Water you waiting for? Row!

Looking to learn a new skill or refresh an old one? Salem Rowing Club offers a competitive and recreational atmosphere for adults within the Salem area. 

Composed of individuals who raced at a competitive level in college, those who had never set foot in a rowing shell before, and everything in between, SRC tries to adhere to all skill levels. Within the club, there is a competitive team that travels to regattas across Oregon and Washington year-round. But if that isn’t your style, there are membership options available for fair-weather or non-competitive rowers. Whatever your goal is for joining, SRC is happy to have you in the boat. 

“You make friends, get a great workout in, and you get to be surrounded by nature during practice,” says coach and club President Natalie Jennings. “What could be better than that?”

Some animals the club sees on a regular basis include: blue herons; beavers; fish; bald eagles; hawks, and deer. 

The club’s boathouse is located at the red barn-like structure at the edge of Riverfront Park in Independence. Several times a week, rain or shine, members will take boats out onto the water for scheduled practice. Beyond rowing, there are monthly team dinners, team campouts, an annual Christmas party and more. “Our goal is to make this club accessible to the community,” Jennings said, which means annual dues are much lower compared to other clubs around the area, and there are both morning and afternoon practice times to allow for member flexibility. 

While SRC operates year-round,  the Learn To Row class opens up in January to novices who want to learn how to row. A six-month program total, the first three months is land-based, and geared toward establishing rowing fitness by lifting weights and learning how to properly execute the rowing stroke on a rowing machine, or an “erg,” as it’s colloquially known. Once the water levels drop down to a safe level in the spring, the novices can start rowing in shells on the water. New members who have experience can join the team at this time and participate in the intermediate or advanced erg and weights workouts. 

Rowing crew is a physically demanding, full-body sport, and requires a level of fitness that involves the ability to get in and out of a narrow boat while dealing with river currents; carry a boat overhead; and generally have enough stamina to keep up with workouts.  

Salem Rowing Club began several decades ago, with boats stored in a storage unit until Western Oregon University agreed to co-fund and co-construct the red boathouse the club uses today. In 2012, SRC was rebirthed with Jennings at the helm. 

“SRC has turned out to be the most rewarding projects of my life, and I’m so happy I’ve been able to impact so many people in a positive way,” Jennings said. “What the club has become is so much more than what I was expecting or even intended when we got started.”

Still interested? Visit our website for more information: Salem Rowing Club | Salem, Oregon