Masters Rowing
Wyandotte Boat Club’s masters rowing program provides opportunities for adult rowers (at least 21 years old) to train and compete throughout the year. Please check the bottom of this page for available program registrations and current season details.
Some notes about WBC masters rowing:
- Masters rowing is for experienced rowers. If you are new to the sport of rowing, take a look at WBC’s Adult Recreational Rowing programs.
- Masters rowing emphasizes racing. Participation in regattas is not mandatory, but the training and coaching is focused on preparing boats for racing.
- The main summer season progresses quickly to racing. Having a good level of fitness at the start of summer will allow you to have a rewarding experience. If you don’t have access to a rowing erg or other training equipment, consider joining the masters program during the winter training months.
- The WBC masters program tends to emphasize sculling. If you have only done sweep rowing, the masters’ coaches can teach you to scull. You might also consider joining the adult sculling program if you are new to sculling.
The typical yearly program calendar:
- Winter training (January – May):
- A kickoff meeting is typically scheduled for early-mid January.
- A schedule of morning and evening workouts is offered. Training emphasizes erging and weightlifting.
- Joining the winter training will include a modest fee, typically on a monthly basis. Fee details will be provided at the January kickoff meeting.
- Summer Prep (May through early June):
- A kickoff meeting is typically scheduled for mid-April.
- This is a separate session because equipment and coaching availability can be limited while WBC’s operations focus on the high school season.
- Rowers will continue some form of winter training, while WBC offers a limited schedule of on-water training (e.g. weekends).
- Joining the summer prep will include a fee; details will be provided at the April kick-off meeting.
- Summer (Mid-June through mid-August):
- A kickoff meeting is typically scheduled for late May or early June.
- The focus is on-water training, often five days per week. The specific practice schedule will be announced at the kickoff meeting, but WBC’s goal is to offer both morning and evening practice options on weekdays, as well as weekend practices.
- Joining the summer season will include a training fee; details will be provided at the kickoff meeting.
- Attendance at regattas will include additional fees.
- Fall (Late-August through late-October)
- A kickoff meeting is typically scheduled for mid-August.
- The focus is on-water training. The schedule is typically reduced from summer, often three or four days per week. The specific practice schedule will be announced at the kickoff meeting. Weekday practices are typically in the evening, due to later sunrises in the fall.
- Joining the fall season will include a training fee; details will be provided at the kickoff meeting.
- Attendance at regattas will include additional fees.
Racing Guidelines
- In order to eligible for any racing as Wyandotte Boat Club, rowers must have paid the season fee and be participating consistently in WBC practices; vacations, work conflicts, and other reasonable absences are ok with advance notice.
- Regatta guidelines:
- Team regatta selections for the season are made by the programs coaches and administrators. Rowers may request to attend other regattas as Wyandotte Boat Club on weekends WBC does not have a scheduled regatta.
- Rowers must support regatta-related activities, such as trailer loading and unloading. Notify the coach in advance of any conflicts.
- Rowers must participate in team travel, namely carpooling and shared trailering expenses. Other team travel expenses are optional but must be clearly communicated: team food at the course, team hotel arrangements.
- Entry guidelines:
- Rowers should indicate in advance (via the provided team process) their interest in specific regatta events. The team coaches and administrators will lead the process of determining team entries based on this interest, and considering the goal of best team performance.
- Composite entries (WBC combined with another club) will be considered as long as there is no option to boat the entry entirely with WBC rowers, and the entry does not impact another WBC event.
- In the case of a contested entry (e.g. 5 rowers interested in a 4-person boat), the team goal is to achieve the best race performance. A key input is each rower’s erg score (1k in summer, 5k in fall), adjusted for age, weight, and gender. Coaches will also consider physical and technical compatibility among rowers. Seat racing will be considered if the above factors do not provide a clear selection.
- In order to be considered for a contested entry, rowers must be available for practice all week prior to the regatta.