Sammamish Rowing Association

Thank you to NJ for these great snaps of the Mid-Morning team just over a week ago! We are enjoying these last few weeks of warm weather rowing. Remember to always bring your sunscreen, sun protective clothing, and plenty of water to practice. We can't wait to see you at the boathouse!

Have you ever heard the term "steady state" used by your rower friend or family member and wondered what it meant? Steady state rowing is simple, satisfying, and the foundation on which rowing success is built. It’s continuous rowing at a consistent pace and effort. This straightforward practice is critical for the performance of a crew—it takes you from training to crossing the finish line on race day.
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Just as steady state rowing builds your fitness and endurance, your sustained support for Sammamish Rowing Association makes our organization better. Set your steady state gift and help SRA fulfill our mission to ignite a passion for rowing, encourage development of our members, embrace personal discovery, and celebrate team success. You can learn more and set up monthly, quarterly, or annual steady state gifts here: https://www.sammamishrowing.org/steady-state-giving.html

Thankful every day for the lake we get to row on, boathouse we get to train in, and community we welcome to practice week after week. Welcome to a new week, SRA!

September is approaching which means our high school Try Rowing September session and our masters September Start session will begin. Have you registered yet? It's not too late! Follow the link to secure your spot: https://campscui.active.com/orgs/SammamishRowingAssociation?e4q=782bae2e-2e8e-458b-8701-9e389c01803e&e4p=d4e97ed9-9695-480c-b9a5-ff939e9758dd&e4ts=1724263918&e4c=active&e4e=snlvcmpscui00001load&e4rt=Safetynet&e4h=f75c51e8581188adce2375db32cf71b5

Throw back Thursday! This photo shows the development of the area around our old boathouse (long before the construction of the newer Hod Fowler Boathouse). It is crazy to think how far we have come thanks to the hard work and dedication of so many of our former and current members. To everyone who has been a part of SRA's 30 year history- thank you from the bottom of our hearts. ❤

Do you know what the mission of Sammamish Rowing Association is?

"SRA provides an inclusive community that ignites a passion for rowing by encouraging the development of our members, embracing individual discovery, and celebrating team success so every rower can experience the life-long benefits of rowing."

In short, we want to share this amazing sport with everyone and help you reap the many benefits of our community. To learn more about our mission, values, and strategic plan, head to our website: https://www.sammamishrowing.org/inside-sra.html

Our alumni row this past weekend has us thinking about all our amazing alumni. At Sammamish Rowing Association, we have immense pride in helping develop the student athletes who enter our boathouse. As they head out to their next adventure, we encourage all alumni to stay in touch with our staff and coaches to keep us updated on your accomplishments.

One alumni who we reconnected with, Peter Arata, was a member of the 2018 Under-23 USA National team when he was a senior at Northeastern University. He was the stroke for the 4+ in the U23 World Championships in Poland and along with his teammates, secured gold. In the shared photos, you'll see Peter and fellow SRA alumni Tenny Federspiel (who went on to row for the University of Washington). In the other photo, Peter is shown approaching the finish line to secure his first place win at World Rowing U23 Championships.

Did you know Sammamish Rowing Association has a blog? We do! On our website, we have a section under the "Inside SRA" drop down menu with a sub-section called "SRA Stories". In this blog, we share stories from members of our community as well as coach tips and insights. We are always looking for members to highlight, so if you or someone you know is interested in being interviewed, please contact [email protected].

To view our SRA Stories, follow this link: https://www.sammamishrowing.org/srastories

Fall is quickly approaching. While it ushers in the end of the year, it begins the larger rowing season here at SRA. Fall is a crucial time for us to work with our rowers and prepare them for racing season both in the fall and spring. We can't wait to see you! Masters and juniors can register here: https://campscui.active.com/orgs/SammamishRowingAssociation?e4q=efd3c146-1396-4210-ac5f-d21ab4a170b3&e4p=07f96b09-909d-45aa-a929-089107901b64&e4ts=1723250781&e4c=active&e4e=snlvcmpscui00001load&e4rt=Safetynet&e4h=2a22dc492221d1eddd866ce657aff8e6

It was an incredible day for an Alumni Row! Thank you to our amazing alumni who joined us for a fun day of rowing and reconnection. We can’t wait to continue the tradition for years to come. We truly value each and every member of our community and it was so wonderful being able to see our friends again.

Every week we get to see our junior team and masters team members but our hearts are still connected to our alumni who don’t frequent our boathouse as much. We hope to provide more opportunities for reunion in the future 💙❤️

Our alumni row is tomorrow, August 10th! SRA is excited to invite our Junior Team alums back to the boathouse tomorrow morning at 10:30am! We look forward to bringing multiple generations of SRA rowers together for a social afternoon including a meet and greet at the boathouse fueled by Blazing Bagels, an alumni row for anyone who's itching to hop back into a boat, followed by a get together at Post Doc for some drinks and food with friends old and new.

Our event will kick off at the Hod Fowler Boathouse at 10:30 AM where SRA will provide bagels and coffee while we show everyone around the boathouse and people mingle with their former teammates. Anyone who's looking to get on the water will be invited to join in on an alumni row at 11:30 AM. Once we've wrapped things up at the boathouse we hope you'll join us at Post Doc to hangout with the team over drinks and food from local vendors.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Our coaches are eager to see our alumni during SRA's Alumni Row on August 10th. It's not too late to RSVP. Send the link below to a few of your friends and RSVP for our alumni event! We can't wait to welcome you back to the Hod Fowler Boathouse: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdGIEHseV7vOSxZPXYxrnd1DMQ0ytbTNIYxaaXAbnzNGzFl2g/viewform

Hello masters rowers! Fall season is creeping up on us and we can't wait to have you join us for another autumn on Lake Sammamish. Click here to browse your options and register today: https://www.sammamishrowing.org/adultrowing.html

HEY ALUMNI! Our Alumni Row is coming up on August 10th. There is still time to RSVP and join the fun. Click the link below (or the link in our Instagram profile bio), to check out the plans for the day and let us know if you can or can't join: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdGIEHseV7vOSxZPXYxrnd1DMQ0ytbTNIYxaaXAbnzNGzFl2g/viewform

Sammamish Rowing Association would love to have your junior join us for rowing this fall! Registration is now open for junior fall rowing programs. To learn more and register, click here: https://www.sammamishrowing.org/juniorrowing.html

Connor Wetmore (left) and Addi DerGarabedian (right) are pictured here with our Executive Director, Sarah Low. Connor is now an alumni of our junior boys program and will be a freshman at the University of Washington. Addi is a coxswain for our junior boys team and is moving into her senior year of high school. The trio were together at RowFest.

ATTENTION ALUMNI! We are hosting an alumni row on August 10th starting at 10:30am. We would love to see you there. Join us for bagels, coffee, and reunion. We will provide an opportunity to row with other alumni but it is not required, if you just want to hang out- that's fine!

Whether you want to check out the boathouse, go for a row, or just grab a drink we hope to see you there! Please fill out the google form below so we can better anticipate how many rowers are interested in each part of this event: here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdGIEHseV7vOSxZPXYxrnd1DMQ0ytbTNIYxaaXAbnzNGzFl2g/viewform

This weekend we are hosting a Row for a Day session for juniors going into grades 8-12 ONLY! On Saturday, August 3rd from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., participants will get an introduction to this unique sport and our amazing community. Interested in having your junior participate? Watch this video and then use the link below to register: https://www.magisto.com/album/video/JjsjXk1eGAQqO3wBDmEwCXh9?l=vsm&o=w&c=e&mgs_rspu=mproby%40comcast.net

Link to website and registration button: https://www.sammamishrowing.org/row-for-a-day.html

Sammamish Rowing Association - Row for a Day Created using Magisto video editor. Share your story with Magisto smart video maker.

Don't forget to watch the Paris Olympics and cheer on team USA! Find the rowing schedule here: https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/schedule/rowing?day=27-july

Did you know in 2016, SRA alumni Hans Struzyna and Rob Munn represented the United States at the Olympics in Rio, finishing 4th in the Men's 8+. Other national team members (and World Champions) include Will Spencer, Sam Halbert, and Eli Maesner. Unbounded opportunity starts at SRA! Check our our incredible junior programs here: https://www.sammamishrowing.org/juniorrowing.html

We want to wish a belated happy birthday to Yvonne Owen who turned 80 on July 15th. She is the 3rd person from Mid-Morning who is 80 and still actively rows. Sharon Rhinevault turned 80 in 2021 as well as Norton Smallwood in 2022, who came from Puyallup to celebrate (at the French Bakery, Redmond town center). (picture shoe Sharon left, Yvonne middle, Norton right)

During the team celebration at the French Bakery, some people walked by and saw the number 80 on Yvonne's table and asked where the 80 year old was! They were seriously surprised because nobody looked nearly that old to them.

Staying active is so important for our health at any age. Rowing is a sport that works your entire body in a low impact way. By making fitness and sport a routine part of your life, you will be giving yourself the gift of lifelong health. Be grateful for everything your body is capable of!

Thank you to Birgit Bertram for sharing this photo and story.

Our juniors only Row for a Day program is coming up on Saturday, August 3rd from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Those going into grades 8-12 can join us for this 3-hour session that offers an introduction to the sport of rowing. No previous rowing experience is needed and you'll be in the excellent hands of some of our coaches and volunteers. We would love to welcome your junior to our boathouse!

For more information and to register, use: https://www.sammamishrowing.org/row-for-a-day.html

Today we want to send a message of gratitude to our donors. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you so much for all your support of Sammamish Rowing Association. You make it possible for our non-profit to provide an inclusive community that ignites a passion for rowing by encouraging the development of our members, embracing individual discovery, and celebrating team success so every rower can experience the life-long benefits of rowing.

Because of you we've been able to put tens of thousands of dollars towards rowing scholarships so that everyone can row regardless of ability to pay. Thank you for all you've done to introduce this sport to so many deserving rowers!

For more information on our mission and strategic plan, click here: https://www.sammamishrowing.org/inside-sra.html

For our next summer trail staff pick, we are sharing one of Liza Dickson's favorite places to explore!

Liza Dickson- Deception Pass State Park
"I like to go to Deception Pass and walk all the trails there and be by the water. We usually drive the long way and then hike and walk to the beach area and back. Then drive down to Whidbey and stop for lunch at Green Bank Deli (the best Sammie’s after a hike). It makes a nice day trip with some exercise!"

Don't forget to Save the Date for our alumni row! More details coming soon.

Many of us feel like summer is the prime time to squeeze in as much outdoor time as we can. While many of our rowers appreciate Washington in all its weather, summer offers more accessibility and daylight for exploring. On your days off from rowing, we encourage you to enjoy and explore our beautiful state. Not only is time in nature full of mental benefits, but hiking, biking, backpacking, and other outdoor activities provide excellent cross training opportunities that will benefit your rowing later on. We reached out to a few staff member who shared their favorite hiking locations with us so you could have an idea for you next outing- we would like to share one of those recommendations today!

Yulia Poltorak- Cable Line Trail
"I love Cable Line trail and do it year round once a week - it's a great cross training workout hike climbing over 2,000 feet in just 1.5 miles to the summit of West Tiger 3 and has a beautiful view from the top!"

Have you heard of our SRA Stories blog? Whether you are new to our community or just haven't browsed our website in depth yet, we want to share our SRA Stories blog with you!

We've interviewed many members of our community to share all their unique rowing stories and how they joined our wonderful team. These stories provide a look into the lives of people from all different backgrounds, and some share their personal struggles or triumphs. We encourage you to click the link below to learn more about your fellow teammates, volunteers, or parents.

https://www.sammamishrowing.org/srastories

Your rowing gear looks AMAZING on you, but not so good strewn around our boathouse. Please do not leave rowing gear at the boathouse. Our staff is finding a large amount of rowing gear in plastic bags left around the boathouse. If you would like to donate gear, please reach out to other parents or rowers via our parent page, team pages, or your other contact channels to donate your items to a specific person. Our staff appreciates your consideration of keeping the boathouse clean and tidy. Go Sammamish!

Happy Monday from your favorite rowing association! We hope everyone is adjusting well to the heat. Remember to bring plenty of water to practice along with sun protection. In the meantime, please enjoy this smooth footage showing our masters rowing on Lake Sammamish: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwM6AQnVO74

Thank you to Bernie from southern California who captured this epic drone footage!

Sammamish Rowing Association Been wanting to film these guys for a long time and finally got a chace this last week while vacationing in the Seattle area.The Sammamish Rowing Association...

Junior Rowers! Bring a friend tonight, Friday, July 12th at 7 pm to the Sammamish Rowing Feature night at the Jerry Baker Velodrome in Marymoor Park! See racing under the lights and enjoy the competitive atmosphere. We are looking for at least two junior volunteers to participate in an on-field erg relay. Bring a friend and head to the Sammamish tent at the Velodrome to check in.

SRA is partnering with Jerry Baker Velodrome to offer a Master and Junior "Try the Track" class on Saturday, July 13th from 3 - 4 PM.

Register here: https://velodrome.org/product/2024-sammamish-rowing-ttt/

This is a free class offered exclusively for SRA rowers. Rowers can choose to make a small donation to support continued JBV programming. This class is capped at 20 riders, so sign up soon. By the end of the class, you'll be challenged to race for your best 200-meter sprint. You won't want to miss it!

All you need is a helmet! While you do need to know how to ride a bike, no prior experience on a track bike is necessary. JBV will supply track bikes and expert coaching for this event. Please read the signup page for more details on what to expect.

Registration Link: https://velodrome.org/product/2024-sammamish-rowing-ttt/

We are ready to bring the “DERBY” to Derby Days this year. Start your Redmond Derby Days weekend off at the velodrome, the only velodrome in Washington State!!! Make sure to catch the buses provided by the City of Redmond, Washington -Government or take a spin on the trail! (City of Redmond - Parks & Recreation)

2024 Derby Days Friday Night Track Races - July 12th - 7pm, gates open at 5:30pm
Featured Group - Sammamish Rowing Association. That’s right this is the collaboration you didn’t know you needed! Erg vs. bike races and combination relays. 🚴🚣🚴‍♀️🚣‍♀️
Suggested Spectator Donation: $5, kids are FREE
Featured Races: Derby Days Kiddie Kilo! Camp Graduation 🎓, Marymoor Crawl 🐢🚀, Sprints and 💰Dollar a Lap Races 💰
Food Trucks: The Panini Truck 🥪, Big Boys Filipino Truck and Sweet Wheels 🍪🍦
Beer: Postdoc BrewingAlpha IPA & Hydrogen Blonde 🍻
Cider: Locust Cider Watermelon and Pear 🍉🍐🍎
Photo: DBC Photo (we spy Luke Willson 82!)