Crew Club

FAQ

1. How much time does crew take?

2. What equipment does the club own?

3. Where does the club practice?

4. Do I need to have previous rowing experience?

5. How do I join?

6. Do I need to be an athlete?

7. Is this team a recreational club?

8. How much does it cost?

9. What regattas does the team attend?

10. I recently started with the team and I would like to become a better rower.  What should I do?

11. When practicing, what are some common mistakes that I should avoid?

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1. How much time does crew take?

The team works out 3 mornings each week (currently Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday) from 6am to approximately 7:30am at the Lied rec.  Additionally, each member of the team is expected to attend at least three water practices per week depending on the season.  These practices are held during the weekday evenings and Saturday morning and typically last 3 hours including drive time.  Finally, team members are expected to attend regattas and team fundraisers.  The regattas typically last one or two days of a weekend.

2. What equipment does the club own?

The club owns 2 eight oared shells (boats), 1 four oared shell, blades (oars) a trailer, 2 cox-boxes (used by the coxswain for communication), and 2 ergometers (rowing machines).  These rowing machines are currently in the Lied rec center. 

3. Where does the club practice?

For water practices, the team currently practices at Big Creek State Park.  Additionally, the team is working towards building a boathouse on the Des Moines River.

4. Do I need to have previous rowing experience?

No experience is required or even expected.  Actually, very few of the team members have had previous rowing experience. 

5. How do I join?

For a potential member without prior rowing experience, it is too late to join for Spring 2006 because it would take too long to learn the technique.  However, you can join at the start of the Fall 2006 semester.   If you don’t currently work out, we recommend that you start doing aerobic exercises 3-5 times per week to make it easier to start working out with the team.

To join the club in the Fall of 2006 send us an email or look for the flyers around campus and come to the general informational meetings, usually held in the first two weeks of the semester. 

6. Do I need to be an athlete?

No, for many of the current team members, this team is their first athletic commitment.  Through this experience, you will become an athlete.

7. Is this team a recreational club?

No.  Even though we are listed as a sports club under ISU, we practice and row as a competitive team.  This focus requires more commitment than a recreational club. 

8. How much does it cost?

The dues are currently $75 per semester.  Additionally, each team member purchases a racing uniform consisting of shorts and a team shirt.  Travel expenses for practices and regattas are also left to the team members.  Typically, the members carpool to practices and team events.

9. What regattas does the team attend?

The team attends several regattas in the fall including the Head of the Des Moines, the Quad Cities Classic, the Head of the Rock, and the Head of the Iowa.  In the spring, the team attends the Carter Lake Sprints, the Upper Midwest Rowing Championships, and several duals against other clubs such as the Iowa men’s crew team.

10. I recently started with the team and I would like to become a better rower.  What should I do?

Practice.  You can spend extra time on the erg (rowing machine in the rec) working on your rowing technique. 

11. When practicing, what are some common mistakes that I should avoid?

The following link provides a very good reference of some common rowing mistakes and how to correct them. 

http://www.crew.stuorg.iastate.edu/misc/Common_Mistakes.pdf