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Tag: Power Rowing Studio
The Perfect Father’s Day Gift: On the Water with Dad
The Perfect Father’s Day Gift: On the Water with Dad
Our annual Father’s Day listing of great races to head to with your dad this summer continues for 2019, though this year we’ve added a few new ways to share in the excitement of rowing with the guy who raised you.
We may be (just a bit) biased, but in our opinion quality father-child bonding time doesn’t get much better than sharing in the energy and excitement of a day spent watching live competitive rowing. This time of year, the New England region is chock-full of prestigious, well-run events along some truly scenic waterways, not to mention some major annual events taking place a bit farther afield.
Why not enjoy a memorable family day at one of the 9 summer regattas and rowing events we’ve rounded up below? Combine your outing with a special Father’s Day gift for your rowing patriarch: a new boat or erg pad. This year you can make him the envy of his boat club with one of RowingPad’s brand-new boat pads featuring Anti-Slip Technology. Already a trusty tool among some of today’s top professional rowers, the pads have a slip-resistant coating that provides stability even in wet or extra cold conditions. If you’re shopping for a regular erg user, you can’t beat the quality and design of our ErgPads, available in several densities and with or without comfort cutouts.
1) June 15: The Schuylkill Navy Regatta
Philadelphia, PAStroll back in time as you check out the 15 boathouses, all at least a century old and home to the member clubs of the Schuylkill Navy, that make up historic Boathouse Row along the Schuylkill River. The iconic racing river is undergoing a massive dredging effort this summer to ensure it continues to be a viable waterway for rowing. Though this early summer race is lower profile than some of the other annual fixtures that take place here (see regatta No. 2 on our list), it is rich with America’s rowing heritage and set in Philadelphia’s stunning Fairmount Park.
2) June 28, 29, and 30: The Independence Day Regatta
Philadelphia, PAMake a pre-Fourth of July pilgrimage to the birthplace of the nation—and the birthplace of American rowing. This annual regatta, one of several hosted by the Schuylkill Navy, dates back to the 1880s and figures prominently in the rich history of the sport in the U.S. What was originally called “the People’s Regatta” has grown into a major competition featuring upwards of 1,000 boats and numerous ancillary activities, including a College Expo for rising seniors. Book a nearby hotel and spend a few beautiful summer mornings along the historic Schuylkill River before setting out for afternoon adventures around Philadelphia with your own crew.
3) July 3–7: Henley Royal Regatta
Henley-on-Thames, UKBring your patriotic spirit across the Pond for a last-minute July Fourth escape to this most storied of rowing events. A milestone celebration for the truly passionate lifelong rower, a trip to England for this annual international regatta, which features more than 200 races, can’t be beat. Remember to pack your pinstripes (the dress code remains quite strict) and prepare to soak in all of the wonderfully quaint riverside rowing tradition.
4) July 9 to July 14: USRowing National Championships
Bethel, OHIf your family includes teenagers or college students who are at all interested in racing, make the trip to Harsha Lake in Ohio for this steadily growing summer regatta that showcases the most talented under 17, under 19, intermediate, senior and elite athletes in the country. This year the regatta will expand to 6 days and has dropped “Club” from the title moving forward to reflect the re-integration of elite-level race categories. Stay in Cincinnati, just 25 miles from the lake, for the weekend—the small city might surprise you with all that’s new and cool to see there (for ideas, check out this article).
5) July 13: USRowing Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Masters Regional Championships
Lowell, MAThe Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions are some of the most active in the country’s rowing community, so this Masters level championship is sure to feature some excellent racing. The Bellegarde Boathouse at UMass Lowell, the home base for the action, is perched right on the Merrimack River in Lowell Heritage State Park with views of the entire course from the shoreline—a great setting for a day of spectating, picnicking, and riverside sunsets.
Share an old-timey racing day with Dad at the South End Rowing Club’s Wooden Boat Classic Regatta in San Francisco. 6) July 27: Wooden Boat Classic Regatta
San Francisco, CASurprise Dad with a West Coast excursion to a beloved throwback rowing event at the South End Rowing Club’s Wooden Boat Classic. The San Francisco Bay-based club, founded in 1873, maintains a fleet of over 30 boats, including wooden rowboats and Whitehulls, some of which are 100 years old. Enjoy the scene of wooden boat enthusiasts rowing against a backdrop of Alcatraz Island, then tour the South End boathouse, which displays out-of-service wooden shells from years past, including Pocock boats, which your pops may have read about in the book The Boys in the Boat (another fantastic Father’s Day gift idea), about the University of Washington’s journey to the 1936 Olympics.
7) August 3: Narragansett Boat Club Sweeps & Sculls
Providence, RIPlanning for a Brown crew alumnus? Check out the NBC’s annual Sweeps & Sculls regatta, an accessible, centrally located event to plan a family day around. This Rhody rowing club has a fascinating history (which you can read on its website) that will intrigue any passionate rower. The boathouse is perched right on the edge of the Seekonk River, in the Blackstone Park recreation area and upriver of the Brown boathouse. Graduates of that Ivy League rowing program can attest to the Seekonk’s strong currents and choppy waves—any race on this course is sure to be fun to watch.
8) Ongoing, Indoor Rowing Classes
Locations Near YouMaybe your dad is less of an on-water rower and more into the ergometer. Join forces for the day (or make a commitment to meet up for a weekly class) and motivate each other for a personal best. Indoor rowing studios across the country offer first-rate instruction from experienced rowers along with innovative ways to get your muscles pumped and your mind focused. In the New England region, we love Power Rowing, in Brookline, Massachusetts, right outside Boston, which offers a great assortment of straight rowing and combo classes. (Read our interview with Power Rowing’s inspirational founder, Bryan Fuller.) Bonus: You can scoop up a new RowingPad for Dad at the studio to add some extra comfort to his workouts.
9) June – August: Community Rowing Inc. Programs
Brighton and Auberdale, MAFor an on-water, hands-on experience for Dad and the whole family, take your rowing enthusiasm to the boats! Organizations like the excellent Community Rowing Inc. out of Boston are offering more diverse summer programming to get rowers of all age levels and experience out on the water. Let your personal rowing pro teach you the strokes at the two-hour Parent-Child Sculling Sunday, held along the tranquil Upper Charles River. The program runs throughout the summer. Or get your extended family together for the Charles River Rowing League, for 6 weeks of training and (friendly) racing against other groups of 8 to 10, based out of the Harry Parker Boathouse. It will be something you and your family can look forward to doing together every week—a Father’s Day gift that lasts all summer!
A very happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there—on the boat or off!
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Keep informed of all our sales and promotions as well as interesting happenings in the rowing world by following us on Facebook, Instagram or subscribe to our e-newsletter.A Q&A with Bryan Fuller, Founder of Brookline’s Power Rowing Studio
A Q&A with Bryan Fuller, Founder of Brookline’s Power Rowing Studio
We have no shortage of gorgeous waterways in New England for outdoor rowing. But when it comes to indoor rowing options, the boutique studios (like our friends at EngineRm in New York City) that have hit major cities around the country seem slow to find their way to our neck of the woods.
That’s why we at RowingPad are thrilled about the arrival of Power Rowing to the indoor rowing scene. The Brookline, Massachusetts, studio opened in August 2017, offering low-impact, high-intensity classes taught exclusively by veteran rowing coaches and longtime rowers. The sleek, airy space features Concept2 machines framed by exposed-brick walls and plenty of windows.
Rowing Changes Lives
Founded by Bryan Fuller, a former Army veteran with a lifelong passion for fitness and a very interesting title under his belt (fastest American to row across the Atlantic!), Power Rowing embraces the transformative power of rowing, and working out in general, with a focus on becoming sustainably fit for life. This approach manifests itself through the full range of classes on offer, each designed to help participants build their strength and endurance and improve their form.
And there’s one more exceptional rowing tool you’ll find at Power Rowing: RowingPad’s 30MM Triple Decker ERG Pads, which the studio offers for sale.
Everything You Need to Know About Power Rowing
We checked in with Bryan for the scoop on his indoor rowing studio and all it has to offer the rowing community.
Q: What sort of people frequent the studio—rowing newbies, fitness buffs, seasoned on-water rowers?
“We really have a mixed group of people that visit the studio. Some are as young as 9 and others as old as 74, sometimes sitting in the same class. The vast majority of our clients have never rowed on the water, and only a handful have ever used a rowing machine. A good number of our clients are attracted by the low impact or the challenge of rowing as they are recovering from an injury related to training for another sport.”
Q: What class would you recommend for experienced on-water rowers?
“I usually tell people to try our entry-level row first. It is a slow build with a lot of time spent on form. That is something we emphasize a lot here. Good form helps prevent injury, and it also maximizes one use of muscles.”
Q: Tell us more about your instructors—their rowing knowledge must be an integral part of the workout experience.
“All of our classes are taught by rowing coaches or longtime rowers, and in addition, the rowing machine is only for rowing [versus as an interval within a longer cardio or toning class]. Our instructors’ backgrounds vary from one who spent four years as a Yale rower to one who is the current coach of the Northeastern heavyweight men’s crew to one who is training for the Olympics. All of them have competed in rowing and have been rowing for several years—in fact, many are still competing.”
Q: In your experience, how can a rowing cushion help a rower?
“Rowing can cause a lot of discomfort on the sitz bones. Rowing is an excellent exercise for all ages, but some body types have less cushioning in the glutes and can develop some irritation. Also, if you want to row long distances such as a marathon row (which we offer twice a year), then a great cushion is a must.”
Q: And, really, we must know…what do you like about RowingPad’s erg pads?
“I decided to sell RowingPads based on my own experience rowing across the Atlantic Ocean. When you spend a lot of time rowing, you want to be as comfortable as possible. Having discomfort while working out can take a lot away from the experience and turn people off. Plus, we have a lot of regulars that come so consistently that the extra padding makes their experience so much better.”
Q: How about you? Do you personally use a rowing pad when you row?
“Oh, yeah. If I am going on a significant row, I definitely bring a pad.”
Q: Does the studio have any upcoming events we should put on our calendars?
“Yes! We are doing a charity fundraiser for the month of October to raise money for Respond Inc., Boston’s first crisis center. Teams of two will compete to see who can row the most meters in 31 days. We will have a big party and announce the winners on November 3. We will have a giant check, too.”
Stop by Power Rowing, located at 62 Harvard Street, Unit B, in Brookline Village, to experience its excellent indoor rowing classes firsthand. And if you, like us, want to hear more about Bryan Fuller’s experience rowing across the Atlantic, keep your eyes peeled for his upcoming book, “Rowing the Atlantic Ocean, a Love Story.”