10/13/2000

Norwalk River Rowing Association

Rowing, or "crew" as the sport is often called, has grown in popularity in Connecticut over the years. I learned more about it from Barbara Zucker, a charter member of the Norwalk Rowing Club. The club, now called The Norwalk River Rowing Association, was founded in 1986 by adults interested in recreational rowing.

At that time, each of the adults who joined the club had his or her own boat or "shell." These were sturdy, stable Alden Ocean shells built for rough water so they could be rowed on Long Island Sound (unlike racing shells that are less stable and must be rowed in quieter waters.) Members transported their shells on the roofs of their cars to a public launching dock, where they put in to row just for the fun of it.

In 1987 the club purchased its first boat, a heavy, wooden used shell that held four rowers and a coxswain (the person who sits aft and calls out commands to establish rhythm and speed.) This boat wasn't very fast and so wasn't very competitive, but it gave the club something to begin training in.

In 1989 the club rented space at the Ischoda Yacht Club on the Norwalk River, thus providing them with space to store equipment and begin to acquire more boats for the youth program initiated the previous year. Once the high school programs got underway, many adult members of the club became volunteer team coaches, later accepting payment as youth teams grew and became increasingly competitive. About 100 students compete on Spring and Fall teams in a variety of local, regional and national races. During the Summer the club offers rowing lessons to newcomers; and during Winter months rowers concentrate on training/conditioning on land.

By 1994 the Norwalk River Rowing Association applied for and attained 501(c)3 status as a non-profit organization. This facilitated fund-raising drives for new boats, operating expenses and maintenance.

Adult rowers have continued to build up their membership and competitive teams. Master rowers (over the age of 27) compete in international regattas, the Head of the Charles and many other races. Until recently, men have been the only competitive adults in the club because there have been too few women members to form competitive teams. In 1999 the club sponsored non-membership events to introduce area women to the sport of rowing. Approximately 35 women have joined; about half of them have formed competitive teams and the other half (novices) are learning the sport for fun or future competitions.

October is a busy month for area rowing clubs, because there are several big annual races, such as "Riverfront Recapture" in Hartford on October 15; the Head of the Charles in Cambridge, MA (the weekend of October 21-22) and the Head of the Schuykill (the last weekend in October.)

For information about this weekend's "Riverfront Recapture" races in Hartford, call Todd Novak (860-713-3131) or visit the website: http://www.riverfront.org

To learn more about how you might become involved in the sport of rowing (in the Norwalk area) or start a rowing program in your area, contact:

Greg Baringer, Executive Director
Norwalk River Rowing Association
138 Water St.
South Norwalk, CT 06854
Phone: 203-299-1546

Please send questions or comments to bbruno@snet.net.