Hi all,
I am the parent of a high school VM who rows for NORCAL CREW in
Redwood City Ca. I am the official-unofficial varsity boys mom. I also
row with the Masters who share the boathouse. BIAC, Bair Island
Aquatic Crew. I love this sport and the family has been rowing for
three generations. NORCAL is growing as they are only 6 years old. Our
girls won the National Championships in Cinn. in the lightweight 4.
Oddly enough the third place winner was Stanford Junior Crew which
rows on the same slough. (It's the water or the all year round
rowing?) NORCAL is in the process of building a new boathouse with a
"elite training center". More to come on that. I believe the sport is
growing and the future may again bring sponsorship, easier recruiting
at the high schools and recreational outlets. In the San Francisco
area we are essentially banned from recruiting at high schools. The
kids have to form campus club. It is difficult when they row 6 days a
week to from a club and maintain it.I am a very annoying pushy mom and
have been there questioning the payment and support of coaches and
facilities for the "big 6" sports. Yet crew is not allowed to join in
the recruitment program at the beginning of the year. Apparently we
would be taking kids away from campus to participate. Yet, the
football team is a parent sponsored club with school paid coaches and
has facilities on campus..... I will not go on....on thing I will say.
My son was told by one of the coaches that "CREW was not a sport".
This coach was not talking about just on his campus.(former basketball
coach) My goal is to help change that lack of knowledge and bring
attention to one of the original Olympic sports and the first
collegiate in this country and possibly on the west coast. When we
talk about fitness, what better than rowing.....Thanks for reading my
thoughts. Best in 2008, Marsha Atkinson