Learn to Row Class

The Williamsburg Boat Club plans to hold our next Learn to Row (LTR) class over the weekend of September 25-26, 2010.  The cost is $75 per person for each of these classes and includes five hours of rowing instruction each day (Saturday and Sunday).  Participants must be 14 years or older.  After this class, all participants are invited to row with club members at any scheduled practices for a month so they can practice rowing.

We will need a minimum of 4 participants to hold this class, so if you are interested, please contact us (see the bottom line for contact information).

The class is planned to begin at 8 am at our rowing venue at the Chickahominy Riverfront Park, just off Route 5 (here’s a map to the location).  The first session will consist of practicing proper rowing technique on rowing machines (ergometers) and a dockside rower.  Then we will get in a rowing shell (boat) and practice these new skills.  The water sessions will last between 90 minutes and 2 hours, and the class will be completed by 1 pm both days.  The second day will be two rowing sessions, with a videotape analysis of the first session held between sessions.

Before you row:
Participants will need to complete and sign three forms prior to the water practices. These include a standard US Rowing Release and Waiver of Liability, a brief medical history form and a swim test verification form. For the swim test, participants 18 or older can either demonstrate or verify they can swim a minimum distance of 75 feet, tread water or float for 5 minutes, and don a personal flotation device (life vest) while in the water. Youth rowers (17 years or younger) will need to perform this swim test and have a witness such as a parent, guardian or certified life guard co-sign the verification form. All required forms will be emailed to participants prior to the class, and participants are requested to bring the completed forms to the first session (along with a check payable to the “Williamsburg Boat Club” for $75).

What to wear and bring:
Participants should not wear loose or baggy clothes as these may get caught in the boat while rowing; we recommend wearing compression shorts and a workout shirt.  Do not wear bracelets, watches or rings, as these tend to become uncomfortable while rowing.  Please bring sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses (consider wearing a strap with any glasses), socks, and shoes you don’t mind getting wet (the dock we use floats on water and submerges a bit when launching and recovering boats). Rowing shoes are attached inside the boats, so bring socks to wear in the boat. If you need to carry any medicines, such as an asthma inhaler, bring those along and the coach in the safety launch will hold those for you. While on the water, we will have several breaks to get some fluids, so bring about 2 quarts of water or sports drink and a light snack.

To read some background information on rowing, we recommend you visit and explore the USRowing website.

Email us at williamsburgboatclub@gmail.com or call Coach Bob Morrison at 757-846-6860 to let us know you’re interested or if you have any questions.

The Williamsburg Boat Club will present a Learn to Row (LTR) class open to anyone 14 years or older the weekend of August 7 and 8, 2010. The cost is $75 per person for each of these classes and includes two days of rowing instruction.  Participants are also invited to row at any scheduled practices for a month after the LTR class so they can practice rowing a bit more.

We will need a minimum of 4 participants to hold this class, so if you are interested, please contact us (see the bottom line for contact information).

The class will begin at 8 am at our rowing venue at the Chickahominy Riverfront Park, just off Route 5 (here’s a map to the location).  The first session will consist of practicing proper rowing technique on rowing machines (ergometers) and a dockside rower.  Then we will get in a rowing shell (boat) and practice these new skills.  The water sessions will last between 90 minutes and 2 hours, and the class will be completed by 1 pm both days.  The second day will be two rowing sessions, with a videotape analysis of the first session held between sessions.

Before you row:
Participants will need to complete and sign three forms prior to the water practices. These include a standard US Rowing Release and Waiver of Liability, a brief medical history form and a swim test verification form. For the swim test, participants 18 or older can either demonstrate or verify they can swim a minimum distance of 75 feet, tread water or float for 5 minutes, and don a personal flotation device (life vest) while in the water. Youth rowers (17 years or younger) will need to perform this swim test and have a witness such as a parent, guardian or certified life guard co-sign the verification form. All required forms will be emailed to participants prior to the class, and participants are requested to bring the completed forms to the first session (along with a check payable to the “Williamsburg Boat Club” for $75).

What to wear and bring:
Participants should not wear loose or baggy clothes as these may get caught in the boat while rowing; we recommend wearing compression shorts and a workout shirt.  Do not wear bracelets, watches or rings, as these tend to become uncomfortable while rowing.  Please bring sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses (consider wearing a strap with any glasses), socks, and shoes you don’t mind getting wet (the dock we use floats on water and submerges a bit when launching and recovering boats). Rowing shoes are attached inside the boats, so bring socks to wear in the boat. If you need to carry any medicines, such as an asthma inhaler, bring those along and the coach in the safety launch will hold those for you. While on the water, we will have several breaks to get some fluids, so about 2 quarts of water or sports drink and a light snack.

To read some background information on rowing, we recommend you visit and explore the USRowing website.

Email us at williamsburgboatclub@gmail.com or call Coach Bob Morrison at 757-846-6860 to let us know you’re interested or if you have any questions.

The first at the water LTR class went very well except that they never got out on the water. It was a cool windy day and by the time the erging, boat discussion, and dockside rowers were tried by everyone the conditions were worse. The wind and current were very strong so we decided to finish up. Hopefully they can get on the water next week. Good group of enthusiastic rowers!!

WBC hosted our first LTR day on 4/10/10. We had about 12 people show up and they all had a good time. The weather was perfect. They learned to erg, use the dockside rowers and had a quick row up the creek and back

Williamsburg Boat Club provided the William and Mary Rowing Club with a fantastic barbecue after the Invitational they hosted on 3/20. A special thanks to Lisa Queen and her husband for cooking up the barbecue pork, coleslaw, and beans a few days before the event. We were all so impressed with the quality and of course taste of all the food. Other then the above mentioned food we also provided chips and delicious cookies. Sarah provided some delicious vegan pita sandwiches.

The WM club was very appreciative of us for  providing their after invitational food. Of course they were all starving. We even fed the team from Liberty University.

Thanks to the club members who assisted with set up, serving and clean-up. Mike Maddocks, Catherine Bochain, Sarah Stafford, Gail Peck, Lisa Queen and Sheila Zorentzer.

Sheila Zorentzer-treasurer, Emily Williams-past president, Lisa Queen, president, Catherine Bochain, vice-president, Gail Peck, secretary and Bob Morrison, head coach

Thank you to Lorraine and Jimmy for accepting important WBC responsibilities. Lorraine is now the merchandising guru and Jimmy D is the new race coordinator.

The Williamsburg Boat Club will conduct free Introduction to Rowing classes open to anyone 14 years old or older on Saturday June 5, 2010. These classes will be held from 9 am until 1 pm at our rowing venue at the Chickahominy Riverfront Park, just off Route 5 (here’s a map to the location).

The intent of these classes is to introduce the sport of rowing to the general public. Participants will learn the fundamentals of rowing technique during a brief shore-based lesson and then head out on water in a rowing shell to practice these new skills for about 30 minutes. Depending on the turnout, participants should plan on this introduction to take between one and two hours.

We hope people try the sport, and those who like it will opt to take one of our more in depth “Learn to Row” classes held on April 17 and June 19, 2010. Our Learn to Row classes cost $100 and consist of shore-based instruction and a minimum of three water sessions.

What to wear and bring:
Participants should not wear loose or baggy clothes as these may get caught in the boat while rowing; we recommend wearing compression shorts or sweat pants and a t-shirt, sweat shirt or light jacket. Do not wear bracelets, watches or rings, as these tend to become uncomfortable while rowing. Please bring sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses (consider wearing a strap or lease for glasses), socks, and shoes you don’t mind getting wet (the dock we use floats on water and submerges a bit when launching and recovering boats). Rowing shoes are attached inside the boats, so bring socks to wear in the boat. If you need to carry any medicines, such as an asthma inhaler, bring those along and the coach in the safety launch will hold those for you. While on the water, we will have several breaks to get some fluids, so bring plenty of water or sports drink and some sort of light lunch.

Please RSVP via email at williamsburgboatclub@gmail.com or call Coach Bob Morrison at 757-846-6860. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or would like more information on either our Introduction to Rowing or Learn to Row classes.

The Williamsburg Boat Club will present Learn to Row (LTR) classes open to anyone 14 years old or older in March, April, and June of 2010. The March LTR class will consist of a minimum of three indoor rowing lessons and a minimum of three water lessons. The April and June LTR class will consist of one land-based lesson and a minimum three water lessons. The cost is $100 per person for each of these classes. (Participants will get more land-based coaching and instruction in the March LTR class than those in April or June.)

Email us at williamsburgboatclub@gmail.com or call Coach Bob Morrison at 757-846-6860 to let us know you’re interested or if you have any questions.

March LTR Class Format:
The March learn to row class will consist of indoor rowing lessons taken weekday evenings over a two week period. Each lesson will take approximately one hour. These sessions will be held at the William and Mary Recreation Center on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings March 16-18 and March 23-25. The indoor lessons will use ergometers (rowing machines) to introduce rowing terminology and proper rowing technique. Participants are expected to attend a minimum of three of the six scheduled sessions. Upon completion of three indoor rowing sessions, participants are welcome to attend any remaining LTR indoor rowing sessions or the club’s regularly scheduled indoor rowing practices, if they so desire, at additional no charge.

After completing the indoor rowing lessons, the LTR class participants will then be expected to attend a water lesson at our rowing venue at the Chickahominy Riverfront Park, just off Route 5 (here’s a map to the location) beginning at noon on Saturday, April 17. At this first water session, the class will learn proper bladework (i.e., handling and controlling an oar) and then go out on a two-hour lesson. This class starts at 12 noon and will conclude by 4 pm.

Class participants are expected to attend at least one more Saturday water class held the next two consecutive Saturdays, April 24 and May 1. At these sessions, which will start at 11 am and end by 4 pm, the class will have a two-hour water practice which will be videotaped. We will return to the dock, have a snack or light lunch and review each rower’s technique as captured by the videotape. Then we will be head out for another two-hour water lesson. Participants are encouraged to attend all three Saturdays of water LTR classes, but at a minimum should attend the class on April 17 and at least one more Saturday session, April 24 or May 1.

The focus of these classes is to learn the proper rowing technique, so while competitive rowing is among the most physically demanding of sports, we will not be competing in these classes. We’ll practice for proper style and technique, not strength or speed.

April and June LTR Class Format:
The April and June Learn to Row classes will not have any prior indoor rowing classes (as in the March class), but will start with outdoor sessions at our rowing venue at the Chickahominy Riverfront Park, just off Route 5 (here’s a map to the location). Class participants must attend the first class, starting at 11 am on Saturday April 17 and June 19 (respectively). We will instruct the participants in proper rowing technique using ergometers (rowing machines) and dockside rowers and then conduct a water lesson in a rowing shell. Class will conclude by 4 pm. Participants are expected to attend at least one more Saturday LTR session which will be held the next two consecutive Saturdays. Those dates are April 24 and May 1, and June 26 and July 3. Those additional Saturday sessions will start at 11 am and end by 4 pm. These sessions will consist of two water practices. We will videotape the first practice and then return to the dock. We will have a light lunch and review each rower’s technique as captured by the videotape. Then we will be head out for another water lesson.

April LTR class participants are encouraged to attend all three Saturdays of water LTR classes, but at a minimum should attend the class on April 17 and at least one more Saturday session, April 24 or May 1.

June LTR class participants are encouraged to attend all three Saturdays of water LTR classes, but at a minimum should attend the class on June 19 and at least one more Saturday session, June 26 or July 3.

Before you row:
Participants will need to complete and sign three forms prior to the water practices. These include a standard USRowing Release and Waiver of Liability, a brief medical history form and a swim test verification form. For the swim test, participants 18 or older can either demonstrate or verify they can swim a minimum distance of 75 feet, tread water or float for 5 minutes, and don a personal flotation device (life vest) while in the water. Youth rowers (17 years or younger) will need to perform this swim test and have a witness such as a parent, guardian or certified life guard co-sign the verification form. All required forms will be emailed to participants prior to the class, and participants are requested to bring the completed forms to the first session (along with a check payable to the “Williamsburg Boat Club” for $100).

What to wear and bring:
Participants should not wear loose or baggy clothes as these may get caught in the boat while rowing; we recommend wearing compression shorts or sweat pants and a t-shirt, sweat shirt or light jacket. Do not wear bracelets, watches or rings, as these tend to become uncomfortable while rowing. Please bring sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses (consider wearing a strap or lease for glasses), socks, and shoes you don’t mind getting wet (the dock we use floats on water and submerges a bit when launching and recovering boats). Rowing shoes are attached inside the boats, so bring socks to wear in the boat. If you need to carry any medicines, such as an asthma inhaler, bring those along and the coach in the safety launch will hold those for you. While on the water, we will have several breaks to get some fluids, so bring plenty of water or sports drink and some sort of light lunch.

To read some background information on rowing, we recommend you visit and explore the USRowing website.

The board members met at Catherines house on 1/12. Those present were Emily, Lisa, Catherine, Bob, Sheila and Gail. Items discussed were the budget, format and dates for LTR classes, community activities that WBC will participate in, member handbook update, member retention and recruiting new members and some other stuff.

We all agreed that the sooner the dates for regattas, LTR classes and LTR day and other events were posted we could all plan accordingly to try to be available to participate.

So far the events we are participating in include:

2/20 91m-1pm Destination Recreation at the JCC/WMBG rec center

2/14 ergathon

3/28 Cabin Fever Sunday at New Quarter Park

Details and more dates will follow as soon as they are finalized

Submitted 1/17/2010 by Gail Peck WBC secretary