Before man conquered his fear of water, he amused himself with dust sports such as pushing boulders off cliffs, wrestling tumbleweeds, and falling in the dust. Tackle another element with today's Groupon: for $60, you get a three-week Learn to Row program at Kingston Rowing Club (a $150 value). The programs run from June 7 through June 23 and June 28 through July 14.
Kingston Rowing Club, a nonprofit organization run by volunteers, navigates rowers through three weeks of biweekly classes acquainting students with boat safety, equipment, and the fundamentals of rowing. After a boathouse tour and useful safety video, expert instructors teach pupils about rowing equipment, terminology, and proper fish-stick preparation. Boats rest atop the shoulders of student teams as they trek to the waterfront, where aspiring paddlers practice getting in and out of the dock before learning proper stroke technique to glide across the water, their oars moving in sync with those of their team members. The sport provides a full-body workout and imparts valuable lessons in teamwork and how to navigate rivers of Jell-O. After completion of the three-week Learn to Row course, recent graduates can sign up for recreational rowing or join one of Kingston Rowing Club’s competitive teams to race in regattas.
Kingston Rowing Club
Kingston Rowing Club was founded as a not-for-profit organization in 1978, and operates on the efforts of its volunteer staff. This impassioned group of rowers trains teams for and participates in many regattas each year, and has produced multiple members of the Canadian national rowing team.
Kingston Rowing Club’s coxswains shout orders and spout encouragement to their water-slicing teams of adult and junior rowers. Participants in both recreational and competitive programs row their shells across Inner Harbour, and the club’s prerequisite for either program is the Learn to Row class, which introduces novices to the sport of crew.