Meet the Team: The Arctic Challenge 2025
In 2025, four extraordinary athletes will embark on a mission to row the Arctic Ocean, facing one of the harshest environments on the planet. The Arctic Challenge Team is made up of Hannah and John Huppi, Jimmy Graham, and Andrew Tropp—an adventurous group with shared goals to become the first mixed-gender team of 4 to row the Arctic Ocean, the fastest 4-person team to row the Arctic Ocean, and the first All-American team to row a polar ocean. As proud partners of the Arctic Challenge, we’re excited to introduce each member of this team and share their unique stories and motivations.
Team Spotlight: The Arctic Challenge 2025
Team JL Ambassadors, Hannah and John Huppi, along with their two teammates, Jimmy Graham and Andrew Tropp, will be taking on the challenge of rowing the Arctic Ocean in 2025. Along with aiming for multiple performenace goals, the team is on a mission to inspire young minds, and challenge the next generation to defy their limiting beliefs and chart their own course toward extraordinary achievements. The Arctic Challenge is also proud to support two non-profit organizations dedicated to supporting New Orleans youth. We sat down with the Arctic Challenge Team to learn more about the challenge, their goals, and what is motivating them.
Survivor Rowing Network Racing at HOCR 2024
The Survivor Rowing Network will be floating 11 boats this year at Head of the Charles, marking its second year racing at this prestigious event in Boston. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the inaugural Survivor Row at HOCR, we had the opportunity to speak with four of the athletes who will be racing in Boston this year. The Survivor Row will take place on Saturday, October 19th at 3:28pm.
Celebrating Mothers They Love: Saugatuck Survive-Oars
Rowers from the Saugatuck Survive-Oars have been instrumental in the development and growth of the Survivor Rowing Network. These three strong Saugatuck women have already won the hardest race of their lives, but took on rowing and found new confidence and friends for life. Their children have been some of their greatest supporters and cheer them on and off the water. We asked these survivors how rowing has impacted them, and how their children are celebrating them this Mother's Day.
Celebrate a Mother You Love: Barbara Sanchez-Salazar
Barbara is a loving mother of twin rowers and a powerful force in the Rowing Cares/Survivor Rowing Network organization. Her vision and dedication have been instrumental in the organization's success. Always one to put up her hand to take on a challenge, she motivates and inspires on and off the water. Both of Barbara's daughters, Isabel and Maria, have embraced service to the cancer and rowing communities, serving as Rowing Cares Brand Ambassadors and coaching survivor rowing programs.
Pride 2024 Pre-Order Store
We are so PROUD to be an LGBTQIA+ ally. Equality, Love, and Pride are the principles that JL is built on. Join us in showing your support for your teammates and your community with our performance pride collection made in collaboration with Team JL Ambassador, Michael Toutloff, for Pride Month. Pride Month is celebrated every June in tribute to those involved in the Stonewall Riots, and we welcome you to get ready to celebrate around the boathouse with us! Order your gear now, and wear it in June!
Survivor Rowing Network: Seats for Survivors Fundraiser
Survivor Rowing Network (SRN) is excited to introduce rowing to more cancer survivors in 2024 and build on its success in 2023, their inaugural year. In honor of Valentine’s Day, SRN is launching their fundraising campaign, Seats for Survivors. JL Racing is proud to open the Seats for Survivors Pre-Order Store this month to support SRN's fundraiser. 10% of net sales from this pre-order store will be donated to the Seats for Survivors fundraiser.
Stand With Ukraine Pre-Order Store
JL Racing is collaborating with Team JL Ambassador, Michael Toutloff, to launch a pre-order store to help support an organization that is providing aide to the Ukrainian people. 100% of the proceeds of this pre-order store will be donated to the UN Crisis Relief Fund. Donations from UN Crisis Relief go towards the United Nation’s efforts to fund immediate rapid-response aid when disasters strike and critical work in humanitarian crises around the world. In this case, the Ukraine crisis.
Women's History Month: 24 Hour Indoor Row
In honor of Women's History Month and International Women's Day (March 8th), we sat down with Team JL Ambassador, Rachel Smillie to ask her what she is doing to celebrate women in sport. Her answer? A Guinness World Record attempt on the indoor rowing machine to travel the furthest distance by a female team in 24 hours. Keep reading to learn about the details of a row like this, why she is taking on this challenge, and what Rachel hopes to accomplish by taking part in a 24 hour row
Nereid Boat Club: Freezing February Fundraiser
Nereid Boat Club is holding a fundraiser to help replace three boats that were destroyed by Hurricane Ida last Fall. The club has committed that for every $1 raised, athletes will row 10 meters on March 5th with their teammates. If they hit their team target goal, they will have rowed over 200,000 meters.
Team JL Ambassador Training To Row Across The Atlantic
On this National Girls and Women in Sports Day, we join in on recognizing student-athletes, champion athletes, coaches, administrators and lawmakers committed to providing equitable access to sports for all girls and women. We would like to highlight one of our Team JL ambassadors, Rachel Smillie, who is currently training to rowing across the Atlantic Ocean with two other women.
Rowers For Change 2021 - A STEM to Stern Fundraiser
The STEM to Stern program, which JL Racing proudly partners with, is holding a fundraiser that began September 15, and will run through the Head of the Charles Regatta. The Rowers For Change 2021 fundraiser will support the work that STEM to Stern is doing for kids across the United States so they are able to participate in youth rowing, STEM education and swimming.