrowing.org 

       Masters Rowing Association
       4 Kelly Drive
       Boathouse Row
       Philadelphia, PA 19130
       Ph:  877-769-4644
       Fax: 215-232-4778 
       E-mail:mra@mastersrowing.org

       Amateur Rowing Association - England and Wales (ARA)
       6 Lower Mall
       Hammersmith
       London
       W6 9DJ
       Ph. (081) 748 3632

       Scottish ARA (SARA)
       Mrs. M. Pow, Secretary 
       134 Newton Street
       Greenock, Scotland
       PA16 8SJ

       Rowing Australia 
       3rd Floor, 224 Victoria Rd
       Drummoyne, NSW 2047
       Ph:  +61 2 9181 5144
       Fax: +61 2 9181 5025 

       Rowing New Zealand
       P.O. Box 677
       New Plymouth, New Zealand
       Fax: (06)758-0754 


       FISA (Federation Internationale des Societes d'Aviron)
       3653 Oberhofen am Thunersee
       Switzerland
       Ph:  (41) 33-435053
              


VI. Rowing Camps:
------------
       Craftsbury Sculling Center (for all experience levels from beginners
       Box 31-R                    to advanced scullers)
       Craftsbury Common, VT  05827
       Ph: (802) 586-7767

       Northeast Sculling and Rowing School
       (Bill Miller - coordinator/director)
       P.O. Box 2060
       Duxbury, MA, 02331
       Ph:  (617) 934-6192

       Rocky Mountain Rowing Rowing Center
       Lake Dillon
       Frisco, Colorado
       Ph: (800)766-1477
       (970-)668-3174 (local)
       Fax: (970)668-3032 
       E-mail:rowing@themanagers.com 

       Occoquan Boat Club Summer Camps
       (For all experience levels and ages)
       Ph: Angela Kerby (703)897-1043
       E-Mail: nzl3@aol.com  
       or Ken shuster (703)525-1942

       Charles River Rowing Camps
       (Highschool age only)
       CRRC, P.O. Box 380441
       Cambridge, MA 02238-0441
       E-mail: hlparker@fas.harvard.edu or eholeary@fas.harvard.edu

       Lake Union Crew (Seattle WA)
       (Juniors only )
       Ph:  206-860-4199

       All American Rowing Camp (Indiana University)
       (High Schoolers )


       Georgetown Rowing Academy (Washington DC)
       (for boys and girls age 13-17)
       Tom Sanford, Camp Director,
       Mcdonough Gym
       Washinton DC 20057
       Ph:  (202)687-443
       E-mail: sanfordt@gunet.georgetown.edu 

       Nike Rowing Camps
       (for boys and girls)
       Choose from many university locations throughout the US
       Ph: (800 ) nike camp

       Pioneer Navy Rowing Camp, Marietta OH
       (for Highschool athletes)
       Ph: Coach John Bancheri or Coach Kelli MacCuloch at (740)376-4515
       E-mail: bancherj@marietta.edu

       Navy Rowing Camp for Girls, United States Naval Academy
       (Girls ages 13-18)
       Ph: (410)293-2419

       Row As One, Mout Holyoke College
       (Master Women only)
       Ph: (781)326-4648
       Email: rowasone@tiac.net

       Three Rivers Rowing Assoc., Pittsburgh, PA
       (Boys and girls grades 9-12)
       Ph: Meredith Martin (412)231-8772 

       Brian Pluckrose and Rosie Mayglothling
       (residential and non-residential courses, weekly sculling school)
       National Water Sports Centre
       Holme Pierrepont
       Adbolton Lane 
       Nottingham
       NG12 2LU
       England
       Ph: (0602) 821212


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Mail any comments to: doug@rathburn.net
Last updated November 30, 2003