Stylish Start: Rowers’ Must-Haves for the New Semester
Fall season is nearly upon us! It’s an exciting period of reuniting with teammates, making new friends and lots and lots of meters. As you add the “student” back into life as a student-athlete, preparation is vital. Whether you’re beginning a new journey or planning to make the most of your senior year, starting the season with the right gear is one way you can set yourself up for success.
Steering Toward Success: Coxswain’s Fall Season Essentials
Head race season is just around the corner! As coxswains swap side-by-side strategy and start sequences for course maps, 5k plans and perfecting their best “YIELD!”, now is the perfect time to open up those dry bags and double check that you have everything you need to be successful this fall.
Celebrating Pride Month: Chicago Rowing Union
The Chicago Rowing Union was founded in 2005 by a group of 12 gay men, who wanted to compete at the 2006 Gay Games, being held in Chicago. Since then, the team has expanded to roughly 60 rowers from diverse backgrounds. CRU offers learn to row, novice and competitive programs that compete across the US. One of their annual traditions is to hold a Pride Row in June where novice rowers and competitive athletes row together and then relax and bond during an all-team cookout.
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.
JL Racing Partners with Fulham Reach Boat Club
JL Racing has proudly announced a strategic partnership with Fulham Reach Boat Club. This collaboration aims to broaden access to rowing within their communities, particularly among those facing financial or social challenges, fostering their growth both on and off the water. Bringing together two prominent rowing organizations from the United States and the United Kingdom, this partnership seeks to enhance the rowing community on a broader scale. By reaching out to underserved communities, establishing connections within the rowing industry, and providing unique exposure opportunities, both parties aim to expand their impact.
Celebrate a Mother You Love: The Behrens Family
A powerful bond between mother and son brings us to share their story in celebration of Mother’s Day. We met the Behrens family from New Jersey a few years ago when Brendan participated in the Rowing Cares Pink Boathouse Challenge in honor of his mother, Krisi. He was Celebrating A Mother He Loves. Both Krisi and Brendan are committed to helping those who are fighting. In honor of Mother’s Day, Rowing Cares and JL Racing asked them to share a bit of themselves and their incredible journey.
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!
Regatta Packing List Essentials
Prepping for a regatta isn't just about the physical training and mental prep, but also ensuring you have the right tools for success on race day. The last thing you want to realize on race day is that you've forgotten to pack your favorite sunglasses, your team's unisuit, or your lucky warmup shirt. Below, you'll find a list of important items to remember to pack, whether you're going traveling to your own lake or across the country.
Brick City Rowing Gala: CRC Mike Teti Rowing Experience
Brick City Rowing will be hosting their Annual Gala on March 8, 2024. The event will include dinner, presentations, dancing, special performances, honorees, and will feature Coach Mike Teti as the special guest speaker. The gala will celebrate athletes and their excellence on and off the water. There will be a silent auction during the gala, which includes the CRC Mike Teti Rowing Experience.
A Lasting Legacy: The Journey of Women in Rowing
Each year, at least once, I watch NINE. The story doesn’t get old. The women who stood tall in the face of exclusion; those brave and powerful women paved the way for the rest of us. While they may not have set out to leave a legacy, they have done so. For that, I am forever grateful.
Black Kids Go Fast by Joshua Rafferty
Last summer, I had the privilege of attending the Black Student-Athlete Summit in Los Angeles, CA. At the conference, there were over 500 varsity student-athletes across all NCAA divisions. I had the honor of meeting the most talented, hard-working, smart, and kind people with whom I have ever interacted. As I met track runner after track runner, I began to wonder where the rowers were. Joshua Rafferty interviews Black athletes and coaches on their rowing journey, poses the question "How can we get more Black kids in college boats?" and discusses ways that we can diversify our sport at the higher levels.
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.