LEARN TO ROW PROGRAMS
Welcome to the 'Go Rowing' Learn-to-Row Program run by Capital Lakes Rowing Club.
Please email us your interest in the course and we will contact you when the new courses commence.
The type of learn to row course offered to you will depend on your age, level of fitness and your preference to row in small or large boats.
Capital Lakes Rowing Club predominately rows and teaches sculls rowing (two oars) rather than sweep rowing (one oar). There is an option at the completion of your learn to row course to learn sweep rowing. Please speak to your coach if this interests you.
If your preference is to learn sweep rowing, please let the club know and we can talk to you about other options, such as our Corporate Rowing Program.
Generally, we divide our courses into Juniors (school aged children), Seniors (18 - 26 years of age) and Masters (adults over the age of 27). We tend to train Juniors in singles and Master in Quad sculls (4 person boat) or our Octo scull (eight person boat). If a Master wants to learn in a single scull our coaches will make an assessment of you suitability to do so.
When will the course begin and how long will it last?
The Learn to Row courses are generally conducted twice a year. They are run over 6 sessions lasting two hours each. School programs are run by agreement with the School.
You are welcome to visit the Capital Lakes Rowing Club to tour the shed and make yourself familiar with where the courses are conducted. This is a great opportunity to ask any questions that you may have before the course commences.
When you have submitted an expression of interest, the Learn to Row Coordinator will make contact with you to advise the start date of the next course.
Where will the course be held?
The course is held at the Capital Lakes Rowing Club, located in Grevillea Park Barton, just up from the Boathouse Restaurant.
How do you nominate to do a Learn to Row course?
1. Lodge by e-mail or through our contact page an expression of interest/learn to row registration form or turn up to a 'Familiarisation Day'. Note the requirements concerning any medical conditions and the declarations we are asking you to make. We will maintain the confidentiality of all personal information provided.
2. If you are a Junior, it is essential that you nominate in the Application Form the name of a parent or guardian. Your parent or guardian is required to attend the first session to meet your coach/club officials. You may wish to speak to your School about arranging a course for a number of students and learn together.
3. Once enrolled in the course, we will ask you to make a payment by electronic transfer or cheque of $250 prior to the course commencing.
On the days you are to row you should bring:
- a hat or cap,
- socks,
- wear tight fitting clothes that cannot get caught on the sliding seats in our boats (bike pants/tshirt – shirts or jackets should not have pockets on the front that oars can get caught in),
- apply sun protection lotion, and
- bring a full bottle of water.
If you are learning to row in a big boat the likelihood of falling into the water is remote, but you should bring along a towel and a change of clothes just in case. Some novices have fallen in from the dock while attempting to get into the boat!
Masters will be rowing in a bigger boat and you will be teamed up with other course participants to make up a crew. If you cannot make a session you need to advise your coach as soon as possible so a club member can make up numbers. If we cannot organise an alternate rower the other members in your crew will miss out on rowing that day, so your attendance commitment is important for other participant in the course.
We require a minimum number of participants (usually 4 or 8) to commence the course.
Who is your coach?
Coaches for Learn to Row programs and transition rowing are volunteers from within the club. They have been through an accreditation process and all coaches hold a coaching qualification and working with vulnerable people clearance. In most cases they have many years of rowing and coaching experience under their belts.
What happens after you finish the course?
Masters
For Masters, if you wish to continue rowing after finishing your course and become a member of our club we can arrange transition coaching sessions and arrange for you to row with more experienced rowers. You will need to complete a membership application form, which will be provided to you at the conclusion of your course.
Unlike some other clubs, Capital Lakes encourages social interaction by not prescribing that you are to be a member of a fixed crew or assigning you to a particular boat. As a result you can row with different club members from one row to the next, in different sized boats. We hope that this will encourage you to continue your rowing and see it as a social as well as a fitness opportunity and encourage you to introduce your friends to our club.
If you are interested in transitioning to smaller boats such as singles and doubles, or to prepare for competition in local regattas, including masters events, this can be arranged with additional coaching. Some Masters compete in local regattas and we can provide you with that opportunity for further training and development.
Juniors
In the case of Juniors wishing to continue, we expect that all Juniors will compete in local regattas, either individually or in a crewed boat with other rowers of a similar age/standard. We do not allow novice Juniors to row without an experienced coach at any time. We can only discharge our duty of care to our Juniors by having them involved in competition and formal training.
What next
Please let the club know if you are interested in undertaking a Learn to Row course. One of the coordinators will be in touch with you to let you know where the next course will be starting. Either email us at capitallakes@gmail.com or through the contact us page on the website.
If you have a friend that is interested in rowing pass this e-mail on and tell them to make contact through the Capital Lakes Rowing Club.
