Fall Crew

The crew season begins with intense training on the ergo meter as well as in the weight room. Boys learn the techniques of rowing and strengthening the necessary muscles to compete as a strong crew. Boys are placed in boats based upon their ability and experience, and they may participate in both varsity and "lower boat" crews.

No matter what their level of expertise, both varsity and lower boat oarsmen compete in racing, building individual strength and endurance, as well as team unity along the way. Crew facilities include a boathouse on the shores of Hatch Pond, a spring training encampment facility on the Housatonic River, a 10 minute drive from campus, a training room with 13 Concept II rowing ergo meters and an indoor rowing tank. The program offers instruction in seven four-man racing boats (including two new Vespoli M2 hulls and one Quantum racing four), an eight-man practice boat, and uses the latest Concept II rowing oars on the water.

Home races are held on the Housatonic River and Lake Waramaug, where a straight 1500-meter sprint course lies only 15 minutes from campus. In addition, our crews race annually at the Founder's Cup Regatta, the NEIRA regatta for the top boats and the Lower Boat Regatta for the lower boats. Winning the NEIRA regatta qualifies the crew for the Henley Regatta in England, as well as an invitation to the USRowing Youth Nationals in Cincinnati.

Philosophy

The South Kent crew program is designed to allow every member of the crew team to participate in as many races as possible. Even a novice rower, who has never been in a boat before, will have the chance to compete by the end of each season.

Our schedule matches South Kent's boats against highly competitive boats from other schools, many of whom have larger enrollments. As a result, crew races challenge every member of the team to be at his best. Fortunately, in crew a team's success is not governed as much by size and strength, as it is by effective technique and cooperative precision. The crew coaches strive to teach and develop effective rowing technique in every oarsman. Boys of very small stature are invaluable to crew as coxswains, leading their crews with crisp directions and good steering. Most importantly, South Kent expects the members of its crew team to compete fairly. We approach every practice and race with grace and class.