Posted on by VP Communications

March 5, 2024 Newsletter

Thank you so much to Maz and Fredy Chinoy for opening up their house and hospitality for the Parent Social on Saturday, March 2! It was a great evening of fun and good food.

1. REGATTA VOLUNTEERS NEEDED. CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE!
2. LAUNCH BOAT DRIVER TRAINING RESCHEDULED FOR SAT. 3/9, 11a-1p
3. PRACTICE REMINDERS
4. FRIDAY NIGHT TEAM DINNERS BEGIN 3/15
5. SPRING BREAK DRAFT SCHEDULE
6. DEADLINE FOR NOVICE ATHLETE REFUNDS, THU, 3/7
7. GET YOUR SPIRIT WEAR BEFORE THE FIRST REGATTA
8. AT-A-GLANCE AND OTHER LINKS

ACTION ITEMS FOR THIS WEEK
VASRA Regatta Tasks Sign Up.
Team Dinner Volunteer Positions.

  1. REGATTA VOLUNTEERS NEEDED. CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE!

Woodson Rowing is required by VASRA to provide volunteers at every regatta we attend. Every family is expected to do AT LEAST one regatta job for the season. If you sign up now, you (1) get your pick of jobs and (2) pre-schedule your volunteer requirement so you know you can enjoy all the other regattas worry free. Scan the sign up for jobs that you can fulfill. No prior experience necessary (except for launch boat drivers): VASRA Regatta Tasks Sign Up.

For novice families, The Polar Bear Regatta is the perfect regatta to sign up to volunteer. Since it is a varsity only competition, you can learn the ropes and see how regattas flow without having to worry about when your athlete is racing. We still must fill the Assistant Dockmaster and Takedown Helper positions. No prior experience necessary! Sign up here: VASRA Regatta Tasks Sign Up.

  1. LAUNCH BOAT DRIVER TRAINING RESCHEDULED FOR SAT. 3/9, 11a-1p

Same time, same place and still room for 1 more driver! Sign up to attend training with Coach Joe Hester. Also, if you’re qualified or seeking qualification, make sure you join the #launch-boat-drivers channel on Slack.

3. PRACTICE REMINDERS

  • Practice times for both the Women’s Team and the Men’s Team
    Mon-Fri: 4:15-6:45p
    Sat: 8:30-11:00a
  • NOTE: Sat. Mar 9 is the last Saturday practice for a few weeks because regatta season begins Sat. 3/16!
  • Late or missing practice? Athletes who will be late or will miss practice should contact their coaches via Slack. Coaches request that athletes contact ALL 3 COACHES ON THEIR TEAM to make sure that there aren’t any missed messages.
  • Parking/drop-off at Sandy Run: review the graphic here.

4. FRIDAY NIGHT TEAM DINNERS BEGIN 3/15

Friday Night Team Dinners begin March 15! Once regatta season officially begins, athletes will gather at Woodson AFTER Friday practices to enjoy dinner together. For our first team dinner, athletes should meet in Woodson Cafeteria A directly after practice. Carpools should discuss arrangements for returning home around 8:30p, as all athletes should be dropped off at the school after practice.

We are still looking for one more volunteer to chaperone and clean-up at this first team dinner. Please use this link to sign up for that slot or any other positions that you are available for: Team Dinner Volunteer Positions.

Please send a note to [email protected] if your athlete has any dietary restrictions.

5. SPRING BREAK DRAFT SCHEDULE

The practice schedule for spring break is being developed and will be released shortly. From a physiology training perspective, ideally there would be 2 practices a day over spring break. However, from a logistics perspective, coaches understand that one large practice block may be easier to manage for families. As a result, the spring break schedule will be a compromise between these two forces. Definite things to note:

  • Sat, 3/30: Noxontown Regatta, Middletown, DE. Details and timeline are still being developed, but you can find some information here.
  • Sunday, 3/31: No practice
  • REGULAR PRACTICE SCHEDULE RESUMES ON 4/1 (despite the students having these 2 days off, these are teacher workdays, so at least 3 of our coaches will be working during the day. As a result, practice times will revert to the regular schedule).

6. DEADLINE FOR NOVICE ATHLETE REFUNDS, THU, 3/7

While we hope no one needs to avail themselves of this, the deadline for refunds for novice athletes (athletes in their first year on the team) is next week. 

If you submit a written withdrawal to Woodson Rowing Membership by March 7 2024, you will receive a refund of all fees minus any credit card processing fees and the $25 USRowing Membership already obtained for your athlete. Any questions can be directed to Jenn Ros at [email protected].

7. GET YOUR SPIRIT WEAR BEFORE THE FIRST REGATTA

Sport your support AND help the team financially (portions of all proceeds are donated back to the team) with Woodson Rowing Spirit Wear!

  • Purchase a variety of items from the Woodson Rowing SquadLocker site.
  • Get your own light-weight sun shirt to match your athlete. $45 per shirt. For more info contact: Sportswear Chair, Cheryl ([email protected]) or Fundraising Chair, Ana ([email protected])
  • Croc Charms: $6 for 1 charm and $10 for 2 charms. Contact Fundraising Chair, Ana via Slack or Email ([email protected]).
  • Bumper stickers, stickers, socks and an abundance of ties available for your favorite Woodson Rowing fans! Prices are negotiable. Contact Sportswear Chair, Cheryl via Slack or Email ([email protected]).

8. AT-A-GLANCE AND OTHER LINKS

MARCH

On-the-water practice. (M-F: 4-6:30p; Sa: 8:30-10:30a)

2024 Racing Schedule

  • Thu. 3/7: Deadline for novice athlete refunds
  • Sat. 3/9: Rescheduled Launch Boat Driver Training, 11a-1p.
  • Sat. 3/9: ChuckWagon Workday, 9:30-11a
  • Sat. 3/9: VASRA Pre-Season Workday #4. Sign up here.
  • Wed. 3/13: Chipotle restaurant fundraiser, 4-8p
  • Fri 3/15: Team dinner. Athletes & Volunteers only. Cafe A, directly after practice.
  • Sat. 3/16: Polar Bear Regatta, Sandy Run
  • Fri. 3/22: Team dinner. Athletes & Volunteers only. Cafe A, directly after practice.
  • Sat. 3/23: Regional Park Regatta, Sandy Run
  • Fri., 3/29: Team dinner. Athletes & Volunteers only. Cafe A, directly after practice.
  • Sat. 3/30: Noxontown Regatta (Invitational at St. Andrews), Middletown, DE

APRIL

  • Fri. 4/5: Team dinner. Athletes & Volunteers only. Cafe A, directly after practice.
  • Sat. 4/6: Tri-Meet, Anacostia River, Washington, DC
  • Sat. 4/13: Bye Week. No racing.
  • Sun. 4/14:  Parent learn-to-row fundraiser. 9a-noon. Details TBD.
  • Fri. 4/19: Team dinner. Athletes & Volunteers only. Cafe A, directly after practice.
  • Sat. 4/20: Ryz Obuchowicz Regatta, Sandy Run
  • Wed. 4/24: Panera restaurant fundraiser, 4-8p
  • Fri. 4/26: SENIOR NIGHT. Details TBD. Cafe A, directly after practice.
  • Sat. 4/27: Al Urquia Regatta, Sandy Run

MAY

  • Fri. 5/3: Team dinner. NEW LOCATION. TBD.
  • Sat. 5/4: Virginia State Championship (Day 1), Sandy Run
  • Fri. 5/10:Last Team dinner. Cafe A, directly after practice.
  • Sat. 5/11: Virginia State Championship (Day 2), Sandy Run
  • Fri-Sat. 5/17-18: Stotesbury Cup Regatta, Philadelphia, PA
  • Fri-Sat. 5/24-25: SRAA National Championships Regatta, Camden, NJ
        (Only qualifying boats attend.)