Ever joined college rowing team?

Question

Has anyone ever joing their college Rowing team? If so...can you tell me about it and if I should join?

Did you like it?

Answer 1

I loved it, as long as there was no favoritism for less able friends to replace other better athletes.

Its a sport requiring you to be able to manage strength with excellent cardio endurance.

If you are a good athlete, or want to be, join crew.  They cross train with rowing, running and weight lifting.

In the 1984 Olympics, Romania's women's team won seven medals, the USA one.  All the USA women looked similar height and physique.  The Romanians were tall, short and in between, some slim and tall, some short and muscular, and all manner of mix.

Not only that, but their team had only about 10 rowers, and each woman rowed in multiple races that morning, and had multiple gold medals by the time of the last race in which they lost to the US 8 by 2 feet.  The US boat's team had not raced yet that day.

American coaches like to go with statistics that taller stronger looking people will be better rowers.  But in doing that, they miss a lot of excellent athletes.  Small colleges take almost everyone.

The ultimate sport that rewards hard work and desire to anyone of almost any size and shape.

Answer 2

Story from the University of Wisconsin. Coaches scanned arriving students and then approached, large, muscular students and asked them to consider, CREW, for a sport.