Races & Results

Race Schedule

Specific dates, costs and schedules will be posted on the News, Events & Announcements and Brochures & Forms webpages.

The SCRC races year-round. The races, by season, are listed below. Please note that:

• Several of the races require a rower to have qualified for the race.
• Other races have limited space, so your coaches will select who attends, based upon their stated interest, parents’ agreement, and their performance (Juniors: see Contract)
• Some races are for high school teams, others for clubs.

Fall: Head races, on rivers, without lanes and staggered starts

• October: Head of the Ohio, Pittsburgh (Juniors, Open, Novices, Masters)
• October: Head of the Charles, Boston (Juniors, Open, Masters)
• October: Head of the Schuylkill, Philadelphia (Juniors, Open, Masters)
• November: Occoquan Challenge, Northern Virginia (Juniors, Open, Novices, Masters)

Winter (indoor rowing races on ergometers)

• December: Row for Humanity, Pittsburgh
• January: Juvenile Diabetes Race for the Cure, Pittsburgh
• February: Pittsburgh Indoor Sprints
• February: C.R.A.S.H.- B. Sprints World Indoor Rowing Championship, Boston
• North Allegheny Erg Race

Spring: Races with marked courses, in heats with up to 8 boats rowing against each other

• May: Scholastic Sprints, Lake Arthur in Butler County (Juniors, Novices)
• May: Midwest Scholastic Championships, Cincinnati (Juniors, Novices)
• May: Midwest Youth Championships (Juniors)
• June: U.S. Rowing Youth Invitational (Juniors)
• June: U.S. Rowing Trials (Juniors, Open)

Summer: Races with marked courses, in heats with up to 8 boats rowing against each other

• July: Independence Day Regatta, Philadelphia (Juniors, Open, Masters)
• July: U.S. Rowing National Championship, New Jersey (Juniors, Open)
• August: Royal Canadian Henley Regatta, St. Catharines, Ontario (Juniors, Open, Masters)
• August: Junior World Championships (Juniors)
• August: U.S. Masters Nationals

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Race Descriptions

Head of the Ohio, Pittsburgh

The largest single day race in the country is located right here in Pittsburgh! Starting up in Millvale by Washingtons landing, the race follows to gentle bends of the Allegheny to finish right near to point. This is a great event ot start off your racing career at, with ample opportunities for novices to compete. We reccomend that all participate (After all, it's on home turf!) HOH Website

Head of the Charles, Boston

The Head of the Charles regatta in Boston is one of the largest races in the world. Teams in ages ranging from High School all the way up to Veteran compete on what is considered one of the most difficult courses to navigate. It is the largest and most competitive 2 day fall head race attracting ex-Olympians and National Team members from all over the world.HOCR Website

Head of the Schuykill, Philadelphia

Located in downtown Philidelphia, the Head of the Schuykill is a highly competive race. Starting a bit above St. Joe's boathouse and finishing down at the famous boathouse row, this race is a great opportunity for more experienced crews to test their abilities against some of Philidelphia's finest teams. Generally only the Competetive and High Performance groups compete, but Competetive Novices may race (at the discretion of the coaches). HOSR Website

Head of the Occoquan, Virginia

The Head of the Occoquan is located in Fairfax Virginia on the spectacularily beautiful Occoquan Reservior. This is the second race of the season that features novice events and is worth attending by all team members. ROWOBC Website
2009 Motel: Quality Inn, 1109 Horner Rd.  Woodbridge, VA 22191; Phone: 703-494-0300

Row for Humanity

Row for Humanity (R4H) is a national fundraiser between Habitat for Humanity and rowing teams across the USA. The SCRC holds its erg race at Pittsburgh Mills, and gold medals are awarded for each category. Twenty percent of what is raised benefits Habitat For Humanity. In past years, over $40,000 has been raised for Habitat. Locally, SCRC has raised over $1000 for Habitat and $4,000 for SCRC, that has been used to purchase equipment.

C.R.A.S.H.- B Sprints World Indoor Rowing Championship

This is considered a world championship event. The Pittsburgh Indoor Sprints is a qualifier for this event. If the qualifying time is achieved at the Pittsburgh Indoor Sprints, then CRASH-B offers free transportation to the event. Crash-B Website

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Race Information

Boat Lineups

The coaches work very hard to make sure to put-together winning boats. (When we say “boats” we mean the crew in the boat.) We weigh several factors:

• How hard rowers have worked and how consistently they have practiced
• Their attitude and respect for the team and their coaches
• Their performance—including proper technique, how hard they pull, and ability to blend and work with others.

In addition, we need to do some very complicated work in determining who can actually be available for a particular race. If you are rowing in a single at 9 a.m., will the quad you also want to race need to be at the starting line while you are still rowing in your single? And will we have the right combination of equipment (oars, boat) to even enter that race? Multiply that times two dozen individual races at one event and you can see how tricky it can be to make everyone happy.

This means that you are bound to be disappointed in your boat at least some of the time. This happens to everyone on every team. If it seems that you are consistently in boats that do not challenge you, speak with one of the coaches.

Travel

A few days before the race (when the coaches have compiled all of the pertinent information) look for a detailed e-mail from SCRC. It will specify travel arrangements, food arrangements, etc.

Parent volunteers coordinate travel arrangements to races. Most often, we go together in vans. Other times, parents car pool. We usually leave from Verona, but not always.

We typically leave early the morning before the first day of racing and return the evening of the last day of racing—but that varies by the race.

For SCRC rowers, the cost of travel is built-in to the “race fee” you will pay in addition to membership. For W.T. rowers, the school pays for transportation.

Clothing

Bring your racing clothes. This includes:

• SCRC or W.T. unisuit (SCRC sells these; W.T. provides these)
• SCRC or W.T. crew shirt (also called “J.L.s”)—SCRC sells these, W.T. provides these)
• Jacket (both SCRC and WT have these, for purchase)
• sweat pants and sweat shirt, like a hoodie (SCRC sells these)
• several changes of socks
• hat & gloves, if it is cold
• running shoes
• shoes to wear on the dock
• pogies, during cold weather (these cover your hands and fit over the oars)
• rain gear
• water bottle (not neoprene—the softer ones that won’t damage the boats)

Also bring:

• homework, which you can do between races
• a watch
• your race schedule—you are responsible for keeping an eye on the clock to get to the launch site on time, since the coaches are at the launch site, getting each crew ready to go

Food

Parent volunteers coordinate food. The cost of breakfast and lunch at the races is built-in to the race feel you will pay in addition to membership. W.T. rowers—check with the Athletic Director to see if this is included or if you need to chip-in for food.

Lodging

Some regattas require chaperoned, overnight stays at a motel, typically four rowers per room. Which brings up conduct: It is essential that every rower understand that they represent their family, their school, Steel City Rowing Club, and our region. Therefore, they must behave maturely. The rules of conduct for juniors are specified in the “Junior Contract” that each rower and his/her parent/guardian must sign. Among the key aspects of this agreement are that:

• Rowers will be in their rooms by curfew time
• No females in male rooms or vice versa—ever.
• If rowers violate these or other parts of the contract, their races will be cancelled and they will be sent home.

The cost of hotels is also part of the “race fee” connected with each race.

Typical Race Day & Week

• Two days before, we take the rigging off the boats, wash them, and load them onto a large trailer that we take to the race.
• Day before, meet at SCRC or other departure point to go together to race
• Park trailer, unload boats, rig them
• When possible, row the course the day before
• Day of the race: arrive at race site at early in the a.m. for meeting with race officials, who will go over rules (can be as early as 6 a.m.)
• Weigh-in at a weigh-in tent, for lightweight rowers and coxswains??
• Go to launch site with your crew
• Check rigging, etc.
• Boat is checked-over by race officials. Please plan time to check your equipment for safety items before the race.
• Row to starting line
• Race to finish line
• Row boat back to launch site for other rowers to use

Responsibilities

• Know when you race and be at the launch site on time, ready to race
• Help your crew with whatever they need—which can include running to get an extra oar, etc.
• Be respectful of race officials at all times

Racing Rules

Each race has different rules. Rules are listed per race on Regatta Central.

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