Author: Brandan

I began rowing in 1975 while at Reed College, in Portland, OR. Have rowed with the Lake Merritt Rowing Club in Oakland, CA and Spokane River Rowing Association in Spokane, WA. I come from a rowing family: two brothers and two sisters rowed at WWU, and my daughter lead Florida Tech team to the 2007 DivII national championships.
Posted on

When can we get on the water in 2023? – Updated May 22

SRRA is embarking on a new organizational phase in 2023. We are still working on finalizing agreements to offer masters rowing at Picnic Pines* on Silver Lake (see directions below) for at least June, and with Spokane Airport to lease land near the GU Boathouse on the Spokane River at Felts Field. We have hired a new coach (more on that in a separate post); we are working on offering Learn to Row in July, and we expect to offer 3-6 sessions on the water each week beginning in July. Schedules will be posted on the SRRA Calendar and in iCrew, but most likely for June it will be 1-2 afternoon (5:30-7:30 pm) and Saturday morning.

We will need members to assist at least 2 spring volunteer days, one in early May and one in early July to get the sites set up and ready to go.

SRRA uses iCrew for registration and scheduling. If you are not registered with iCrew, you will need to request a registration code from SRRA@spokanerowing.org in order to complete your iCrew registration at https://icrew.club/register?club=SRRA. If you haven’t already, please also register for our mailing list for updates and event announcements that are not iCrew related.

REMINDER: you can only get on the water after registering, paying, and completing the various safety and insurance documents and trainings. It might be a bit daunting at first, but once it’s done it’s done!  See details at Membership.

*please note- Picnic Pines is not open to the public, SRRA is renting space and only SRRA members will have access during specified times. Directions to this site will be posted in iCrew.

Posted on

Coach V Demonstrates How to Re-enter a Single

Now that Learn to Row is over for the season there will be more an more opportunities to try your hand in small boats.  A critical skill for anyone rowing a single or double is boat re-entry.  We’ve all flipped before!

Posted on

When can we get on the water? Long Spring Runoff — Silver Lake Rowing in 2022

Well the spring run off on the Spokane River is not expected to subside to rowable conditions for a few more weeks. SO, SRRA is shifting gears to give us the opportunity to get on the water in mid June at Silver Lake.

This means we need to move some boats. We plan to do this on Monday 13 June. I have entered a session in iCrew from 5:30- 7:30 pm we will need at least 6 people to help de rig, load the trailer and unload at Silver Lake (GU Johnson Family boathouse). 

After that, the plan is for rowing sessions:

    • Monday and Thursday evenings 5:30-730ish,
    • Wednesday mornings 5:45- 7:30 ish 
    • Saturday morning 8-10.

Specific times will be posted by Coach Voorheees in ICrew.  I am excited to get to row at this facility, it has a great dock and  Silver Lake is a cool new place to row. Thanks to GU for sharing!

REMINDER: you can only get on the water after registering, paying, and completing the various safety and insurance documents and trainings. It might be a bit daunting at first, but once it’s done it’s done!  See details at Membership.

DIRECTIONS TO JOHNSON FAMILY BOATHOUSE
PHYSICAL ADDRESS:
11410 Silver Lake South Rd.
Medical Lake, WA 99022

Take Interstate 90 West to Exit 270 onto SR-904 West toward Four Lakes, Cheney
Continue on to SR-904
Turn right onto W. Medical Lake Four Lakes Rd
Turn left onto W Silver Lake Rd.
Turn left onto Silver Lake South Rd
Continue on for half a mile. Destination will be on your right.

link to directions:
https://gozags.com/sports/2018/6/12/sports-m-rowing-spec-rel-directions-boathouse-html.aspx

Gayne Sears

Posted on

Hot! Hot!! Hot!!!

Due to the high temperatures, we will be rowing in the mornings this week.

6/29/21 Tue and 7/01/21 Thu 6:00AM to 8:00AM.

Saturday is till 7:00AM to 9:30AM.

See you then!

Posted on

We’re Back!

SRRA Resumes June 14th 5:30 – 7:30 PM!

We had a good turnout for the Boat Maintenance Day on Saturday, and we are Ready to Row!

Since most of us have not been in a shell for over a year, the coaches are going to help us get our confidence back by providing Learn to Row 2.0 for our sessions in June. We’ll be polishing the rust from our basic boat handling, rowing technique, entering and exiting the boats, steering, water safety, etc.  It will be a great opportunity to ask all your questions, remember which is starboard and which is port, how to orient the oar locks, and get us off on the right path to a great summer of rowing!

Rowing sessions will be:

  • MONDAY AND WEDNESDAY evenings 5:30p-7:30p, and
  • SATURDAY mornings 7:00a-9:30a. 

We will assess the interest for additional sessions for the remainder of the summer. We are working on session sign-up software, but for now just show up 5 minutes early so coaches can have time to set up boat line ups.  

Additionally, we will be asking members that want to row a single at a certain practice to reserve the boat. This will be a first come first serve procedure, though the actual process to make a reservation will be rolled out in the coming weeks. 

We will be practicing COVID safety. Those who are not fully vaccinated will need to self identify and practice mask wearing and social distancing. Reserving a single will be the rowing option available for un-vaccinated.

Tasks before hitting the water:

    • Make your annual membership donation ($100) before coming out to row, or bring a check on your first day. You can make your Membership Donations to SRRA ($100) at PayPal Giving Fund for SRRA.
    • Please link to USRowing Membership to check on your USRowing Waiver and Membership Status (if you need to renew your membership, only the Basic membership is needed).  If you need to affiliate with Spokane River Rowing Association, our Club Code is QT79N.
    • Please download and complete the Medical Info sheet and bring with you to the boathouse.

Location:  Meet at the gate west of Park on 7200 E South Riverway  https://www.spokanerowing.org/wp/directions/

Posted on

SRRA Returns to the Spokane River!

Head of the Spokane - 2006Welcome back to rowing SRRA members!
Please join us at the boathouse for boat maintenance and boat handling refresher Saturday 12 June 0800-1200.  
 
Since most of us have not been in a shell for over a year, the coaches are going to help us get our confidence back by providing Learn to Row 2.0 for our sessions in June. We’ll be polishing the rust from our basic boat handling, rowing technique, entering and exiting the boats, steering, water safety, etc.  It will be a great opportunity to ask all your questions, remember which is starboard and which is port, how to orient the oar locks, and get us off on the right path to a great summer of rowing!
 
Rowing sessions will tentatively start June start the 14th, and will be
    • MONDAY AND WEDNESDAY evenings 5:30p-7:30p, and
    • SATURDAY mornings 7:00a-9:30a. 
We will assess the interest for additional sessions for the remainder of the summer. We are working on session sign-up software, but for now just show up 5 minutes early so coaches can have time to set up boat line ups.  Additionally, we will be asking members that want to row a single at a certain practice to reserve the boat. This will be a first come first serve procedure, though the actual process to make a reservation will be rolled out in the coming weeks. 
 
We will be practicing COVID safety. Those who are not fully vaccinated will need to self identify and practice mask wearing and social distancing. Reserving a single will be the rowing option available for un-vaccinated.
 
Please pay your annual and monthly dues before coming out to row, or bring a check on your first day. Please link to USRowing Membership to check on your USRowing Waiver and Membership Status (if you need to renew your membership, only the Basic membership is needed).  If you need to affiliate with Spokane River Rowing Association, our Club Code is QT79N.
 
You can make your Membership Donations to SRRA ($100) at PayPal Giving Fund for SRRA.
 
Questions? Please respond to this email and  one of the Board members will get back to you.
 
Thanks! 
Gayne Sears / President
and the SRRA Board
Posted on

Learn to Row with CDA Rowing Starts May 5th

CDA Rowing has posted an update concerning this year’s Learn to Row course.

They are combining the two separate two week sessions into one full, four week long, Learn to Row course. Members and guests are welcome to register for this course by clicking the link here. The course will cost $285 and will begin May 5th. Wednesday 5:30pm to 7:30pm. Then Monday’s, Wednesday’s 5:30pm to 7:30pm and Saturday’s 8am to 10am.

There will be twelve sessions in total, and each session will be two hours long.

The Coeur d’Alene Rowing Association

Posted on

2021 Spring President’s Message

Gayne Sears / SRRA President 2021
As newly elected President of SRRA I hope to help the club rebuild a viable and enjoyable Masters rowing season in 2021 as conditions permit. Unfortunately we will not be offering Learn to Row sessions this year. We are hopeful and are keeping in contact with Gonzaga rowing to share our interests and willingness to adapt. Please know that members are welcome and encouraged to attend our SRRA board meetings, as your Board is open to new ideas and we encourage active participation.

My rowing biography starts at University of California Davis in the mid 1980’s where I walked onto a small but mighty women’s club team and rowed starboard on every outing from then on. I made some of my best friend during that year on the freshman crew and keep in touch with them to this day. I skipped rowing the following year (needed to study harder), but I participated as the land coach and pushed my teammates to run the stairs faster and lift the weights harder. I rowed seven seat in the varsity eight the following year, with my favorite win a Head of the Sacramento 5000 meter race where we pounded our competitor by several boat lengths!

Twenty years later I took a weekend sculling class, five years after that I moved to the PNW and joined SRRA, where I increased my sculling, sweep, and coxing skills. I’m also a founding member (and President of the Board) of the Pend Oreille Rowing and Paddling Association and am planning a rowing and paddling event on the Priest River for the summer of 2021.

I have rowed with international clubs in Scotland and Victoria BC and am enticed by rowing vacations across the world. I adore rowing, I adore the people who row and cox, and most of the time I adore the coaches :) JK. Rowing is my lifelong sport and I try to lure people into it wherever I go.

Your Other Board members for 2021 are:
Dennis- Vice President
Julie/Brandon Treasurer
Peggy – Secretary
Bob, Bruce, Marnie At Large

Posted on

Waiting for the all clear on COVID-19

With the beautiful spring weather, and 6 weeks of COVID-19 social distancing, no one is more anxious than we are to get back to rowing on the river or out at Silver Lake. But we want to make sure we don’t put ourselves at risk by getting back together too soon!

The SRRA board is meeting to map out our options and plans for a safe return to the water.  Stay tuned, and stay safe!  And until then, enjoy a virtual row: