Updates for athletes, parents, and supporters of Woodson Rowing.
Questions, ideas or feedback? Just reply to this newsletter!
What matters this week:
- 📝 Allergy form due ASAP
- Refund deadline: March 9
🛑 URGENT: ALLERGY & DIETARY FORM
We’ve only received a handful of responses to the allergy/dietary survey. Please complete the form as soon as possible if your athlete has any allergies or dietary restrictions.
Our first regatta is March 21, and this information determines what snacks we bring to the river. It will also determine whether we can accommodate restrictions for team meals at St. Andrews on March 28.
If we don’t have your response, we may not be able to accommodate your athlete’s needs.
👉 Fill out form: Team Dinner Dietary Restrictions & Allergies Form
❓Questions? Contact Gloria Totten via Slack
REFUND DEADLINE: 3/9
Novice athletes are granted two weeks on the water to fully commit to Woodson Rowing.
Any first-time athlete must submit a written withdrawal to Woodson Rowing Membership by Monday, March 9, 2026 to receive a refund of all fees minus the credit card processing fee.
Returning athletes requesting a refund by March 9 will receive a refund of all fees minus the credit card fee and a $300 penalty.
❓Questions? Contact Cindy, Membership Chair, via Slack or at [email protected].
🔗 QUICK LINKS
👉 Parent on the water meeting slides
SAVE THE DATES:
🌮 Taco Bamba Restaurant Fundraiser — March 16
Fairfax location (10629 Braddock Rd, Fairfax, VA 22032)
9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Support Woodson Rowing while enjoying Taco Bamba.
Participants can:
• Mention the team or coupon code when ordering in-store
• Enter GIVE20 at checkout when ordering online or purchasing gift cards
🎓 Senior Night
It seems early to be talking about how our very large group of seniors (14!) will be moving on next year, but planning has already begun.
Parents of seniors — please mark your calendars.
📅 Senior Night
Friday, April 25 at the team dinner
7:00 PM
🧢 GET YOUR SPIRIT WEAR BEFORE THE FIRST REGATTA
We are just two weeks away from the Polar Bear Regatta (March 21).
Show your support and help the team financially — a portion of all spirit wear proceeds is donated back to the program.
🙏 THANK YOU
The Board would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you.
We know we’ve been sending a lot of information (yes — it can feel like drinking from a fire hose), but families have been flexible and stepping up.
This program runs on parent volunteers. If each available adult completes 5 volunteer credits (or more), no one gets burned out.
Volunteer Credit Requirements:
Each family must complete 5 volunteer credits
- One shift = one credit
- At least 1 credit must be a VASRA Workday or regatta-day shift
🚨 VOLUNTEER NEEDS
🚤 Launch Boat Driver Training — March 14
Still room available if you’d like to learn from Coach Joe how to drive a launch boat.
No prior experience required.
👉Sign up here
🐻❄️ Polar Bear Regatta — March 21
One volunteer opportunity remains:
Assistant Dockmaster (Coaches Dock)
Great role if you like being at the center of the action. Responsibilities include:
- Helping the Dockmaster ensure crews launch and land safely
- Keeping docks clear of unnecessary gear
- Helping wash docks before racing begins
- Delivering messages to regatta headquarters
👉Sign up here
🧹St. Andrews Regatta, 3/28
Cleanup and takedown volunteer spots still available.
You’ll likely already be there — get volunteer credit while helping the team.
👉Sign up here
Visit the Volunteer Hub to see all available roles
🌦️WEATHER REMINDER
Slack is the single source of truth for weather updates.
If you’re not on Slack, you may miss real-time practice changes.
Parents:
Email [email protected] to be added to the Adult Slack.
Athletes:
Speak with your coaches if you are not on the Athlete Slack.
📅 CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE
✅ Bookmark these dates–your quick reference for the season.
FEBRUARY
Feb 28: VASRA Workday
MARCH
Mar 7: VASRA Workday.
Mar 14: VASRA Workday.
Mar 15: Chuckwagon Workday.
Mar 16: Taco Bamba restaurant fundraiser
Mar 21: Polar Bear Regatta (varsity), Sandy Run – Volunteer HERE
Mar 28: St. Andrews Regatta, Middletown, DE – Volunteer HERE
SPRING BREAK (March 30 – April 3)
Plan for daily practice during break.
From a physiology training perspective, ideally there would be 2 practices per day over spring break. However, from a logistics perspective, coaches understand that one extended practice block may be easier to manage for families. The final schedule will be a balance between these two considerations.
Practice formats may include:
- One extended practice (~4 hours)
OR - Two practices per day (~2.5 hours AM + ~2.5 hours PM)
The schedule will be released as soon as it is finalized.
APRIL
Apr 10, 17, 24: Athlete team dinners (Cafe B)
Apr 11: Tri-Meet Scrimmage, Anacostia Boathouse, DC
Apr 18: Ryz Obuchowicz Regatta, Sandy Run – Volunteer HERE.
Apr 24: Senior night at team dinner
Apr 25: Al Urquia Regatta, Sandy Run – Volunteer HERE.
MAY
May 1 & 8: Athlete team dinners (Cafe B)
May 2: Virginia State Champs, Day 1, Sandy Run – Volunteer HERE.
May 9: Virginia State Champs, Day 2, Sandy Run – Volunteer HERE.
May 15: Stotesbury (select boats), Philadelphia, PA
May 22: Nationals (qualifiers only), Oak Ridge, TN
🌊 STAY INVOLVED
Recruitment • Sponsors • Spirit Wear • Photos
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🧠“It is the will to win, but the will to prepare to win that makes the difference.”
— George Yeoman Pocock