About Us
Hickory Rowing Club, in lovely Chesapeake, Virginia, is for rising 7th grade to 12th grade students who live in any school district of the Tidewater area, including home-schooled students. We offer full training from complete novice to Varsity level at our facility right here in the Great Bridge area of Chesapeake, VA. If you are interested in a whole-year, full-body sport that combines strength, flexibility, mental focus, self-discipline, and teamwork, then Crew is for you.
We compete throughout the Fall and Spring seasons and train through Summer and Winter seasons. Our facility is located at the Atlantic Yacht Basin facility in Chesapeake Virginia
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A WORD FROM OUR 2024/25 CAPTAINS
"I have been in the sport of rowing for almost 4 years now, and it is truly the greatest part of my day to day life. In those years I have learned many things through some amazing coaches and amazing teammates. The biggest thing that I learned is that the sport brings everyone together no matter the school or age. You meet so many new people and learn so many things that could help you further in life. Rowing brings out people's personalities and it teaches you how to work as one team and not just one person. There is no better feeling than hearing the boat work together to move as one across the finish line. Whether win or lose, with this team you will always be cheered for.
As captain, I want to make sure not only do you have support while rowing, but while going through school and through life. The Hickory Crew Team encourages everyone to be themselves, work hard, and row harder."
Kylie Wood
Team Captain 2024-2025
"Being elected as team captain this year is a great honor. Joining Hickory Crew has been a pivotal part of my life. It has introduced me to my best friends, taught me how to get into shape, and honed my time management skills. I've learned the importance of consistent, year-round effort to sustain athletic performance on and off the water. I have tremendous respect for my coaches and team, who work with me daily so that we can get better every day. Hickory Crew has quickly become a second family to me. We work hard together, train and travel together, win and celebrate successes together.
As captain, my aim is to assist every rower to the fullest extent of my capabilities and to do my part in making this the best year yet."
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Cody Courtney
Team Captain 2024-2025
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FAQ
Are there any fitness requirements to join?
Crew is a physical activity, and unlike most scholastic sports, will require the use of all of your major muscle groups- legs, back, and arms. That said, part of the training emphasis is to get you into a condition where you can handle the physical exertion. Hence the sports physical where a physician verifies that the prospective athlete is cleared for participation in physical activity. The athlete should also be competent in the water, e.g. capable of floating, treading water, and swimming short distances. The swim test will verify their skills in this regard. Allergies and asthma are not disqualifiers if they are controllable and the physician authorizes activity. Flexibility helps, but can be developed.
Is Crew a safe sport?
As with all sports, there is an element of risk. Water, boats, heavy and awkward equipment, lots of people are just some of the dangers we encounter. However, your safety is of paramount importance and we take it very seriously. We are fully insured, maintain our equipment properly and teach our members the importance of safety and how to manage the equipment properly.
Do I have to attend every practice in order to race?
Is Crew and expensive sport?
Crew can be an expensive sport as there is a lot of equipment necessary to take part. BUT...we cover almost all of these expenses with our seasonal club dues, which are currently $700 per athlete, per season. We do offer a discount for multiple family participants and if you join by attending one of our Summer Camps you can enjoy a discount too!
When can I join?
Crew is a year-round sport. You can join any time. We typically hold a 2-week camp in August, but attendance here is not mandatory. You can join at any time during the year.
Slow down, sports fan! It’s easiest to learn on one of our rowing machines first where you can grasp the basics of the rowing motion without having to worry about balance, being on the water, etc. We use a combination of rowing machines to learn the stroke, and a ‘row box’ to learn oar handling. Typically, 2-3 days on land before getting into a boat. Chances are, if you’ve seen someone rowing in the gym, they’re doing it wrong. We’ll break it down and help you put it all together.
How soon can I get on the water?
When are the races?
There are two racing seasons, fall & spring. There are usually 5-6 regattas (races) in the fall starting in late Sep/early Oct and running into mid-Nov. The spring season usually has 6-7 regattas starting in early Apr and running through mid-May.
How often do you practice?
Fall practice is currently 5 days a week, which are Mon, Tue, Wed, Thur, and Sat. Weekday practices are after school, Saturday practices are in the morning. Practices are on the water for spring-fall, with winter conditioning on land at the boathouse. During winter, we work on rowing machines, augmented with weights, calisthenics, and stretching/yoga. Practices are usually 2 hours in length.
When are try-outs for Crew?
How do I join?
No try-outs!! No cuts, this is a club sport. Yes, that's right, we do not have try-outs, but we do offer a Summer Camp during the school holidays which you are welcome to come to and see if Crew is for you! Come along and our coaches will train you, and find a way to seat you in a boat for races.
It’s easy! Step 1, tell us you’d like to join! Step 2 will involve filling out some paperwork. A registration form, waiver, emergency information, etc. Step 3, pay the dues. Step 4… Row!! Sports physical and swim tests will be required, but parent consent will cover in the short term. Hop on over to our join page for more information.
We’d certainly encourage that, but it isn’t a hard and fast requirement. Rowing is a sport that responds especially well to sustained, repeated participation. The more you row, the better you (and your boat) get. That requires your commitment, both mentally and physically (both body and attendance). The decision on boat entries and line-ups is a coach’s decision and certainly attendance can become a factor.
If my child is joins, what can I do to help?
There are lots of things a parent can do to help out. We have parents help out for practice preps and boat recovery, the Board is composed of parents, there are parent volunteer positions that help with team functioning, food at regattas, etc. All the while, you’ll meet fantastic people whom all share in participating in this awesome sport!