Learn to Row for Juniors

Athletes ages 13 – 19 (entering 8th grade through rising high school seniors) can learn to row by attending summertime Learn to Row class. . This is the first step to joining the MRC Juniors competitive team as a rower or a coxswain. These classes focus on rowing fundamentals and technique. No prior rowing experience is required! The MRC is a community resource dedicated to providing broad access and opportunities for kids from throughout the Milwaukee area.

Coxswains! Anyone interested in becoming a coxswain (the athlete who steers the boat, gives direction, and executes practice plans) must take a Learn To Row class. Once you have the basics of rowing down, then you will receive coxswain specific coaching.

Cost of Class

$225 for a two-week class. Pro-rated fees are not available for time missed.

Location

All sessions meet at The Milwaukee Rowing Club Boathouse: 1990 N. Commerce Street, Milwaukee, WI 53212

2012 Learn to Row Classes

All classes run Monday through Friday, two hours per day, for two consecutive weeks. Classes are limited to 10 participants.

Girls

Session #1: 6/18/12 to 6/29/12, 10:30am - 12:30pm¹
Session #3: 7/9/12 to 7/20/12, 8:00am - 10:00am²
Session #5: 7/23/12 to 8/3/12, 10:30am - 12:30pm
Session #7: 8/6/12 to 8/17/12, 8:00am - 10:00am
Session #9: 8/20/12 to 8/31/12, 10:30am - 12:30pm

Boys

Session #2: 6/18/12 to 6/29/12, 8:00am - 10:00am¹
Session #4: 7/9/12 to 7/20/12, 10:30am - 12:30pm²
Session #6: 7/23/12 to 8/3/12, 8:00am - 10:00am
Session #8: 8/6/12 to 8/17/12, 10:30am - 12:30pm
Session #10: 8/20/12 to 8/31/12, 8:00am - 10:00am

¹ Eligible to compete at Chicago Sprints Regatta (7/7-7/8) and Twin Cities Sweeps Regatta (8/5)
² Eligible to compete at Twin Cities Sweeps Regatta (8/5)

EXCELLENT SWIMMING SKILLS REQUIRED

Rowers do not wear life jackets while in the boats. Therefore, all athletes must be strong swimmers. Note: A coach in a launch (powerboat) accompanies the athletes at all times. The coaching launch carries enough lifejackets for all athletes. Additionally, the boats the athletes are in are very stable with proper instruction and use. This is a precautionary measure.

Registration

Registration will open shortly! Check back often for more information. Contact Peter Helfer to be notified when registration opens.

Registration will be on a first come, first served basis, and early registration is recommended due to limited enrollment per session.

FAQ's

What to wear?

All participants will be given two high visibility (“hi-vis”) t-shirts on the first day of the class. The MRC’s policy is that all individuals rowing from the club docks must wear a “hi-vis” top. Participants are free to purchase their own, but two t-shirts are included in the registration costs.

Athletic shorts should be tight fitting and should not have pockets. Otherwise the shorts may get caught in the tracks in the boat that the seat rolls on. Compression shorts or spandex shorts are recommended but not required. When you join the team, you can purchase rowing specific shorts (aka “trou”).

Lastly, all participants should wear running shoes to each practice.

What does a typical LTR session entail?

On the first day, the athletes will be shown the facilities and the equipment, and be given two “hi-vis” LTR t-shirts. After this, they are taught the basics of rowing on the ergometer (rowing machine). This will be done at our indoor training facility (nicknamed “Fight Club”) located in the Schlitz Park office park. The athletes should be dropped off and picked up from the boathouse, as Fight Club is only a short run away.

The remainder of the first week will be spent working on rowing fundamentals in our training barge with occasional instruction on the ergometers. The barge is a very stable boat and provides the ability for the coaches to give specific instructions to the athletes. After the first week, the athletes will graduate into racing shells once they have the basic rowing fundamentals down.

What happens if the weather is poor?

Typically we will row in all conditions except for lightening and winds exceeding 20 mph. If it is raining but calm and no lightening is present, we will plan to row. If the weather prohibits the ability to row, practice will then be held indoors at the boathouse or moved to Fight Club. Instruction will be given once you arrive at the boathouse.

How does my son/daughter join the MRC Juniors competitive team after the completion of LTR?

During the final week of the session, your son/daughter will receive information on how to join the team. Athletes completing LTR will be able to start practice with the regular competitive team the following week.

Participants from sessions 1, 2, 3, and 4 who wish to join the team after their session will pay a prorated summer seasonal fee. The prorated rate is $30 per week. The total is calculated from the end of your session, until August 3rd. August 3rd is the final summer practice for the competitive team before the end of summer break. The competitive team's summer practice schedule is Monday-Friday, 7:00am – 10:00am. After the break, participants can join the team full time in the fall. The fall season begins on August 20th and practices run from 4:30pm – 6:30pm. Participants in sessions 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 will join the team’s fall schedule immediately.

My son/daughter is eligible to participate in a regatta. What does that mean?

Because you are in an earlier session, you are able to race right away! LTR graduates can attend the Chicago Sprints, in Chicago, IL and the Twin Cities Sweeps Regattas in Eden Prairie, MN. At the races, the participants will have the chance to race against other novice rowers who have similar rowing experience. It is a great way to start your rowing career. Note: The Chicago Sprints is no extra cost, while the Twin Cities Sweeps incurs extra fees.

All LTR grads will be eligible to race in the Fall regattas.

If my son/daughter cannot participate right away, can we join later on?

Yes. Your son/daughter can join at any time within the next 12 months. After 12 months, they must retake LTR before joining the team.

My son/daughter participates in <Insert activity here>. Can they still be on the team?

Yes. You can choose which seasons to participate in. For example, if your son plays soccer in the fall, he can join the team at the completion of the soccer season.

How much does it cost to row with the MRC Juniors?

There are several factors which affect an athlete’s total annual cost of rowing. The number of seasons an athlete competes in is the main factor. Below you will find a breakdown of the costs.

Annual Membership - $400

This must be paid in order to become a member of The Milwaukee Rowing Club for one year. This money covers insurance costs, equipment costs, and other costs incurred by the club. The annual year for a junior rower runs from August 15th to August 14th of the following year.

Seasonal Fees – Varies by season

A typical year for the juniors has four separate seasons; fall, winter, spring, and summer. Seasonal fees are paid by an athlete for each season the athlete participates. These fees cover junior coaching costs, non-traveling regatta costs, and costs to administer junior specific activities. The approximate fees are as follows: Fall - $250, Winter - $150, Spring - $350, Summer - $300. These are approximate for informational purposes and subject to change.

Traveling Regattas – Varies by regatta

The team typically attends three or four traveling regattas per year. These are regattas where the athletes stay at the team hotel and ride on the team bus. Athletes are expected to participate in all regattas in seasons that they participate in. For 2012, the traveling regattas are Midwest Championships - $225, Twin Cities Sweeps - $175, Head of the Charles (Select Varsity only) - $500. These are approximate for informational purposes and subject to change.

Other Costs

There are other incidental costs to participation but these are minimal.