Learn to Row with Capital Rowing Club!
Capital Rowing Club, with experienced coaches and volunteers, offers an introduction to the sport of rowing for individuals in the greater Washington, DC area.
Rowing offers a total body, low impact workout unequaled by any other sport. Unlike most activities, rowing incorporates the use of your legs, core and upper body. Rowers face backward in the boat and combine the power of leverage and precise timing to propel the boat through the water.
No previous experience is needed. Each class is limited to 28 students, which allows for personal interaction with coaches, volunteers and other novices. Once novices graduate, they are invited to become club members and get more involved with Capital and their new sport. It is important that you are able to attend ALL class sessions if at all possible, especially the first 4, to be able to gain the skills needed to continue with novice teams.
Each class, which includes 10 sessions on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm (unless otherwise noted) at the Anacostia Community Boathouse, introduces the basics of sweep rowing, such as language and handling equipment, performing rowing drills, and rowing all eight.
- Fee: $400
- Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Saturdays and Sundays)
- 2023 Learn to Row Classes:
- Session I – April 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, and 30 – FULL
- Session II – July 9, 15, 16, 29, and 30; August 5, 6, 12, 13, and 19 – FULL
- Session III – August 26 and 27; September 9, 10, 16, 17, 24, and 30; October 7 and 14 – FULL
- Location: Anacostia Community Boathouse
- Ages: 18 – 110. Please view our Juniors Program options for younger rowers and contact membership@capitalrowing.org with questions.
Novices will:
- Learn the basics of the rowing stroke
- Learn fundamental rowing topics such as ratio and timing
- Practice rowing together as a “crew”
- Gain familiarity with challenging rowing-based workouts and physiology
- Be introduced to training and racing
- Learn boat safety, the parts of rowing boats and oars, and how to handle them
- Learn basic equipment terminology and care
- Have fun and become connected to a diverse, supportive community of rowers
A typical practice might consist of the following activities:
- Stretching
- Land coaching via demonstration on the erg
- Light erg sessions to practice technique and body mechanics
- Rowing on the water as a “crew”
If you have any questions, please check out our FAQs. If you would like to be added to the waitlist for any full sessions please email our Membership Director.