Ōamaru Rowing Club (est 1886)

Haere Mai/Welcome to the Ōamaru Rowing Club website.This site is designed to provide all the information necessary for parents, schools and rowers to participate in the smooth running of the Club. 

We are thrilled you are interested in learning more about this wonderful sport and hope to see you join us for the 8 week Learn to Row programme!

Attached is our training programme for this season.  As you can see, rowing is a sport that takes a good deal of commitment from the athletes as well as the support from families, but what our athletes learn about themselves and the personal growth they gain from their summer of rowing is quite incredible. We have a very special Club that we all love and are proud to welcome you to.

The ORC caters for a variety of programs:

• Learn to Row – Year 8 

• Learn to Row - (High School Pre-Season)

• School Rowers – Years 9-13

• School Leavers

• Masters

Each category of rower has its separate demands. The coaches will work together to ensure a consistency of training for all categories. Coaches will meet regularly to ensure a consistency of training which will see schools being mixed, core and fitness sessions which have been very popular and builds good club spirit. We have two experienced coaches who will give up their own time into training individual rowers and boats this season, which is much appreciated.

The club caters for a range of members competing in club competition up to national level, and others rowing for recreational pleasure and fitness. Local primary schools, Waitaki Girls High School, Waitaki Boys High School, and St Kevin’s College rowers are supported by the Oamaru Rowing Club structure for training, coaching and supervision at their local and National competitions, along with running a Learn to Row (Year 8) ‘Introduction to Rowing’ programme in blocks during the summer season. The schools are unable to provide this expertise but assist wherever possible and support their students on their rowing journey.  

The ORC rowing programme is focussed on our School Rowers and will be demanding and rigorous, in the same way as their college’s academic programme. We believe in creating a healthy balance so that each commitment enhances the other.The emphasis is on teaching the athletes how to train and preparing them mentally and physically for the rowing programme, as the season moves closer to large regattas the intensity increases over the weeks at the Club room gym and on the water at the harbour.  There will also be pre-planned trainings at Waihao Box and our Twizel venue on many weekends.

The true value in such a system teaches our rowers – Respect, Resilience, Integrity, Sportsmanship, Commitment and critical self-analysis, leadership, fitness and the importance of being part of a team all lead to producing an individual with a well-rounded disposition.

The Learn To Row programme will run for 8 weeks from Open day until the Aoraki 1000 regatta November 1st - 3rd.

The cost is $100 per rower for the 8 week programme and is deductible if you join the rowing club for the season.Some brief points to note to prepare for your first week or two of trainings:• Our afternoon training sessions during the week start at 4pm and run through to 6pm; Monday through Thursday.  • Fridays are a rest day with no training.• Sessions can either be in the gym or on the water rowing, depending on the weather and the tides, so sneakers plus jandals/crocs/slides and suitable clothing for water or gym need to be packed each day.  A warm long sleeve with no pockets to catch fingers in while rowing is ideal to have in your rowing bag!• Weekends are often spent at the Waihao Box – this is where we are guaranteed a long stretch of water and generally good, calm, conditions to allow for great on water sessions.  If we are not at the Waihao Box, we are in the harbour and the training times are determined by the tides but are generally just in the morning.  • You will need to bring food for every training session – something to eat before training, and something to eat after training on the way home.  Waihao Box days need a HUGE lunch and lots of snacks!  Nutrition for rowers is very important and will be talked about often.  You will always need a water bottle at trainings as well.Our senior rowers are keen and ready to support and encourage you as you start your rowing journey, and they will row with you for your first regatta at the end of your Learn to Row programme – the Aoraki regatta!  Please ask them questions, ask for help and advice – they were once Learn to Row athletes as well and they would love to pass on their knowledge and help you learn and succeed.We communicate during the season via the Messenger app, the rowers have a chat group together with their coaches, and we run a separate Parents chat as well.  Information is shared on both groups (unless relevant to only one group).  There will be lots of information shared with you as we move through the Learn to Row programme and leading up to the Aoraki Regatta, and please ask if you have any questions; there could well be lots of people wondering the same thing as you!  Remember that no question is a silly question – we have all been novice parents, or novice rowers once and we want to support you all on this very exciting journey you are taking!