Upcoming: Henley Send-Off Party

The upcoming Henley Send-off party will be help on Tuesday July 23rd 5:30 PM in the ABB!

This send-off will be held in the form of a potluck! Please refer to the link below for the sign up spreadsheet regarding the potluck.

Weekend in Craftsbury: In the Eyes of Maria Habanikova

This is a testimony to the sport of rowing and to the ORC supporting a lifelong passion.

Brought to you by Maria Habanikova, currently a rower in the club program at ORC.

Maria began with us our first winter of operations on site with our Learn to Erg - she progressed to Adult Rowing League and now a Club Program regular - after Craftsbury training weekend - who knows where her next stop will be? Podium at Head of the Rideau?

Encouraged by a fellow ORC rower who participated in one of Craftsbury's infamous rowing camps last summer, I decided that with one year of rowing experience under my belt it was time to face my fear of sculling in a single boat. I signed up for one of their weekend camps in July and will most likely forever sing praises of this magical place - the Great Hosmer Pond, Vermont - for athletes and rowing enthusiasts of all skill levels. 

Equipment and sculling groups had been assigned to us before we arrived based on the experience level and other information we provided during registration so after the first dock talk with Head Coach Troy that included a mandatory flip-and-get-back-in-the-boat exercise, we knew which oars and boat were ours for the rest of the weekend. I spent the three days with a beautiful periwinkle piner #25. We rowed on Friday afternoon, and again at 7 and 11 am on Saturday and Sunday. The most helpful aspect of the camp was two video review sessions - we were asked to comment on our sculling neutrally, referring to the 'sculler' in the video rather than ourselves, which took some pressure and intimidation off. Because we always rowed in groups of 4-6 and the coaches were in singles alongside us, we received plentiful feedback. 

I left Craftsbury with a joyful heart, a stomach full of amazing food, and a slightly achy body.

You can take a leap and discover this place for yourself or find out more about its programs and summer camps on its website, https://www.craftsbury.com/sculling.  

I took copious notes during off-water sessions and dock talks, but these few thoughts have resonated the most: 

- Blades off the water are not the goal of, but rather a reward for good rowing. 

- Rowing is not so much about muscles, strength, the heart, or even power; it is primarily about our nervous system. 

- Getting to the catch is a vulnerable position to be in at first. It is like saying "I love you" to someone for the very first time, not knowing if they'll say it back. So get to that catch like you are saying "I love you" to the sport of rowing, in trust and with your arms wide open! 

- Catching is like hugging the horizon far ahead.  

Wishing you a successful and joy-filled rowing season in 2024, ORC! 

Take a look at some action shots of her jam-packed weekend below!

Important: Parking lot closed for July

The club has been made aware that the club will be losing access to our parking lot for 4 weeks starting on July 7th for some of the required construction work. 

This will mean that for Morning Practices rowers won't be able to park on-site, they will need to park on the nearby free parking in the market. I've attached a map outlining the spots nearest the clubhouse. 

For Evening Practices ORC members will be able to use the construction workers parking lot on the right-hand side just as you turn off Sussex onto Lady Grey Drive. Construction employees are expected to be off-site by 4:30 PM. Overflow parking will be available adjacent to the driveway area in the upper parking lot as well in the market. I've outlined both of these areas on the map as well.

Upcoming: Zumba class in the ABB!

Like to get groovy and break a sweat?

Come join us on Friday, July 26th, at 6 pm in the ABB to take part in a Zumba class led by one of our club members, Maria!

Upcoming: ORC Summer Blockbuster

The ORC is excited to announce the upcoming Summer Blockbuster: Jaws.

The date for the blockbuster will be August 25th! Doors will open at 2:15 with a 2:45 start.

Tickets are available through Eventbrite or at the door.

Incoming: 776BC orders are on their way!

Those who have ordered unis or swag from the Team Shop from the 776BC can expect them in the near future!

The orders from the Team Shop are expected to arrive August 24th.

The new uniform orders are expected to arrive July 17th. To reserve, email the office at rowing@ottawarowingclub.com

ARL race nights are on!

Come down to the ORC on thursday nights throughout July to cheer on our newest rowers and to enjoy the Food Trucks and Beverages (Cash only) served in the ABB!

From 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm on Thursday in July.

ORC Half Day Summer Camp now available!

Rowing is not only a fun activity but also a valuable experience that can enrich your child’s life in numerous ways. Whether your child is looking for a new hobby, a way to stay active, or a chance to connect with others, our Discover Rowing Camp offers something special in the heart of the city. 

Spread the word out to all those you know and help us share our passion and knowledge of rowing!

For further information regarding registration and details of the camp days, check out our website.

ORC Gym Only Memberships are now available!

The ORC now offers gym-only memberships! These memberships are great for friends, parents, crossfitters and anyone looking for a high-quality and friendly training space!

Memberships are now only $75 for the whole summer.

To register, take a look at our website under "programs".

ORC Discord

New to ORC or haven't heard of Discord? Discord is an instant messaging social platform that has virtual communities, called "servers", which can be accessed through their webpage or app. ORC has its own discord server where all of our important and urgent information, like practice cancellations and updates, will be posted first. Follow the link below to join the ORC server. Once you've entered the server, you will need to select the ORC programs or activities you are associated with to get access to the "channels", or chat groups, affiliated with your program.

Important Dates!

Be sure to stay up to date with all the events taking place!

2024 Events and Deadlines

July 23rd: Henley Send Off

2024 Regattas

July 20th to 21st: Row Ontario Championships (Welland)

July 28th: Canadian Henley Masters (St. Catharines)

July 30th to August 4th: Canadian Henley (St. Catharines)

September 8th: Head of the Madawaska (Burnstown)

September 29th: Head of the Rideau (Ottawa)

October 5th to 6th: Head of the Trent (Peterborough)

October 18th to 20th: Head of the Charles (Cambridge, MA, USA)

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