Scroll down for information about Learn To Row and Learn To Scull classes.
Learn to Row Days
2024 Learn to Row Days: June 1 and August 10 (9:00am-12:00pm)
Learn to Row Days are great opportunities to experience rowing on The Grand River. Our LTR days are free and open to the public. No registration is needed; just come on down. Due to the July 4th holiday weekend, we will not have a Learn-To-Row Day in July. Our August Learn To Row day coincides with Comstock Park’s Mill Creek Days. Enjoy the events in Comstock Park and come to row on Saturday morning. Learn to Row Day activities include:
- Touring the boathouse
- Learning the parts of a rowing shell
- Learning basic rowing techniques on an indoor rower (erg)
- Rowing on the Grand River guided by experienced rowers and coaches
- Getting information about Learn to Row sessions and other rowing programs
Classes
Learn to Row
Each Learn to Row session teaches the basics of sweep rowing in eight- and four-person rowing shells with an experienced coxswain and coach. Our programs will advance new rowers from 1) common commands and basic technique to 2) rowing in sync, to 3) the option for gaining power and strength. There are opportunities for novice competition* during each 5-week session!
Sessions are held on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6pm to 8pm. For the 5 week session, each LTR boat will be with a dedicated LTR coach and coxswain. Following the class, we highly encourage new rowers to join the club and row with our more experienced rowers. Each session is held at our boathouse in Grand Rapids, and participants are optionally able to experience racing in a regatta in Ann Arbor, Traverse City, or our very own home course. Although it is very uncommon for a sweep boat to tip, every rower should have a high respect for the water. We encourage everyone who rows to be able to at least tread water.
JUNE SESSION: June 3 – July 3 – *Michigan Club Invitational: July 20 (Ann Arbor)
JULY SESSION: July 8 – August 7 – *Beer City Sprints: August 3 (Grand Rapids)
AUGUST SESSION: August 12 – September 11 – *Henley on the Boardman: September 14 (Traverse City)
Cost is $220
Learn to Scull
Sculling is a great way to experience river rowing on your terms. Rowers who scull use 2 oars, which are shorter and lighter than sweep oars.
Sculling in a single shell requires advanced rowing skill, so it is our policy to require all new scullers to have had some rowing experience OR to
complete 18 hours of an approved Learn To Row class prior to learning to scull. Your personal experience on the water should be discussed with
a coach prior to registration.
Our sculling lessons take place in singles (1x) on The Grand River. Participants assist each other in carrying oars and boats to/from the dock.
While learning to scull, don’t be surprised if the boat tips over. Coaches give detailed and safe instructions for getting back in the boat. Each session
includes 8 hours of water instruction; typically 4 2-hour sessions. Once registered for the session, the club will connect you with a coach. For safety
and focused instruction, each 8-hour session is limited to 3 participants. The club’s contact coach is Julie at [email protected]. Register
here, and then Julie will assist in helping schedule your sessions. Register with a buddy (or 2) and get a discounted price! It is not uncommon for new
scullers to tip out of their boat so every rower should have a high respect for the water.
We encourage everyone who rows to be able to at least tread water and that the upper body strength to get back into a rowing shell.
Click Sign Up to see pricing for LTS
Sweep
Athletes with only one oar are sweep rowers. Sweep boats carry a coxswain (pronounced cox-in) to steer and be the coach-in-the-boat. Rowers sit either Starboard or Port. Typically, sweep boats carry either 4 or 8 rowers.
Scull
Sculling uses two smaller oars per rower instead of the single
large oar used for sweep rowing. Sculling shells and oars are
smaller and lighter than larger sweep equipment. Typically,
there is no coxswain in a sculling boat. The bow rower steers.
