Rowing

As a sport, most people think of flat-water racing; Oxford vs. Cambridge, or the Canadian Eights missing gold at Athens by the length of a postcard. Ocean rowing at Locarno is unlike any of those. Like sea kayaks, our one and two person sculls are stable, seaworthy vessels capable of traveling great distances under a variety of sea conditions. Some of our members enjoy the speed of rowing; a fast rower can sustain 6 kts for an hour or more. Others are interested in fitness, and are attracted to the sport for the full-body workout that rowing delivers.

Fleet

We have built up a fleet of ocean shells that are seaworthy, durable and suitable for beach launching and landing. The Locarno fleet consists of:

Echo 18 open water shells: The Echo's are the newest members of our rowing fleet, and quickly becoming our most popular. They are 18 foot, low-volume shells, very similar in appearance to a see kayak, with a unique folding rigger system that makes them easy and fast to launch and land. Designed for all skill levels, on the water they are fast, stable, lightweight and highly maneuverable -- and off the water they are easy to transport and move around as well. The Echos are smooth, fast and responsive in rough water and smooth.

MAAS Aero: This is a great all around shell. Stable enough for a dedicated novice to learn to row, the Aero has also enjoyed years of racing and touring success. Aesthetically, the design is very clean and uncluttered and is enhanced by the beautifully crafted carbon fiber composite riggers. The Aero offers the quick responsive feel of our higher performance boats yet is less demanding when the water is rough.

MAAS 24: Faster and less stable than our Aero, this shell was designed specifically to be the fastest boat an experienced sculler could row in open water. Speed very close to that of a single scull makes the 24 ideal for flat water racers concerned with training regardless of water conditions.

WinTech Explorer 2x (Double): Designed by Klaus Filter as a teaching boat that's fun to row, it's also perfect for the recreational rower who wants optimal exercise while exploring the natural surroundings on the water.The Explorer is stable, comfortable, strong and sleek. You'll also find the Explorer lighter, quicker, and stiffer than traditional recreational boats as it tracks well, maneuvers easily, and delivers speed typically seen in true racing shells. The new Quick Release rigger can be added or removed in just seconds, making the boat easy to carry and launch.

Alden 16 Ocean Shells: The Alden 16 is the most popular recreational rowing shell in the world. It delivers satisfying speed and stability, a dry ride and is ideal for local conditions.

Alden 18 Ocean Shells: The Alden 18 is a very versatile open water rowing shell. It offers all the benefits of the Alden 16 when rowed as a heavyweight single, plus the ability to easily set up for double rowing.

Lessons

Beginner lessons: Introductory rowing lessons begin shortly after the new member signup days. The lessons will be taught by a professional instructor, 4 lesson of 2 hours each. Participants will start with dry-land practice, will move to the water and progress through launching and landing, rowing technique and self-rescue. Upon successful completion of the lesson, you will be eligible for your Level 1 Skipper designation, allowing you to use the Echo, Alden, Hudson, and MAAS Aero in the rowing fleet in moderate sea conditions.

• Cost: $65.00
• Prerequisites: Pre-reading material (provided upon registration): "Learn to Row Open Water Scullers' Guide" and the "Locarno Rowing Members' Handbook"
• Duration: 4 individual 2 hours lessons with a coach, there will be a maximum of 4 students per class.

One or more lessons are listed below. You can click on a lesson's "Show" link to see more about it, including session dates and how many spots are left. You can also learn how to request your preferred sessions, then later confirm that you are registered in that session, and even see if your pals made into that session as well.

Check-outs: Many of our new members join us from a competitive rowing background and want to maintain their skills and continue to enjoy the sport. If you are an experienced sculler and are comfortable on the water, we will arrange a check-out where we will assess your skills and practice self-rescue techniques. The successful candidates will earn their Level 1 designation and the use of the rowing fleet.

Volunteer Events

As a ClubLocarno member, your volunteer efforts are vital to the club's success! Volunteering isn't merely an obligation, you'll also:

• meet new people,
• learn more about the club's equipment and operations,
• earn the respect of your peers by contributing to your club,
• and feel a sense of accomplishment.

Volunteer, it's the ClubLocarno way!

For effective volunteer planning and recruiting, we've organized some rowing fleet volunteer events as shown below. You can click on an event's "Show" link to see more about it and what tasks are planned. You can also sign up online to volunteer, and see who's showing up and their comments/suggestions.