Learn to Row
Whether it's been your life-long passion to become a rower, or you just want to give it a try, we recommend you sign up for our Start to Row Clinic! This summer (2010) we are offering the following schedule:
Sunday May 23: Meet at the boathouse at 5 PM to have a tour, become familiar with the boats and equipment, and meet fellow club rowers. You are welcome to stay and watch us launch from the dock for our weekly open Sunday row, or ride in the launch with the coach if you like (space is limited for that).
Monday through Thursday May 24-27: Learn technique on the rowing machines. Meet at 6 AM at the University of Alabama Aquatic Center rowing machine (erg) room, which is next to the weight room. The sessions will run approximately 1 hour. This week is mandatory even if you have some rowing experience.
Friday May 28: Meet at 6 AM at the Aquatic Center erg room to watch safety video, and then we will have a short swim test in the pool - bring a towel and bathing suit. We need to do this test for insurance purposes and for your safety on the water. You will not be allowed in a boat without passing this test. You will need to swim a lap out and back, and tread water for 5 minutes and put on a life vest while treading water - that's it!
Friday May 28 evening, time and place TBA: Get to Know Each Other party!!! We love our potlucks...
Sunday May 30: Be at the boathouse at 5PM to go out in an 8+ cox boat. Experienced rowers will be there with you to help out. Wear stretchy pants/shorts, shoes that don't slip and socks please!
Monday through Friday May 31-June 4 row on the water: Meet at 5:15 AM at the boathouse. It's early, we know, but that's our regular weekday morning meeting time in the assigned boats (where seats are designated ahead of time for the season). You'll start off with simple techniques and build to more complex ones, so every day it is important to participate. There are many things to learn in such a short time! These sessions will last approximately until 7 AM.
We do row in the rain, but cancel whenever there is lightening or of course if the river floods and the current is too fast. We alert our members by email and/or text message in this case.
To sign up for our next Learn to Row clinic, please email us at blackwarriorrowingclub@gmail.com. To see our listing of available clinics, please visit our Calendar of Events.
Clinic Cost: $75
Clinic Duration: 2 weeks ; one week indoors, one week on the water
What you can expect to learn in the clinic:
The basic rowing stroke both on an indoor rowing machine and on the water
Common nautical/rowing terminology and language
How a rowing boat works
How to properly manage, carry, and care for a rowing boat
A glimpse into further more advanced techniques
Directions to the boathouse:
Take Lurleen Wallace to Rice Mine Road
Turn right onto Rice Mine off the bridge
Turn right onto Bridge Ave (as you were heading towards the new Dreamland BBQ)
Turn left onto 3rd street and follow that road (behind Collins-Riverside middle school) all the way to the end of the road
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Calendar of Events
Looking for our next Learn to Row clinic or when our next regatta will be? Visit our calendar of events