ABOUT / FAQ

1. What is the River Rowing Association? [+]
   The River Rowing Association is a non-profit organization that offers rowing programs for nearly all age levels – from junior high school through adult. Experienced coaches run everything from learn-to-row programs for complete novices to strenuous workouts for athletes training for competition. Both our high school and adult programs have produced championship crews and many of our high school athletes go on to row in college. But whether you plan to race with us, or to simply enjoy the experience of rowing along the majestic Hudson River, we welcome your participation.
2. Who can row? [+]
   Almost anyone can row. Some rowers start as young as 11 or 12 years old, others in college and still others as adults. At the high school level there are typically novice, JV and varsity teams for both boys and girls. At the collegiate level and above, men’s and women’s teams often offer both open and lightweight divisions. Lightweight teams restrict the weight of individual rowers and of the overall crew – allowing individuals of similar size to compete against one another. Finally, age is not a restriction. There are a growing number of older rowers training and competing, with 80 year olds not an unusual site at regattas like the Head of the Charles in Boston. While competing is often a natural result for those who involve themselves in the sport, throughout the world there are rowers who simply row for pleasure, for the incredible scenery and to simply stay active. Rowing is a low-impact exercise that can be performed at a paddle or at lung-busting race pace.
   
3. Why row? [+]
   • Great Exercise [+]
     • Elite rowers are among the most conditioned athletes in the world
     • Each stroke uses all the major muscle groups
     • Typical races range from 1000 meters to 5000 meters (3 to 20 minutes in duration depending on distance and conditions) – to do well, rowers need both power and endurance
     • Rowers also need coordination, balance and grace to move their boat efficiently through the water
     • Rowing can be a lifelong sport – athletes in their 80’s regularly compete in races around the world
   • Team Spirit [+]
     • Most rowing competitions are for team boats that consist of 2 to 8 rowers (though singles are also popular)
     • In order to achieve maximum speed in a team boat, the crew must perfectly synchronize their rowing strokes
     • Large regattas can attract hundreds of teams and thousands of athletes
     • Race categories often include boys, girls, women, men, coed and even parent/child
     • The challenging workouts as well as the often exciting races offer great team building opportunities.
   • Rich in History [+]
     • Rowing has been a competitive sport for hundreds of years – the first race in the US was between Harvard and Yale in 1852 – the very first intercollegiate sporting event in America
     • Crew has been an Olympic sport since 1900 and modern day Olympics see over 500 rowers compete from countries around the world
     • Most top colleges have rowing programs for men and women, with women’s rowing having grown tremendously since the introduction of Title IX
     • The Hudson River and surrounding areas have been a rowing venue since the late 1800’s when the Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships were first held at Poughkeepsie