After a successful Fall season, Winter conditioning is available to ensure our rowers stay in shape and ready for the competitive Spring season - just around the corner. Strength training and conditioning is important in the sport of rowing as when you row, you use all of your muscles, especially your core and if your core gets weak, it will be more difficult for you to be ready for the weekly regattas coming up. Our athletes will learn about the body and how best to use it to move their boat through the water.
Winter brings us to James Madison High School, training on the erg machines and in the fitness center. Cardio is stressed as well as timing on the ergs. Our goal is that you not only race others, but you are encouraged to strive to beat your own times the stronger you get. It’s also a lot of fun and keeps you in touch with your crew friends.
In addition to rowers in Winter Conditioning, crew invites students in other sports to participate with us (Spring too if they can!). The act of rowing is arguably one of the best workouts for your body and benefits athletes in every sport. If you know of someone who plays tennis in the Fall, they are welcomed to join crew for Winter conditioning.
As challenging as being indoors all winter can be, the absolute elation of being back on the Occoquan in late February or early March (weather permitting) cannot be put into words. All the hours on the erg give way to the freedom of the water. Along with that freedom comes a rigorous training and regatta schedule that does not let up.
*Transportation to the river is included in the membership dues for the Spring Season (M-F only). Transportation is not provided for Saturday practice or home regattas. We encourage participants to carpool if possible. Parents will be responsible for organizing their own carpools.
For our Novice Rowers and Freshman, Fall Learn to Row Days are designed to introduce new rowers to the sport, from the proper way to hold an oar to porting a shell to actually going out and getting fast in a boat. Combined outings on the water ensure that freshman and novices get a feel for the water and get to experience being part of our team. Attending even a couple of sessions will be helpful for novices to understand the basics of Crew. No prior rowing experience is necessary.
Fall rowing sessions are open to EVERYONE and will mix freshman and novices with returning varsity athletes. The Fall Learn to Row program is offered to students of all grades at Madison at no cost, although there is a small fee for new rowers to register with USRowing for the required current season liability waiver.
Participation in fall rowing is OPTIONAL for new and returning rowers. Participation is not required to have a great career as a new rower later in the season.
**Please note that for fall rowing, transportation to and from the Quan is not provided. We encourage participants to carpool if possible. Parents will be responsible for organizing their own carpools.
REGISTRATION STEPS HERE