2024 Winter Conditioning Schedule
About Conditioning
Woodson Rowing creates a range of opportunities for athletes to get in shape for the season and stay in shape between seasons.
During the summer months, “Green Days” offer an optional, out-of-season opportunity for current athletes to stay in sync and for any new and interested students to see what rowing is all about. These sessions are held at Sandy Run Regional Park and still require an up-to-date emergency care form as well as a sports physical on file with the Woodson athletic trainer’s office. Learn more about Green Days.
Why Attend Winter Conditioning Sessions?
Rowing is a cardiovascular fitness dominant sport. The demands placed on an athlete during a race are like running up the side of a mountain for a mile and half while chained to seven of your friends.
While we do not have tryouts, boat selection during the spring is competitive. The level of fitness necessary for the sport cannot be built in the 4-6 weeks between the first day of practice and the meat of racing season when boat lineups must be set. The better the fitness of the athlete, the better chance they have of making a top boat.
Winter conditioning is not the only way to get in shape; doing a winter sport or having a rigorous researched workout plan that you do are your own are also good options. We have had past captains and rowers who were members of the swim team, played basketball or ran track and were in top boats that medaled at state championships.
Winter conditioning is better at getting you into “rowing shape” than playing a winter sport or working out on your own. But winter conditioning is far superior to doing nothing. The more athletes that work hard on their conditioning, the faster ALL our boats will be.
Download the Woodson Rowing Training and Conditioning Manual to learn more.