The Corvallis Rowing Club (CRC) owns a fleet of boats and support equipment, contracts with at least one qualified rowing coach, and has a financial arrangement with Oregon State University for limited use of its crew facilities. As part of community service, CRC offers a two-part Beginning Rowing Class each summer for people who would like to learn about rowing and experience this sport.

Beginning Rowing I and Beginning Rowing II rowing class sessions are taught by a qualified Master's coach and are further supported by several CRC members who volunteer their time to assist the coach and help make the class successful, safe, and fun. It's a group effort to get a group of novices ready to row on the river.

Class sessions are held at the OSU Boathouse on the banks of the Willamette River. The boathouse is on the east side of the river (turn left at the 1st light immediately after the Van Buren Street Bridge).

Participants must be at least 21 years of age. Each person must be able to attend 90% of the class sessions as this is a team-oriented sport where skills are taught and practiced in a progressive manner. Class participants will be depending on each other for consistent effort and progress.

​

This sport requires each crew of 8 rowers to carry their boat from the boathouse to the dock (carrying the boat on your shoulders and then pressing the boat up over head) and then carefully place it in the water before getting into seats that are on rollers. These boats are about 60-feet long, 2-feet wide, and weigh approximately 200 pounds (shared by the crew). Participants will learn to effectively handle these tasks, but participants should be in reasonable physical health to carry their boat and avoid injury.

Completion of the Beginner I class sessions is required to enroll in Beginner II. Then for those interested in more rowing challenges after successfully completing the Beginner II class sessions, there might be an opportunity for selected classmates to participate in limited further training or club practices. For the safety and productivity of all rowers, this selection will be based on individual progress, adequate fitness, and reasonable intermediate rowing aptitude.

​

Registration

​

To register for the Beginning Rowing I and II class sessions

​

• Registration starts on April 1. To register and pay for the class, fill out the Registration and Liability Waiver Form and follow the instructions on it. Once the form and payment have been received, we will send you a confirmation email. Initially, you need only register for the Beginning I class. The Beginning II class will depend on satisfactory completion of Beginning I or at least one year of sweep rowing experience.  

• Float Test. Prior to the beginning of the rowing class, all participants must successfully pass a Swim/Float Test or provide recognized documentation of swimming ability and endurance. Click Float Test Form to download.  Go to any public pool and present the form to the front desk or to a life guard. They will know what to do. Please fill out the form and bring it to your first beginning rowing class. 

​

For more information, contact us at corvallisrowingclub@gmail.com.