January 30, 2025 Newsletter

The uniform storm will close on SATURDAY and we need your help evaluating whether a practice bus is viable. First two links under “Action Items” will get you there, so please act now!

1. UNIFORM STORE CLOSES JANUARY 31, 2025
2. *NEW* PRACTICE BUS SURVEY RESPOND BY SUNDAY, FEB 2
3. ERGSPRINTS
4. NEW ATHLETES: REQUIRED SWIM TEST ON FEB 8 OR FEB 15
5. ON-THE-WATER MEETING, WED, FEB 12, 7p IN CAFE B
6. MAVERICK ROWING, FEB 15

7. *UPDATED* LOTS OF VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
A. CRITICAL NEED FOR A TEAM COORDINATOR
B. BOATHOUSE WORK DAY / GREEN DAY, FEB 8
C. *NEW* VASRA WORKDAYS: 2/22, 3/01, 3/08, 3/15
D. CHUCKWAGON WORKDAY, MAR 8
E. *NEW* FRIDAY NIGHT DINNERS ARE COMING BACK!

8. PLEASE REGISTER BEFORE WE GO ON-THE-WATER
9. CHIPOTLE RESTAURANT FUNDRAISER, WED, FEB 5
10. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE

WAIT – THERE’S MORE?


ACTION ITEMS


1. UNIFORM STORE CLOSES JANUARY 31, 2025
The deadline for the uniform store was extended to tomorrow, Jan 31. Find links and all the information you need to order uniforms or training items on our website: Uniform Store Info.

2. *NEW* PRACTICE BUS SURVEY RESPOND BY SUNDAY, FEB 2
By request, we are issuing a REVISED Practice Bus Survey due to potential changes in work-from-home policies that may be impacting families in our region. If we are able to get a more significant number of athletes interested in a practice bus, the cost may decrease enough to make contracting with a company viable.

EVERYONE should fill out the form, whether you intend to sign your athlete up or not. The more people that fill out this form the better the data so please spread the word.

Please fill out the form by Sunday, February 2 in order to give our team time to review the results and consider options: REVISED Practice Bus Interest Form.

If you have multiple athletes, we would appreciate you filling out the form once PER athlete so that we can get a more accurate count. Thank you so much!

3. ERGSPRINTS
Attendance is not limited to those who are competing! Feel free to go by the event and cheer on our registered athletes. The ErgSprints website is a treasure trove of information for spectators and athletes. Some links to critical information (that you should check out BEFORE you go):

ATHLETES: know that parking is almost always an issue at this event. So please build in time to arrive, park and to get oriented to the event BEFORE your scheduled check-in time.

4. NEW ATHLETES: REQUIRED SWIM TEST ON FEB 8 OR FEB 15
The next two swim tests are scheduled for February 8 and February 15. All athletes must pass a swim test once with Woodson Rowing in order to participate in on-the-water practices. If you’ve never done a swim test with us before, sign up here: Winter Swim Tests.

5. ON-THE-WATER MEETING, WED, FEB 12, 7p IN CAFE B
The Board is hosting an on-the-water meeting in the evening on Wednesday, February 12 at 7:00pm in Cafe B at Woodson. Join us to learn what to expect once the competitive regatta season starts. We will share important information for novice and returning parents alike. Athletes are welcome to attend. Board representatives and coaches will be on hand to answer questions. If you cannot attend, we will share a link to the slides following the meeting.

6. MAVERICK ROWING, FEB 15
There is still space in the Maverick Rowing event Feb 15th, so sign up now! Since we would still like to give as many people an opportunity to participate as possible, we continue to ask that you first sign up for only one of the hour-long slots. As was the case for the January 18 event, once we get closer to the date and see how many rowers are registered, we will open it up for rowers to sign up for the second hour as space permits. Cost to participate is $20 – a link will be sent for payment closer to the date. Sign Up here: Maverick Rowing Sign Up Genius

Check out photos of the Jan 18 event here: Pre-Season Photos.

7. *UPDATED* LOTS OF VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
We highly recommend you jump into volunteering early as it makes it easier to meet your volunteer requirements for the season and gives new families the opportunity to meet returning families! The team tracks participation by assigning “credits” each time a family or athlete volunteers. Failure to meet your volunteer credits by the end of the season will result in a $200 per credit charge. If you want to learn more about volunteering with Woodson Rowing, please visit our website at: www.woodsonrowing.org/volunteering.

A. CRITICAL NEED FOR A TEAM COORDINATOR
We are looking for someone to fulfill the role of Carpool Coordinator. If the new poll indicates that a practice bus might be possible, this person would be responsible for helping to coordinate the chaperoning process for the practice bus. So no matter what – we need you now!! Generally speaking, if you are somewhat organized this is a great role for you to earn your team volunteer credits at your own pace. Please contact Maz at [email protected] if you are interested in fulfilling this role.

    B. BOATHOUSE WORK DAY / GREEN DAY, FEB 8
    We will also have a boathouse workday/green day on Saturday, February 8. Some parent volunteers are needed and athletes should sign up to help/get on the water! Athletes who want to participate in the Green Day portion of this work day should have already completed a swim test. Sign up here: Feb 8 Workday/Green Day.

      C. *NEW* VASRA WORKDAYS: 2/22, 3/01, 3/08, 3/15
      Please review the sign up genius and sign up for slots based on your availability. You should be willing to get dirty and wet – but no experience required. Don’t forget to indicate that you are representing the Woodson Rowing team. Note: Athletes are encouraged to sign up for these workdays. You will receive school volunteering credits for participating! Remember, as a team, each family should strive to complete AT LEAST one VASRA shift per season (you might find you do more because they can be really fun and informative). Get started now!

        D. CHUCKWAGON WORKDAY, MAR 8
        The Chuckwagon is an important part of uplifting the morale of the team. We will be doing a pre-season inventory and cleaning on Saturday, March 8 before we race off into the season. Sign up here: Chuckwagon Workday

          E. *NEW* FRIDAY NIGHT DINNERS ARE COMING BACK!
          The team enjoys pre-regatta dinners each Friday night during the season. This season, we will be holding all of our dinners at the Woodson high School Cafeteria. We need parents to help with picking up a meal order, setting up/serving dinner & cleaning up. This is a great time to see the camaraderie of our team grow! Sign up here: Friday Night Dinner Volunteering

          8. PLEASE REGISTER BEFORE WE GO ON-THE-WATER
          f you haven’t yet, please register now! Review the registration portion of the website to learn more. Still have questions? Reach out to our membership team at [email protected].

            9. CHIPOTLE RESTAURANT FUNDRAISER
            Chipotle restaurant fundraiser on Wednesday, Feb 5 between 4-8p!! Order your dinner online or in-person to benefit the team! Show this flyer or use the code KVTT7ZJ to order online for pick-up.


            10. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE
            This calendar is constantly updated as events are added. Scroll here for a quick rundown of what’s up and coming. Where relevant and/or available, links are provided for more information. You can also see a visual representation of our calendar on our website: https://woodsonrowing.org/calendar/

            Graphics of our various schedules can be found at the links below:
            Winter Conditioning (October through February)
            On-The-Water Practice (late February through May)
            2025 Regatta Schedule (March through May)

            Other important dates: 

            FEBRUARY:

            MARCH:

            APRIL

            MAY

            WAIT – THERE’S MORE?

            RECRUITMENT:

            Direct interested athletes and their parents to our interest form or have them send an email to our membership team at: [email protected].

            STAY UP TO DATE: Join the newsletter by sending an email to [email protected] or view the newsletter archives on our website.

            INTERESTED IN SPONSORING WOODSON ROWING?

            Visit our Sponsorship Page or contact Woodson Rowing Fundraising.

            Can’t sponsor but want to donate?Check out our Donors page for instructions and information on how your donations benefit our team!

            NEED SWAG?

            There are many ways for you to shop and benefit the team all while sporting your support! See our Spirit Wear Page for more info!

            VIEW AND UPLOAD PHOTOS: Visit our Woodson Rowing photos page for more information on how you can help protect our legacy with photographs!

            FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

            January 28, 2025 Uniform Store

            DEADLINE TO ORDER UNIFORMS EXTENDED TO FRIDAY, JAN 31.

            Find links and all the information you need to order uniforms or training items on our website: Uniform Store Info.

            This year’s uniform is consistent with prior years, so it is not a requirement to purchase a new uniform if your athlete already has one. New athletes MUST purchase a new uniform by this Friday. If cost is an issue, please contact our Sportswear Chair, Cheryl Urban at [email protected] or via Slack.

            Early in the season the “uniform rule” may be waived for weather, but for the most part all athletes in a boat must have on the same uniform. Therefore, it is critical that the uniforms be purchased now as they are made to order.

            Samples have been made available for students to try on during conditioning hours, so talk to your athlete about sizing. The uniform sizes do tend to run small, so please order up a size if your athletes did not get the chance to try one on.

            Find links and all the information you need to order uniforms or training items on our website: Uniform Store Info.

            Direct all questions to Cheryl Urban, Sportswear Chair at [email protected] or via Slack. Thank you!

            January 23, 2025 Newsletter

            The uniform storm will close on SATURDAY. If you haven’t submitted your order, please do so ASAP! Also, sign up for ErgSprints TODAY to avoid late fees.

            1. UNIFORM STORE CLOSES JANUARY 25, 2025
            2. ERGSPRINTS – SIGN UP TODAY TO AVOID LATE FEES
            3. LINK TO NUTRITION PRESENTATION
            4. MAVERICK ROWING, FEB 15
            5. THERE IS WINTER CONDITIONING ON WED., JAN 29
            6. SEEKING A CARPOOL COORDINATOR
            7. REGISTER BEFORE WE GO ON-THE-WATER
            8. WINTER SWIM TESTS, FEB 8 AND FEB 15
            9. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
            10. ON-THE-WATER MEETING, WED, FEB 12, 7p IN CAFE B
            11. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE

            WAIT – THERE’S MORE?


            ACTION ITEMS

            • BEFORE Jan 25: Order your Uniform
            • ErgSprints Sign Up by TODAY to avoid late fees
            • New Athletes ONLY: sign up for swim test Feb 8 or 15
            • Register for the season, if you haven’t already
            • Feb 15 Maverick Rowing, sign up here
            • Volunteer to be our Carpool Coordinator!

            1. UNIFORM STORE CLOSES JANUARY 25, 2025
            This year’s uniform is consistent with prior years, so it is not a requirement to purchase a new uniform if your athlete already has one. Samples have been made available for students to try on during conditioning hours. This will continue throughout the next week so all participants can determine sizing. The uniform sizes run small, so please order up a size if your rower does not get the chance to try one on.

            Find links and all the information you need to order uniforms or training items on our website: Uniform Store Info.

            There are a limited number of sample unis and shirts that may be purchased directly from our Sportswear Chair at a discount. If you are interested, please contact Cheryl via email at [email protected].

            2. ERGSPRINTS – SIGN UP TODAY TO AVOID LATE FEES
            ErgSprints is the largest indoor rowing competition in the United States, and it is held locally at Alexandria City HS! In this competition, athletes have the opportunity to experience the excitement of competition and compete against rowers from all over the DC Metro Area. Events include 2k’s, 20 minute pieces, relays, and more. It will take place on Saturday, February 1st. Rowers, coaches and even parents have participated in the past. All are welcome. All rowers are highly encouraged to attend and can get help planning out their events with their coaches. 

            Participation is optional and athletes who are looking to participate should register on their own (but the more the merrier)! More information and registration can be found at: https://www.ergsprints.com/. Please note that you are with the W.T. Woodson Crew Boosters when registering (They haven’t updated our high school’s name change on Regatta Central yet)! 

            3. LINK TO NUTRITION PRESENTATION
            On Friday, January 17, 2025, Estela Schnelle, MS RD visited the team to speak about the unique nutritional needs of high school rowers. For those that were not able to attend (or if you want to refresh all the good information you learned), you can find her presentation on our website at: https://woodsonrowing.org/resources/. Should you have any questions, please reach out to Estela on Slack!

            4. MAVERICK ROWING, FEB 15
            The Maverick Rowing event on January 18 was a huge success. You can check out photos of the event on our smug mug here: Pre-Season Photos. We will host another event on Feb 15th, so sign up now! Since we would still like to give as many people an opportunity to participate as possible, we continue to ask that you first sign up for only one of the hour-long slots. As was the case for the January 18 event, once we get closer to the date and see how many rowers are registered, we will open it up for rowers to sign up for the second hour as space permits. Cost to participate is $20 – a link will be sent for payment closer to the date. Please indicate your interest in participating here: Maverick Rowing Sign Up Genius

            5. THERE IS WINTER CONDITIONING ON WED., JAN 29
            Although Wednesday Jan 29 is a day off from school, winter conditioning will take place as usual! Don’t miss out.

            6. SEEKING A CARPOOL COORDINATOR
            We are looking for someone to fulfill the role of Carpool Coordinator. Now that we are aware that a practice bus isn’t financially feasible, this person will help to facilitate carpools for on-the-water practice. Generally speaking, if you are somewhat organized this is a great role for you to earn your team volunteer credits at your own pace. Please contact Maz at [email protected] if you are interested in fulfilling this role.

            Given the small number of people interested in a charter practice bus, it is not feasible to contract for a practice bus again this season. Negotiations with numerous local bus companies have not been successful, and the transportation office at FCPS has not given us any guarantee around being able to provide bus drivers on a regular basis, which makes that option very disruptive. Do not despair! We have been very successful in the last few seasons ensuring all athletes get to the water on time for practice and home in time for dinner. To that end, we are looking for a carpool coordinator to help families coordinate rides. Please contact Maz at [email protected] if you are interested in fulfilling this role. If we don’t find a volunteer, it is up to parents (and students) to coordinate carpools by themselves – the carpool channel on Slack is a good resource at your disposal.

            7. REGISTER BEFORE WE GO ON-THE-WATER
            If you’ve been participating in winter conditioning and know you want to join the team on-the-water, please sign up to register now! Review the registration portion of the website to learn more. Still have questions? Reach out to our membership team at [email protected].

            If the cost of participating is an issue, consider applying for the Occoquan Boat Club (OBC) Julia Shew Memorial Rowing Scholarship. The details on applying are located on the OBC website https://www.rowobc.org/home/scholarships. The application deadline is January 25, 2025. Direct any questions to Karin Udler at [email protected] **Please note, Woodson Rowing is not affiliated with OBC and is not at all involved in this scholarship process.**

            8. WINTER SWIM TESTS, FEB 8 AND FEB 15
            The next two swim tests are scheduled for February 8 and February 15. All athletes must pass a swim test once with Woodson Rowing in order to participate in on-the-water practices. If you’ve never done a swim test with us before, sign up here: Winter Swim Tests.


            9. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
            We highly recommend you jump into volunteering early as it makes it easier to meet your volunteer requirements for the season and gives new families the opportunity to meet returning families! The team tracks participation by assigning “credits” each time a family or athlete volunteers. Failure to meet your volunteer credits by the end of the season will result in a $200 per credit charge. If you want to learn more about volunteering with Woodson Rowing, please visit our website at: www.woodsonrowing.org/volunteering.

            A. BOATHOUSE WORKDAY / GREEN DAY, FEB 8: We will also have a boathouse workday/green day on Saturday, February 8. Some parent volunteers are needed and athletes should sign up to help/get on the water! Sign up here: Feb 8 Workday/Green Day.

              B. CHUCKWAGON WORKDAY, MAR 8: The Chuckwagon is an important part of uplifting the morale of the team. We will be doing a pre-season inventory and cleaning on Saturday, March 8 before we race off into the season. Sign up here: Chuckwagon Workday


                10. ON-THE-WATER MEETING, WED, FEB 12, 7p IN CAFE B
                The Board is hosting an on-the-water meeting in the evening on Wednesday, February 12 at 7:00pm in Cafe B at Woodson. Join us to learn what to expect once the competitive regatta season starts. We will share important information for novice and returning parents alike. Athletes are welcome to attend. Board representatives and coaches will be on hand to answer questions. If you cannot attend, we will share a link to the slides following the meeting.


                11. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE
                This calendar is constantly updated as events are added. Scroll here for a quick rundown of what’s up and coming. Where relevant and/or available, links are provided for more information. You can also see a visual representation of our calendar on our website: https://woodsonrowing.org/calendar/

                Graphics of our various schedules can be found at the links below:
                Winter Conditioning (October through February)
                On-The-Water Practice (late February through May)
                TENTATIVE 2025 Regatta Schedule (March through May)

                Other important dates: 

                FEBRUARY:

                MARCH:

                WAIT – THERE’S MORE?

                RECRUITMENT:

                Direct interested athletes and their parents to our interest form or have them send an email to our membership team at: [email protected].

                STAY UP TO DATE: Join the newsletter by sending an email to [email protected] or view the newsletter archives on our website.

                INTERESTED IN SPONSORING WOODSON ROWING?

                Visit our Sponsorship Page or contact Woodson Rowing Fundraising.

                Can’t sponsor but want to donate?Check out our Donors page for instructions and information on how your donations benefit our team!

                NEED SWAG?

                There are many ways for you to shop and benefit the team all while sporting your support! See our Spirit Wear Page for more info!

                VIEW AND UPLOAD PHOTOS: Visit our Woodson Rowing photos page for more information on how you can help protect our legacy with photographs!

                FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

                January 16, 2025 Newsletter

                We are in full swing planning for on-the-water practice to begin at the end of February. There are many things you can do to support that – so keep reading to find out.

                1. *NEW* UNIFORM STORE IS OPEN!
                2. *NEW* RESTAURANT FUNDRAISER ALL DAY TODAY!
                3. *NEW INFO* JAN 18 INDOOR ROWING PAYMENT & WAIVER NEEDED
                4. *NEW* UPDATE ON BUS TRANSPORTATION
                5. ERGSPRINTS – SIGN UP NOW!
                6. IF YOU HAVEN’T REGISTERED, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
                7. WINTER SWIM TESTS, FEB 8 AND FEB 15

                8. VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
                A. SEEKING A CARPOOL COORDINATOR
                B. BOATHOUSE WORKDAY / GREEN DAY, FEB 8
                C. CHUCKWAGON WORKDAY, MAR 8

                9. ON-THE-WATER MEETING, WED, FEB 12, 7p IN CAFE B
                10. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE

                WAIT – THERE’S MORE?


                ACTION ITEMS

                • Order your Uniform before Jan 25
                • Sign up & Pay for Maverick Rowing (Indoor) Opportunity
                • Sign up for ErgSprints
                • Register for the season, if you haven’t already

                1. *NEW* UNIFORM STORE IS OPEN!
                This year’s uniform is consistent with prior years, so it is not a requirement to purchase a new uniform if your athlete already has one. Samples have been made available for students to try on during conditioning hours. This will continue throughout the next week so all participants can determine sizing. The uniform sizes run small, so please order up a size if your rower does not get the chance to try one on.

                Find links and all the information you need to order uniforms or training items on our website: Uniform Store Info.

                ORDERING DEADLINE: JANUARY 25, 2025. All items will be distributed in late March. Questions? Please contact the Sportswear Chair, Cheryl Urban, via Slack or email: [email protected].

                There are a limited number of sample unis and shirts that may be purchased directly from our Sportswear Chair at a discount. If you are interested, please contact Cheryl via email at [email protected]

                2. *NEW* RESTAURANT FUNDRAISER ALL DAY TODAY!

                3. *NEW INFO* JAN 18 INDOOR ROWING PAYMENT & WAIVER NEEDED
                There are slots available, but you must move quickly. We will close signs up at 10:00 am tomorrow (Friday, Jan 17). Based on our numbers, we can accommodate all rowers for the full two hours: from 10am-12pm.

                To participate, here at the steps you need to take BEFORE Saturday, Jan 18:

                Please plan to be there by 9:45a. If you will not be participating in the entire 2 hour time slot, please coordinate with Coach Tylander.

                RE: the Feb 15 event – there is still plenty of time and space to sign up. Since we would still like to give as many people an opportunity to participate as possible, we continue to ask that you first sign up for only one of the hour-long slots on each day (but feel free to sign up for Jan 18 and one hour on Feb 15).  Once we get closer to the date and see how many rowers are registered, we will open it up for rowers to sign up for the second hour as space permits. You can sign up for the Feb 15 event here: Maverick Rowing Sign Up Genius

                4. *NEW* UPDATE ON BUS TRANSPORTATION
                Unfortunately, given the small number of people interested in a charter practice bus, it is not feasible to contract for a practice bus again this season. Negotiations with numerous local bus companies have not been successful, and the transportation office at FCPS has not given us any guarantee around being able to provide bus drivers on a regular basis, which makes that option very disruptive. Do not despair! We have been very successful in the last few seasons ensuring all athletes get to the water on time for practice and home in time for dinner. To that end, we are looking for a carpool coordinator to help families coordinate rides. Please contact Maz at [email protected] if you are interested in fulfilling this role. If we don’t find a volunteer, it is up to parents (and students) to coordinate carpools by themselves – the carpool channel on Slack is a good resource at your disposal.

                5. ERGSPRINTS – SIGN UP NOW!
                ErgSprints is the largest indoor rowing competition in the United States, and it is held locally at Alexandria City HS! In this competition, athletes have the opportunity to experience the excitement of competition and compete against rowers from all over the DC Metro Area. Events include 2k’s, 20 minute pieces, relays, and more. It will take place on Saturday, February 1st. Rowers, coaches and even parents have participated in the past. All are welcome. All rowers are highly encouraged to attend and can get help planning out their events with their coaches. 

                Participation is optional and athletes who are looking to participate should register on their own (but the more the merrier)! More information and registration can be found at: https://www.ergsprints.com/. Please note that you are with the W.T. Woodson Crew Boosters when registering (They haven’t updated our high school’s name change on Regatta Central yet)! 

                6. IF YOU HAVEN’T REGISTERED, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
                Please review the registration portion of the website to learn more. Still have questions? Reach out to our membership team at [email protected].

                If the cost of participating is an issue, consider applying for the Occoquan Boat Club (OBC) Julia Shew Memorial Rowing Scholarship. The details on applying are located on the OBC website https://www.rowobc.org/home/scholarships. The application deadline is January 25, 2025. Direct any questions to Karin Udler at [email protected] **Please note, Woodson Rowing is not affiliated with OBC and is not at all involved in this scholarship process.**

                7. WINTER SWIM TESTS, FEB 8 AND FEB 15
                The next two swim tests are scheduled for February 8 and February 15. All athletes must pass a swim test once with Woodson Rowing in order to participate in on-the-water practices. If you’ve never done a swim test with us before, sign up here: Winter Swim Tests.

                8. VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
                We highly recommend you jump into volunteering early as it makes it easier to meet your volunteer requirements for the season and gives new families the opportunity to meet returning families! The team tracks participation by assigning “credits” each time a family or athlete volunteers. Failure to meet your volunteer credits by the end of the season will result in a $200 per credit charge. If you want to learn more about volunteering with Woodson Rowing, please visit our website at: www.woodsonrowing.org/volunteering.

                A. SEEKING A CARPOOL COORDINATOR
                We are looking for someone to fulfill the role of Carpool Coordinator. Now that we are aware that a practice bus isn’t financially feasible, this person will help to facilitate carpools for on-the-water practice. Generally speaking, if you are somewhat organized this is a great role for you to earn your team volunteer credits at your own pace. Please contact Maz at [email protected] if you are interested in fulfilling this role.

                B. BOATHOUSE WORKDAY / GREEN DAY, FEB 8
                We will also have a boathouse workday/green day on Saturday, February 8. Some parent volunteers are needed and athletes should sign up to help/get on the water! Sign up here: Feb 8 Workday/Green Day.

                C. CHUCKWAGON WORKDAY, MAR 8
                The Chuckwagon is an important part of uplifting the morale of the team. We will be doing a pre-season inventory and cleaning on Saturday, March 8 before we race off into the season. Sign up here: Chuckwagon Workday

                9. ON-THE-WATER MEETING, WED, FEB 12, 7p IN CAFE B
                The Board is hosting an on-the-water meeting in the evening on Wednesday, February 12 at 7:00pm in Cafe B at Woodson. Join us to learn what to expect once the competitive regatta season starts. We will share important information for novice and returning parents alike. Athletes are welcome to attend. Board representatives and coaches will be on hand to answer questions. If you cannot attend, we will share a link to the slides following the meeting.

                10. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE
                This calendar is constantly updated as events are added. Scroll here for a quick rundown of what’s up and coming. Where relevant and/or available, links are provided for more information. You can also see a visual representation of our calendar on our website: https://woodsonrowing.org/calendar/

                JANUARY 2025:

                Winter Conditioning schedule

                • Thu, 1/16: Mama Lucia restaurant fundraiser, 11a-8p
                • Fri, 1/17: RD/Nutritionist visit during winter conditioning, Cafe B, 4:30-5:30p
                • Sat, 1/16: Maverick Rowing Workshop, 10a-12p, Herndon, VA
                • Mon, 1/20: MLK Day, NO WINTER CONDITIONING

                FEBRUARY:

                MARCH:

                TENTATIVE 2025 REGATTA SCHEDULE available at
                https://woodsonrowing.org/regatta-schedule/

                WAIT – THERE’S MORE?

                RECRUITMENT:

                Direct interested athletes and their parents to our interest form or have them send an email to our membership team at: [email protected].

                STAY UP TO DATE: Join the newsletter by sending an email to [email protected] or view the newsletter archives on our website.

                INTERESTED IN SPONSORING WOODSON ROWING?

                Visit our Sponsorship Page or contact Woodson Rowing Fundraising.

                Can’t sponsor but want to donate?Check out our Donors page for instructions and information on how your donations benefit our team!

                NEED SWAG?

                There are many ways for you to shop and benefit the team all while sporting your support! See our Spirit Wear Page for more info!

                VIEW AND UPLOAD PHOTOS: Visit our Woodson Rowing photos page for more information on how you can help protect our legacy with photographs!

                FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

                January 9, 2025 Newsletter

                Welcome to a new year with Woodson Rowing. There is already a lot going on, so check out the “Action Items” if you don’t have time to comb through the whole newsletter right now. But make sure you come back and read it all to catch up on what’s in store for 2025!

                1. INDOOR ROWING OPPORTUNITY, SIGN UP NOW!
                2. ERGSPRINTS – SIGN UP NOW!
                3. REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
                4. REGISTERED DIETITIAN and NUTRITIONIST VISIT, JAN 17
                5. WINTER SWIM TESTS, FEB 8 AND FEB 15
                6. VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
                  • A. BOATHOUSE WORKDAY / GREEN DAY, FEB 8
                  • B. CHUCKWAGON WORKDAY, MAR 8
                7. ON-THE-WATER MEETING, WED, FEB 12
                8. DON’T MISS OUT ON TEAM UPDATES
                9. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE

                WAIT – THERE’S MORE?

                ACTION ITEMS

                • Sign up for Maverick Rowing (Indoor) Opportunity
                • Sign up for ErgSprints
                • Register for the season, if you haven’t already

                1. INDOOR ROWING OPPORTUNITY, SIGN UP NOW!
                Help break up the monotony of winter conditioning and get out on the water in the comfort of the indoors! We hope you will join us for this fun and unique opportunity to get “on the water” before the season officially starts. We have reserved a two-hour time slot at Maverick Rowing Center on January 18 and February 15. This cool new facility near Ashburn, VA (approx 35 min drive from Woodson) has indoor tanks and state of the art equipment for rowers to row indoors – but in a real boat and on water, not on ergs! Check out their website at maverickrowing.com.

                Our time slots are from 10am-12pm on Jan 18 and Feb 15.  The facility can accommodate 35 rowers at one time so we can take 35 rowers for the full two hours or two sets of 35 rowers for one hour each.  We’d like to give as many people an opportunity to participate as possible so we ask that you first sign up for only one of the hour-long slots on each day (but feel free to sign up for one hour on Jan 18 and one hour on Feb 15).  Once we get closer to the date and see how many rowers are registered, we will open it up for rowers to sign up for the second hour as space permits.

                There is a $20 cost per rower per day to participate.  The cost will be the same for all rowers regardless of whether you do one or two hours on a given day.  We will be in touch with all families who signed up to make payment prior to the event. Transportation will be the responsibility of the athlete. Sign up for the opportunity here: Maverick Rowing.

                2. ERGSPRINTS – SIGN UP NOW!
                ErgSprints is the largest indoor rowing competition in the United States, and it is held locally at Alexandria City HS! In this competition, athletes have the opportunity to experience the excitement of competition and compete against rowers from all over the DC Metro Area. Events include 2k’s, 20 minute pieces, relays, and more. It will take place on Saturday, February 1st. Rowers, coaches and even parents have participated in the past. All are welcome. All rowers are highly encouraged to attend and can get help planning out their events with their coaches. 

                Participation is optional and athletes who are looking to participate should register on their own (but the more the merrier)! More information and registration can be found at: https://www.ergsprints.com/. Please note that you are with the W.T. Woodson Crew Boosters when registering (They haven’t updated our high school’s name change on Regatta Central yet)! 

                3. REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
                Although the early bird discount has expired, registration for the season is still open and available! Please review the registration portion of the website to learn more. Still have questions? Reach out to our membership team at [email protected].

                If the cost of participating is an issue, consider applying for the Occoquan Boat Club (OBC) Julia Shew Memorial Rowing Scholarship. The details on applying are located on the OBC website https://www.rowobc.org/home/scholarships. The application deadline is January 25, 2025. Direct any questions to Karin Udler at [email protected] **Please note, Woodson Rowing is not affiliated with OBC and is not at all involved in this scholarship process.**

                4. REGISTERED DIETITIAN and NUTRITIONIST VISIT, JAN 17
                On Friday, January 17, 2025, from 4:30-5:30p Estela Schnelle, MS RD will visit the team to speak to the athletes (and any parents that are available to attend) about the unique nutritional needs of high school rowers. If you recognize the name, that’s because Estela is a local registered dietician and nutritionist at the Washington Center for Weight Management and Research, as well as parent to rower Marin Schnelle! Any questions? Reach out to Estela on Slack.

                5. WINTER SWIM TESTS, FEB 8 AND FEB 15
                The next two swim tests are scheduled for February 8 and February 15. All athletes must pass a swim test once with Woodson Rowing in order to participate in on-the-water practices. If you’ve never done a swim test with us before, sign up here: Winter Swim Tests.

                6. VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
                We highly recommend you jump into volunteering early as it makes it easier to meet your volunteer requirements for the season and gives new families the opportunity to meet returning families! The team tracks participation by assigning “credits” each time a family or athlete volunteers. Failure to meet your volunteer credits by the end of the season will result in a $200 per credit charge. If you want to learn more about volunteering with Woodson Rowing, please visit our website at: www.woodsonrowing.org/volunteering.

                A. BOATHOUSE WORKDAY / GREEN DAY, FEB 8
                We will also have a boathouse workday/green day on Saturday, February 8. Some parent volunteers are needed and athletes should sign up to help/get on the water! Sign up here: Feb 8 Workday/Green Day.

                B. CHUCKWAGON WORKDAY, MAR 8
                The Chuckwagon is an important part of uplifting the morale of the team. We will be doing a pre-season inventory and cleaning on Saturday, March 8 before we race off into the season. Stay tuned for a sign up, but if you know you can help on this day, set the time aside now!

                7. ON-THE-WATER MEETING, WED, FEB 12
                The Board is planning to host an on-the-water meeting in the evening on Wednesday, February 12 (time and location TBD – mostly likely 7p in the Woodson Cafeteria). Join us to learn what to expect once the competitive regatta season starts. We will share important information for novice and returning parents alike. Athletes are welcome to attend. Board representatives and coaches will be on hand to answer questions. If you cannot attend, we will share a link to the slides following the meeting.

                8. DON’T MISS OUT ON TEAM UPDATES
                The two best ways to stay up to date on all things Woodson Rowing: (1) this newsletter via email and (2) our Slack community. There are 2 separate Slack spaces: one for coach and athlete communications and a separate space for parent/guardian communications. Please contact our communications team at [email protected] if you need help with getting signed up for either!

                9. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE
                This calendar is constantly updated as events are added. Scroll here for a quick rundown of what’s up and coming. Where relevant and/or available, links are provided for more information. You can also see a visual representation of our calendar on our website: https://woodsonrowing.org/calendar/

                JANUARY 2025:

                Winter Conditioning schedule

                • Thu, 01/16: Mama Lucia restaurant fundraiser, 11a-8p
                • Fri, 01/17: RD/Nutritionist visit during winter conditioning, Cafe B, 4:30-5:30p
                • Mon, 01/20: MLK Day, NO WINTER CONDITIONING

                FEBRUARY:

                MARCH:

                • Sat, 3/8: Chuckwagon Workday, details TBD

                TENTATIVE 2025 REGATTA SCHEDULE available at https://woodsonrowing.org/regatta-schedule/

                WAIT – THERE’S MORE?

                RECRUITMENT:

                Direct interested athletes and their parents to our interest form or have them send an email to our membership team at: [email protected].

                STAY UP TO DATE: Join the newsletter by sending an email to [email protected] or view the newsletter archives on our website.

                INTERESTED IN SPONSORING WOODSON ROWING?

                Visit our Sponsorship Page or contact Woodson Rowing Fundraising.

                Can’t sponsor but want to donate?Check out our Donors page for instructions and information on how your donations benefit our team!

                NEED SWAG?

                There are many ways for you to shop and benefit the team all while sporting your support! See our Spirit Wear Page for more info!

                VIEW AND UPLOAD PHOTOS: Visit our Woodson Rowing photos page for more information on how you can help protect our legacy with photographs!

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