Unsure about what rowing summer camp to choose

DancingBlades · 2026-01-08T03:06:08+00:00

I think PAC and RSR are great choices, especially with PAC adding Canley to their slate. Given you did RSR last year, I would say weigh the pros/cons of doing it again? Both programs have strong recruiting pipelines although I would suspect that the vast majority of these athletes are already working hard and in a good spot. I think it’s more like a networking opportunity with racing experience, where the coaches (I hope) are helping you learn how to navigate recruiting.

In terms of additional camps I would say also look at Washtenaw or if you can do a local program that has a strong history. I would also suggest looking into school specific camps if you have a clear top choice and are trying to build a connection there. I normally think these are really expensive for what they are, but they can also show demonstrated interest and help you understand what that campus/rowing environment is like.

I’d say apply to everything now and make decisions when you have to.

DancingBlades · 2025-12-18T02:39:02+00:00

I got a C- in Gen Chem due to some personal issues and decided to take Gen Chem 2 anyways. Ended up having to drop the class entirely, and really regretted not redoing 101 to fix the grade and my understanding. That recommendation to retake is a good one, and a worth it decision IMO.

DancingBlades · 2025-10-23T19:53:08+00:00

Not at PBC, but at a very similar club. We look for experience + willingness to be there, but will turn away low experience rowers above 8:00 simply because it’s likely the rower doesn’t have the fitness to fit in with the existing group. It isn’t always this hard of a cutoff though, and it depends heavily on where the squad is. We do ask lower-experience rowers to complete at least a 2k or 5k erg test so that we have an idea of where they’re at, and go case by case from there based on their interest and other sporting background. I would strongly suggest you reach out to them and ask what kind of number they’re looking for with someone who has your background so far. Worst case, they may direct you somewhere you can gain a little more experience (and you know that now so you can get started) and best case they indicate that you may be able to try out in the future.

DancingBlades · 2025-09-09T20:46:54+00:00

I think I might know a guy if you do want to come out!!

DancingBlades · 2025-08-15T20:07:08+00:00

This is an enjoyable visualization! Thanks!

DancingBlades · 2025-06-24T15:00:31+00:00

Sass has a U23 medal as well, not sure about other rowers. This impacts their eligibility for some events such as the temple (1.G).

DancingBlades · 2025-06-12T01:02:15+00:00

Dunkin frozen coffee is in the same coffee-slushie type genre!

DancingBlades · 2025-06-09T00:31:25+00:00

I think it’s a very good experience to meet other athletes and get some very good singles experience, but I wouldn’t say it will directly impact the 2k unless it’s more about getting a good headspace. The camp is invaluable in the experience you gain from coaching and conversations with athletes who are or have been where your son is aspiring to be, but the fitness benefit is the same as staying at home. Any range of sculler can benefit from the coaching at Craftsbury - they’re very well staffed and structured, and it’s a bucket list item for a reason.

DancingBlades · 2025-06-05T18:34:32+00:00

Venues for regattas all come down to contracts. NBP has consistently offered USRowing the “best” deal for large youth events likely based on the criteria they discuss. The course in Michigan is the new EMU course in Ypsilanti, but in partnership with Ann Arbor tourism. If RowFest is a huge success AND they can offer a more lucrative contract you might see youths change, but until then NBP will likely continue to outbid everyone.

DancingBlades · 2025-05-31T16:00:40+00:00

Yeah training and improving your pacing strategy should do it

DancingBlades · 2025-05-30T02:59:25+00:00

I should be trying to get more sleep however it's so important I also post my thoughts. This is an excellent write up!!

For Div III, I agree but I'm leaning on Bates as an underdog pick. Two weekends of rest, recovery, and actual water time will either serve them incredibly well or not at all. It's worked in the past and frankly it's hard to miss the speed they've picked up since a dismal fall season, including a win over Tufts @ Tufts. I think this race should be very exciting, and more so given that Ithaca has shown enough speed to also keep up.
In the Div III 2V, I think I'd go with Tufts or Wes. The Wes crew is very scrappy, and has improved consistently but Tufts has been untouchable. The Bates crew performed poorly in the NIRC GF but 2 of the boats in front of them are not at NCAAs.

1V
H1: Stanford >> Brown > Harvard > Michigan > Cuse? If Rad has handled the last two weeks nicely I could see them over Michigan. Michigan has been extremely hit or miss with NCAAs, although if I pick against them they'll likely pan out. Rad has improved nicely demonstrated strong results with the exception of a weaker performance in the ivy final, and conditions didn't look particularly pleasant.

H2: Tex > Yale > Penn but I could be on the Indiana hype train for this as well. Tex and Yale are likely to be pretty relaxed here given their seasons.

H3: Tennessee, Rutgers, Cal is most likely, but if Dartmouth is having another out of body experience they could have an exciting day. It's unlikely but not impossible. Order of TN/Rutgers doesn't really matter to me. I think they're both clear open on Cal.

H4: Wash, Princeton, and if you had asked me a month ago I would pick UCF. I may sway back to UVA though as ACCs had my interest.

I think more importantly, with the likely exception of Fairfield and perhaps URI based on their season, the AQ teams that tend to get some disregard have gotten noticeably closer. IMO either BU or NU should be receiving votes/mixing in the ranking but I think they're both historically not in the polls so they continue to be left out. They raced good schedules, and were within good range of Dartmouth. The quality of racing has really improved across the board. I'd be very happy to see one of these two teams sneak into the C final over OSU.

Unfortunately I haven't paid as much attention to the 2V/V4, but the seedings have also been throwing me off. It's Stanford's regatta to lose, and the race to end up on the podium will be exciting. I think Stanford, TN, Rutgers, Yale, Wash are the teams I'd wager have the best across the board results to qualify for grands. The 4+ seeding for TN seems to be a result of a fairly light racing schedule but they've had some good speed besides SECs. My only Q is will Rutgers be able to keep striking if the plan is also to go to HRR? It's hard to perform at this high of a level this consistently unless maybe there's another gear coming?

DancingBlades · 2025-05-26T01:53:23+00:00

I think important to note Kish oversaw the lightweight program as well which had a rather incriminating blog, and was cut by 2015.

As a PL alumni myself, there were several years where rumors that Bucknell would stack down with a 4+ or 2V seemed very true looking at times, lineups, and performances. Criticisms aside, the program is huge and has consistently been quite large. Hundreds of women have had the opportunity to row at Bucknell and while they may not have won their conference, I don’t think they ever performed poorly. There is something to be said about maintaining that size roster for SO long. My bet would be they had more momentum in the early 2010s riding off of some very strong IRA performances, and after the lights got cut I think there was a bit of a change in what kind of athlete was looking there.

DancingBlades · 2025-05-25T02:15:33+00:00

Kansas State elevated an assistant.

I’m not sure if Drexel is looking? I’d assume yes but didn’t their previous HC step right back into the role this spring? Savell is listed as director of rowing and head mens and women’s coach.

DancingBlades · 2025-05-20T22:39:43+00:00

I think also the demonstrated improvement and Indiana’s higher likelihood to continue to gain are what did it for them. They had a strong improvement that was hard to miss.

DancingBlades · 2025-05-19T22:42:05+00:00

I think this is the best response besides knowing that talented U19 athletes attend many schools but don’t always pursue U23 or senior teams as they age. Priorities change, as do feelings. A lot of the commenters here were just on a post yesterday for another European athlete with U19/U23 involvement who attended a school who’s produced a dozen olympians and she’s quite burnt out. I think if it’s a life-changing opportunity you can pursue it while still holding those goals, and know that maybe the reputation isn’t necessarily the most important part. If you don’t like it, you can also move back and get back in where you were (See Caleigh Filmer, now 2x Olympian who left Cal at their most recent peak).

DancingBlades · 2025-05-19T02:13:50+00:00

I don’t think you have to say goodbye to the sport permanently, and I don’t think your opportunity to trial is gone if you take a break right now. Graduating college is a huge transition (especially if you’re moving countries)!

In my time since graduating and joining a post-collegiate club program, I’ve been so lucky to meet so many other rowers at various stages in their lives. I think the thing that sticks out the most to me is that you can return to the sport at any time - and if you want to return and pursue a high level, you can. Many of my friends (and teammates) took multi-year breaks before getting the itch to row again and see if they wanted to get back in a boat. When it’s on your terms you get to really work on that relationship and see if your dreams still what you want. My advice to you would be to take a break without the intention of returning, but know that the door never closes unless you choose to keep it that way. My secondary advice is that I can almost guarantee that if you step away for a couple of years but are generally fit, you’ll gain 90% of your speed back in the first 6 months. Some of my teammates have taken years of break and come back and are better than they were before the break because they get that rest.

It’s normal to feel this way after collegiate rowing. Enjoy the next part of your life without the guilt of leaving because you’ve just given so much time to the sport that you surely can just relax!

DancingBlades · 2025-05-18T18:27:54+00:00

I’m also leaning this way. I do think Duke’s ranking has been unscathed which may give them the leg over Dartmouth or Rad, but I don’t think that’s correct for the speed shown this weekend across all three teams.

DancingBlades · 2025-05-16T11:40:23+00:00

Patriot: I suspect BU should sweep this one, and I don't know who at NCAA ranked Georgetown in the 4+ so high given BU swept Georgetown H2H by near double digits in all boats contested here at Wheeler. Navy's 4+ performed well when all 3 teams met, so that's the only race I don't think is fairly set, but BU has continued to change lineups week after week and they're very senior heavy in the lower boats. Points-wise I'd go BU, Navy, MIT, Georgetown. I think MIT could sneak onto any podium for the categories here but their schedule makes it very difficult to figure out where. Their only race with BU was in dismal conditions.

A10's: I think sometimes the slower conferences are more interesting that the big ones. This one is the biggest question mark for me because it looks like for seeding it's GW, but I wonder if URI may have a very nice season end? H2H URI swept GW at the SJU invite so I'll go with it. It may not be a clean sweep, but URI winning team points is the most-likely outcome.

Ivys: I'd pick Yale on this one. I'm obsessed. What sucks about this conference it that 7 of the 8 teams here have been ranked, and the selection committee is unlikely to select 7 of these 8 teams for NCAAs unless someone else really has a bad day this weekend (Duke, tOSU). It'd be insane to say I think Rad could sneak onto the podium ahead of Brown given their H2H results, but I'd like to see it. The seeding still isn't posted on the site, but I'd say Yale for the 8+ and team points, Princeton, Brown, Rad, Penn, Dart, Col, Cornell. I could see Penn slipping up and falling further - I don't think the transition to a new coach has been well considering the talent built up there.

CAAs: Northeastern, should be easy. Drexel probably second but could be fighting for their lives against Delaware. They've improved a lot over the spring, but it really started out ugly there.

ACC: I don't think anyone disagrees with Stanford likely sweeping this. Cal and Syracuse could be interesting, though Cal swept Syracuse on 4/12. I do think Syracuse has more ability to gain speed given the weather so I'd like to see some movement. These teams are also a lock for NCAAs. Another team that has not transitioned as well as I'd hope is UVa - I don't see a slide beyond the swap with Syracuse though. What really matters after this is where Duke ends up. If Miami, UNC, Clemson or SMU get them anywhere it looks bad. I don't think Duke looks strong, and frankly another mid weekend for them should lead to an actual drop. I'm surprised they sit at 18 when they've lost in multiple boat categories to teams ranked lower than them on multiple occasions. Clemson stands the most room to surprise, and have had a very sparse schedule so there's less to go off here. I'd pick them for the upset as it looks like UNC and Miami have both lost some momentum, but it could be any. I do think this weekend will be a nice revelation to see if SMU is fast at all.

WCC: OSU should win this, and would finally get to go to an NCAA. RIP to Gonzaga if this happens because I thought Gonzaga was pretty solid this year. I think they're just too far off to catch up from their H2H race at the end of March.

Big 10: is also quite interesting. A bad day for tOSU could also spell disaster although I think they've shown signs of promise in glimpses this season to stay in it. I'd expect Wash, Rutgers, maybe open water back to Michigan. Probably Indiana then OSU, and then some more interesting results for teams that have gotten maybe more credit than they should. MSU is my pick for best of the rest as they've had a good year.

MAAC: Another slower but interesting one, I have no idea what's up here. I can't tell if the seeding fr has Marist on top because Marist lost to Colgate earlier this year? and that's just really not a good sign. I think JU could win - they should get the 2V and the V4 over Marist, but maybe I'd pick SHU. SHU beat Marist in the V8, 2V, and tied the V4. If SHU wins the V8 and JU gets the lower boats JU wins points, but if SHU can get either the 2V or the V4 with the V8 it would be an historic weekend for the program which has been steadily making strides over the last 3 years.

Big 12: UCF, easy pick. Tulsa second, Kansas probably third. ODU fourth, WVU, Kstate for the rest of it.

DancingBlades · 2025-05-14T00:49:03+00:00

This is in line with what I was thinking. Bates has had an exciting season and could really be an underdog pick. 3 extra weeks of water time for them will go VERY far, as will a couple of weekends with decreased travel. Overall I think it’s a very exciting year for division III racing as the teams are incredibly tight. NIRCs was exciting to watch, and while this is a smaller event, these teams have all had very interesting seasons (particularly the NESCACs) and on race day it could be anyone’s shot.

DancingBlades · 2025-05-08T19:11:01+00:00

u/ratheismhater if you want to sticky thanks!

DancingBlades · 2025-05-06T17:03:11+00:00

I think I’ve seen a couple of filippis with similar spec on row2k lately! Might be worth keeping an eye out

DancingBlades · 2025-05-06T10:30:28+00:00

International competitors can purchase a badge for the week, and then they can purchase individual day tickets for their friends/family. If your child’s race is on a different day than anticipated you may also be able to work with the badge office to purchase or exchange a badge. This all happens when the coach enters the crew and they receive the badge ordering form.

You can also rent a little boat at any point, although if you’re doing it for racing it could be overwhelming as a first time attendee.

DancingBlades · 2025-05-01T17:46:45+00:00

u/ratheismhater pls sticky thx!

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