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!
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/
Gayne Sears
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!
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.
Avalon West Coast Summer Rowing Camp
An additional rowing/learning opportunity shared by Marnie:
We are thrilled to announce the Avalon West Coast Summer Rowing Camp for 2021 !
What? (with a note of surprise)
3 day sweep and sculling camp in beautiful Coeur D’Alene, Idaho (Spokane, WA airport) over the last weekend of July. Arrive Thursday, July 29th to be on the water Friday morning July 30th through midday Sunday, Aug 1st. At least 5 on water sessions with video review.
Why? (if you need to know)
Because the West Coast Mafia (disruptive subgroup of Avalonians) demanded a camp closer to home and Sally’s motto is “All Hail the West Coast Mafia”
Who? (sneak preview: YOU)
Open to all vaccinated rowers.
Expert coaches will be Holly Metcalf, Abby Peck, and Sally O’Connor, accompanied by coxswains and wranglers to keep all boats pointed in the right direction.
When? (now we’re getting serious)
We covered that in “What” because people needed to know. If you missed it: Arrive Thursday, June 30th to be ready to row Friday am, July 31st. Finish midday on Sunday, August 1st.
Where? (where is that place and how the heck do you pronounce it?)
The camp will take place on calm and serene Lake Fernan close to the charming downtown of Coeur D’Alene, with reasonably priced hotel accommodations within a few miles. The best airport for camp is Spokane, WA, about an hour away. This small Idaho town is in a leisure-magnet area with access to hiking, biking and lakes. The downtown area has good food and eclectic shops.
I’m not going to touch the pronunciation question.
How? (Please please please let me know how to sign up for this!)
The cost is $750, not including accommodations.
We need at least 16 committed rowers to run the camp. If you are interested and/or would like more information, please email Rachel Kindt, rmkindt@yahoo.com with any questions and to get on the list by Jun 11th. One we have quorum we will request a $250 deposit, and more information will be forthcoming.
Please forward to any rowers you think would be interested!
In good rowing,
Rachel and Sally
SRRA Returns to the Spokane River!
Welcome 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
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
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:
Spring Rowing at Silver Lake
Hello SRRA members and friends,
Winter seems to finally be fading and it’s time to start planning for spring rowing. We had a successful boat maintenance day last month and have moved boats to Silver Lake for the spring season. The managers at Ruby’s on Silver Lake (17207 West Medical Lake Four Lakes Road, Medical Lake, WA 99022) have generously offered to let us launch from their site. Check Team Stuff to sign up and stay tuned for updates as conditions at the lake are still less than ideal. (Notices for practices, updates, etc. will generally be conveyed through TeamStuff going forward to avoid bombarding non-active rowers). If you are not already on TeamStuff, you can register for SRRA here.
In order to prepare for the season ahead, please:
-
- Make sure you have an active membership with US Rowing (this is imperative for our insurance) and have signed the online waiver. You will need SRRA’s organizational validation code QT79N if you have not previously registered with USRowing as a member of SRRA.
- Pay your dues–membership dues are $100 this year and can be paid online via the PayPal Giving Fund
- Make sure you’re set up on Teamstuff.
- Be flexible. Spring weather and the active Gonzaga race schedule (which requires Mark to travel) will prevent us from having a consistent practice schedule for a while. Currently, we are set for our first uncoached session on Wednesday April 24. We’re also in discussion with alternate coaches and will add other (hopefully earlier) practices as we can. I recommend using a punch card until our schedule solidifies in June.
For those who are interested in Learn to Row, we plan two sessions this year. They are scheduled for June 17th-29th and July 9th-20th.
Also keep in mind our friends at Coeur d’Alene Rowing. They will be on the water at Fernan soon and they offer a special rate for Spokane River Rowing members.
Looking forward to seeing you all soon,
Marnie Schroer
SRRA President
Early info on the HOP (Head of the Pend Oreille)
Once again the Northern Idaho crew and committee volunteers are gearing up for our September Head of the Pend Oreille Regatta. This will be our seventh annual event and with this year we are adding some new activities and moving others. It is hoped you will be able to join us this year. I will be sending an entry form in August as well as posting it on our website, porpa.org.
In the meantime, here is the basic nuts and bolts or should I say oars and shells of the 2017 Head of the Pend Oreille Regatta.
Friday September 29th: welcoming boats to the Mudhole. In the afternoon, there will be safety boats available and we encourage you to take a few practice rows. The Friday night BBQ has been moved to Saturday.
Saturday September 30th there will be two events (and a BBQ).
- 8:30am to 12:30p will be the sprint head race on the Priest River. For those of you who rowed this last year you understand the sprint part. This race is 1.7K and a lot of fun. Talk about up close and personal spectator viewing.
- 1-3pm there will be a BBQ at the Mudhole—details to come. The BBQ is hosted by PORPA (Pend Oreille Rowing and Paddling Association), who is also the host organization for the HOP.
- From 3-5pm there will be a 500m stake race for teams of 2,3, or 4 shells.
Sunday October 1, 7am to 12 noon PORPA invites visitors to join them for a casual row on the Pend Oreille.
If you have questions about lodging, etc please send me.
Patricia Sudick (headrace@netw.com)
Event Chair