Programs

Winter Training / Learn to ERG

This will be the inaugural year that the ORC will be offering winter training on site. With the hard work of our staff, volunteers and support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation the upstairs of the main boathouse is now winterized.

Programs will winter train in their designated time slots indoors on the ergometers November 1 – March 31, 2023. Coaches or a designated supervisor (team captain) will open and close the facility for programs as needed. Juniors (<18yrs) must be accompanied by a coach at all times. Members can use the facility during other program timeslots, however, designated programs for a timeslot have priority on the equipment. The ORC has over 30 ergometers (rowing machines) and basic weight training equipment.

The program fee does not include Rowing Canada and RowOntario association fee of $54.95, which must be paid when registering. Go to RCA Webreg to register

Start Dates:
November 1st

Previous experience required:
Various experience; structured workouts for Club, Jr. and Sr. Competitive, and masters programming.

Instructional sessions (Learn to Erg) will be available to those with no prior rowing experience. Click learn to Erg when registering for this option.

Age Categories: All

View the Winter Training Schedule here

Discover Rowing Day Camp

The Discover Rowing Day Camp program is a great way for youth ages 12-17 to learn about rowing and decide whether to take up the sport more seriously. For those who have already tried and enjoyed rowing, camp is a way to improve their skills! Rowers get out on the Ottawa River daily, and learn water safety, boat rigging and maintenance. The program also features other age-appropriate indoor and outdoor activities.

This program runs in week-long sessions during July and August from 8:30am – 3:30pm, except on public holidays. The program is directed by experienced instructors who are qualified in first aid and CPR.

The program fee does not include Rowing Canada and RowOntario association fee of $54.95, which must be paid when registering. Go to RCA Webreg to register

Start Dates:
July 4, 11, 18, 25  August 8, 15, 22

Previous experience required:
No experience required, returning summer youth day camp rowers welcomed

Age Categories: Youth (12-17 years)

Adult Learn to Row (Sweep & Scull)

Lessons are 2 hours, held on 5 weekday evenings spaced over two weeks – Tuesday-Thursday-Friday-Tuesday-Thursday at 6:00pm. 

You will join a class of approx. 10 participants. Instruction begins with parts of the stroke, parts of the boat, and water safety. Lessons continue on rowing machines and dockside rowing. The majority of time is on the water with the coach along side the crew in a motor boat. You learn to balance the boat and how to move it through the water as a crew.

The program fee does not include Rowing Canada and RowOntario association fee of $54.95, which must be paid when registering. Go to RCA Webreg to register

Start Dates:
July 5, 19,  August 9, 23   

Previous experience required:
No experience required

Age Categories: Adult (18+)

Adult Learn to Row 2 / Come Try Coaching

Two free top up classes for athletes wishing to progress from a 2022 Learn to Row graduate! Learn to Row 2 is intended to get you prepared to join Club Rowing at the ORC*. Learn to Row 2 lessons are held over the Tuesday and Thursday of one week, from 6-8PM. The classes will be small, and registration capped at 4-6 participants, to ensure more one-on-one coaching potential. You will spend the Tuesday in either a double (2x) or quad (4x), expand your knowledge of rowing terminology, water safety, learn the traffic pattern on the river, and increase your independence in a boat as you progress to big singles (Edon 1x/ buoyed singles) on Thursday.

Come Try Coaching will happen simultaneously with a mentor coach leading the LTR 2 session and orienting a new coach on Tuesday. The new coach will then lead the session on Thursday with the support of that same mentor coach. Each week there will be a different mentor Guest Coach. No experience and no boat license required for the new coaches! Send an email to VP Competitive Jennifer Jones (vp.competitive@ottawarowingclub.com) if interested in either being a mentor coach or a beginner coach, trying it out for the first time!

The program fee does not include Rowing Canada and RowOntario association fee of $54.95, which must be paid when registering. Go to RCA Webreg to register

Start Dates:
August 9, 16, 23, 30   

Previous experience required:
Adult Learn to Row

Age Categories: Adult (18+)

*Athletes must have registered in the Club program already to participate in the Learn to Row 2.

Adult Rowing League

The Adult Rowing League (ARL) crews meet once a week on weekday evenings in May, June and July.

Six weekly practices are held starting in May on the night of your choice (Tuesdays or Wednesdays or Thursdays at 6:00pm). Practices will be designed to get you ready for July race nights! They will include dry land and on the water lessons to teach you rowing basics including safety, terminology and proper form.

In July, all crews meet on Thursday evenings (6:00pm) for races – some 200 rowers! Races are 800m in length, running in front of the boathouse from Parliament Hill to the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge. An announcer calls the races, Food is available on site and the bar is open. 

Deadline to Register for 2022 ARL: April 29, 2022

Introductory Meeting and Q&A Night (Welcome to ARL, Meet your crew and coach): Thursday, May 19

ARL Orientation Nights – 6pm – 8:30pm 

Go through the ORC safety course, boat handling and launch procedures:

Tuesday Crews meet on May 24
Wednesday Crews meet on May 25
Thursday Crews meet on May 26

ARL Practice nights: 6pm – 8:30pm

Tuesday crews – May 31 June  7, 14, 21, 28
Wednesday crews – June 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Thursday crews –  June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

Inclement weather Make-Up Nights (for crews that miss practice due to inclement weather):
July 5, 6, 7

Race Nights (ALL crews) 6pm – 9pm, Thursday, July 14, 21, 28 

The program fee does not include Rowing Canada and RowOntario association fee of $54.95, which must be paid when registering. Go to RCA Webreg to register

Previous experience required:
For the beginner rower or those returning back to ARL or the sport of rowing.

Age Categories: Adult (18+)

Club Rowing (Previously known as Recreational)

Gliding on the Ottawa River, passing beneath the Parliament Buildings, in front of the Museum of History, past the Rideau Canal and the Rideau Falls, meeting the Gatineau River and going around Kettle Island are all parts of the club rowing experience at the Ottawa Rowing Club. The club program lead coaches organize the group to row together in crew boats, a great way to meet new people and get in a workout too. 

Club rowers row Monday and Wednesday evening at 6:00 pm, and Sunday morning at 8:00 am. Club rowers have the opportunity to participate in recreational events offered at the Head of the Madawaska, Head of the Rideau and Head of the Trent Regattas.

The program fee does not include Rowing Canada and RowOntario association fee of $54.95, which must be paid when registering. Go to RCA Webreg to register

Regattas: All travel expenses, accommodations, regatta fees and boat trailering fees are in addition to program fees

Previous experience required:
Learn to Row, Adult Rowing League or past experience at the ORC or other club.

Age Categories: Adult (18+)

U23 and Senior Competitive

Competitive rowers train a minimum of 6 days a week and are those who train to compete in 2000m and head races. Competitive rowers commit to a training program, workout sessions and regattas.  Crews and regatta entries will be determined by the coach(es) based on on-the-water performance, and erg test scores. 

Competitive rowing practice times are confirmed by the coach(es), but are generally scheduled daily at 5:00 am and some evenings, Monday through Friday and on Saturday morning, April through November.

The program fee does not include Rowing Canada and RowOntario association fee of $54.95, which must be paid when registering. Go to RCA Webreg to register

Regattas: All travel expenses, accommodations, regatta fees and boat trailering fees are in addition to program fees

Previous experience required:
Competitive, High School, University, Junior Development or Recreational rowing required. Winter training is recommended.

Age Categories: U23 (19-22), Sr (23+)

Junior Competitive Development

The U19, U17 and U15 summer and fall rowing programs are for all experienced junior rowers who have participated in Junior Learn to Row or Youth Crew Summer Program or Spring High School Rowing.  The program continues to teach boys and girls the fundamentals of rowing, including coxing technique and boat safety, as well as basic concepts of physical well-being including hydration, diet, flexibility, and core strength for rowing, further preparing developing junior rowers to advance to the Junior Competitive Program.

The program is taught in a fun and supportive environment with a goal of continuing to develop a solid foundation of skills. Participants are introduced to basic measures of fitness and strength on the rowing machine and encouraged to work as a crew toward collective goals on the water.

Dates
Spring: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays at 4:00pm to 5:45pm.
Summer: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays at 8:30am to 10:30am.
Fall: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays at 4:00pm to 5:45pm.

Previous experience required:

The program fee does not include Rowing Canada and RowOntario association fee of $54.95, which must be paid when registering. Go to RCA Webreg to register

Regattas: Junior Development Athletes can compete in short distance races. All travel expenses, accommodations, regatta fees and boat trailering fees are in addition to program fees.

Previous experience required:
High School Novice, Youth Camp

Age Categories: U15, U17, and U19 (12-18yrs)

Junior Competitive

Junior competitive rowers train to compete in 2000m and head races and commit to the training program, workout sessions and regattas. Crews and regatta entries will be determined by the coach(es) based on on-the-water performance, and erg test scores.

Dates
Competitive rowing practice times and dates are confirmed by the coach(es). They are generally scheduled five to six times a week.  Monday through Friday, and Saturday mornings at 5:30-7:00am.

Junior rowers can row for their Highschool in the spring April to June 15 and then continue through the summer and fall in the ORC junior program. 

The program fee does not include Rowing Canada and RowOntario association fee of $54.95, which must be paid when registering. Go to RCA Webreg to register

Regattas: All travel expenses, accommodations, regatta fees and boat trailering fees are in addition to program fees

Previous experience required:
Junior Development or High School rowing. Winter training is recommended.

Age Categories: U19 (14-18yrs)

Masters Competitive

If fitting in 6-12 workouts a week around family and work isn’t a possibility but you still want to improve your rowing skill, train in a group atmoshpere doing organized on water workouts in crew boats and compete in regattas, the masters program may be a perfect fit! The Masters rowing program allows for flexibility with training and competition. 

Masters will be provided with a training plan for the season, adapted to the amount of days they train a week (dryland and on-the-water), their skill level and rowing experience, and competition participation for the seasonMasters can choose to compete at RowOntario Masters, Henley Masters, Head of the Madawaska, Head of the Rideau, Head of the Charles, Canadian Masters. 

The program fee does not include Rowing Canada and RowOntario association fee of $54.95, which must be paid when registering. Go to RCA Webreg to register

Regattas: All travel expenses, accommodations, regatta fees and boat trailering fees are in addition to program fees

Previous experience required: Recreational, Competitive or past experience at the ORC or other club.

Age Categories: Masters (21+ years)

High School Competitive Program

Highschool Rowing provides the opportunity for students to learn to row and compete with their classmates. The ORC is a proud supporter of the Ashbury, Canterbury, Glebe, and Lisgar rowing teams.  We also proudly support students from other Ottawa area school who wish to row high school in the spring.

The high school (U19/U17/U15) season starts April and ends June 19

There are local Highschool regattas for all athletes to compete at and CSSRA for the more experienced rowers, which is held at the end of May. 

Dates and Options
Spring – High School Competitive (See Junior Competitive)
Dates and times are confirmed by coach(es). Generally scheduled five to six days a week. Monday through Friday, and Saturday mornings at 5:30am-7:00am.

Spring – High School Competitive Development (See Junior Competitive Development)
Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays at 4:00pm to 5:30pm.

The program fee does not include Rowing Canada and RowOntario association fee of $54.95, which must be paid when registering. Go to RCA Webreg to register

Regattas: All travel expenses, accommodations, regatta fees and boat trailering fees are in addition to program fees

Previous experience required:
Novice and experienced rowers.

Age Categories: Highschool (13 – 17 yrs)

University – Novice and Varsity 

Carleton and uOttawa Varsity Training Camps are scheduled for last week of August of each year. Novice Try-Out Camp is held during the first week of September. The fee to participate in the Novice Try-Out Camp is $100. This fee is non-refundable and will be applied to the Fall University program if continuing. 

University rowing is for registrants of Carleton University or uOttawa. The program offers an excellent opportunity to build rowing skills, while training with university peers and to access both on-water and drylands training and conditioning. Participation in the fall university racing seasons, pending crew selections, includes PD Ross, Head of the Rideau, Head of the Trent, Ontario University Championships, Canadian University Championships.

Practice schedules and times are determined by the university coaches.

The program fee does not include Rowing Canada and RowOntario association fee of $54.95, which must be paid when registering. Go to RCA Webreg to register.  Athletes coming from another club must contact the ORC Registrar prior to registering to avoid paying the RCA/RO association fee again. 

Regattas: All travel expenses, accommodations, regatta fees and boat trailering fees are in addition to program fees

Previous experience required:
Novice and experienced rowers.

Age Categories: University (no age limit)

Para Rowing

Para rowing is not new to the rowing community, previously named ‘adaptive rowing’, it has been offered at many clubs around the world for over twenty years. Modifications are made to rowing equipment, coaching techniques and program structure are made to meet the needs of the para rowers on and off water training. 

There are three sport classes offered within para rowing:

• Legs, Trunk, and Arms (LTA)
• Trunk, and Arms (TA)
• Arms, and Shoulders (AS)

The program fee does not include Rowing Canada and RowOntario association fee of $54.95, which must be paid when registering. Go to RCA Webreg to register

Regattas: All travel expenses, accommodations, regatta fees and boat trailering fees are in addition to program fees.

Previous experience required:
No experience necessary

Age Categories: Junior and Adult (14+)