About
The Novice squad is a competitive team for high schoolers who have not previously competed in a rowing regatta. This includes those who are new to the sport of rowing or have rowed in our modified or learn-to-row programs. We do not require prior experience, but have found that at least one session of Learn-to-Row or Modified is helpful. We will teach new rowers at the beginning of each season.
The club is not affiliated with any school district and rowers come from a range of area-schools (including home-schooled students). Rowers have come from as far away as Corning, Elmira, Watkins Glen, and Whitney Point. Novices mainly row in sweep boats (one oar per person), rowing mostly in four- and eight-person boats.
The team is open to anyone who is able to commit to the practice and race schedule. We do not make "cuts." However, due to limited seats in the boats, not every rower is guaranteed to race. Novices race at ~3 three weekend regattas per season.
Fall and Spring Rowing
In the fall, novice teams row sweep boats (one oar per person), with rowers assigned to four- and eight-person boats.
Practice times: during the Fall and Spring seasons, the team practices on weekday afternoons at the Boathouse. See Schedule and Fees for more info.
Regattas: Fall races are head races ranging from 2-4 km, in which boats have staggered starts and the fastest start-to-finish time wins, similar to the start of a large marathon. Past fall regattas have included: Head of the Fish, Row for the Cure, and Head of the Gennesee.
Spring regattas are 1.5 km sprints, in which two or more boats compete head-to-head with simultaneous starts, similar to a swim meet. Typical spring regattas include: CBC-hosted Icebreaker Regatta, Section III Championship Regatta, New York State Championship Regatta, and Pittsford Regatta.
Winter Conditioning
During the winter, training sessions focus on building strength and fitness during the “off” season. Practices include aerobic workouts, strength training, erging, and stretching. Practices are in the evenings at various indoor locations in the Ithaca area.
Summer
The scholastic recreational program is a good next step for someone who has done modified or novice, but is not quite ready to jump into the competitive program, or commit to the entire summer session. The summer recreational program is organized into two-week blocks, allowing flexibility for vacations, camps, etc. The program provides a mix of sculling (two oars per person) and sweep rowing (four- and eight-person boats).
Time Commitments
Rowers on the novice squad are encouraged to make a strong commitment to attend all practices and races. The effort pays off, with rowers continually challenging themselves to improve their overall fitness and set personal records in erg times. It also pays off in the confidence rowers develop as they gain technical mastery of the sport. And, finally, the commitment to rowing pays off in the camaraderie that grows as the rowers learn to coordinate their strokes into a single, fast, and powerful rhythm.
Novice rowers are encouraged to make the commitment to participate in CBC fundraising activities throughout the year. In the fall, rowers volunteer their time raking leaves and performing other chores for the Rent-a-Rower fundraiser. The end of spring Row for Humanity event raises money for Habitat for Humanity and CBC. These funds support equipment purchases and scholarships to defray registration fees. Other social events that help build team spirit include Stewart Park clean up day, regular team dinners and an end-of-season banquet.
A note on practices...
All spring, summer, and fall practices meet at the Cascadilla Boathouse in Stewart Park. Weather permitting, practices are held on the Cayuga inlet, the Fall Creek Inlet, and Cayuga Lake. Typically, boats go out in most weather except when there is a strong north wind or thunder. I f the weather does not allow rowing, practices are held on-land and include aerobic workouts, strength training, erging, and stretching.
The club is not affiliated with any school district and rowers come from a range of area-schools (including home-schooled students). Rowers have come from as far away as Corning, Elmira, Watkins Glen, and Whitney Point. Novices mainly row in sweep boats (one oar per person), rowing mostly in four- and eight-person boats.
The team is open to anyone who is able to commit to the practice and race schedule. We do not make "cuts." However, due to limited seats in the boats, not every rower is guaranteed to race. Novices race at ~3 three weekend regattas per season.
Fall and Spring Rowing
In the fall, novice teams row sweep boats (one oar per person), with rowers assigned to four- and eight-person boats.
Practice times: during the Fall and Spring seasons, the team practices on weekday afternoons at the Boathouse. See Schedule and Fees for more info.
Regattas: Fall races are head races ranging from 2-4 km, in which boats have staggered starts and the fastest start-to-finish time wins, similar to the start of a large marathon. Past fall regattas have included: Head of the Fish, Row for the Cure, and Head of the Gennesee.
Spring regattas are 1.5 km sprints, in which two or more boats compete head-to-head with simultaneous starts, similar to a swim meet. Typical spring regattas include: CBC-hosted Icebreaker Regatta, Section III Championship Regatta, New York State Championship Regatta, and Pittsford Regatta.
Winter Conditioning
During the winter, training sessions focus on building strength and fitness during the “off” season. Practices include aerobic workouts, strength training, erging, and stretching. Practices are in the evenings at various indoor locations in the Ithaca area.
Summer
The scholastic recreational program is a good next step for someone who has done modified or novice, but is not quite ready to jump into the competitive program, or commit to the entire summer session. The summer recreational program is organized into two-week blocks, allowing flexibility for vacations, camps, etc. The program provides a mix of sculling (two oars per person) and sweep rowing (four- and eight-person boats).
Time Commitments
Rowers on the novice squad are encouraged to make a strong commitment to attend all practices and races. The effort pays off, with rowers continually challenging themselves to improve their overall fitness and set personal records in erg times. It also pays off in the confidence rowers develop as they gain technical mastery of the sport. And, finally, the commitment to rowing pays off in the camaraderie that grows as the rowers learn to coordinate their strokes into a single, fast, and powerful rhythm.
Novice rowers are encouraged to make the commitment to participate in CBC fundraising activities throughout the year. In the fall, rowers volunteer their time raking leaves and performing other chores for the Rent-a-Rower fundraiser. The end of spring Row for Humanity event raises money for Habitat for Humanity and CBC. These funds support equipment purchases and scholarships to defray registration fees. Other social events that help build team spirit include Stewart Park clean up day, regular team dinners and an end-of-season banquet.
A note on practices...
All spring, summer, and fall practices meet at the Cascadilla Boathouse in Stewart Park. Weather permitting, practices are held on the Cayuga inlet, the Fall Creek Inlet, and Cayuga Lake. Typically, boats go out in most weather except when there is a strong north wind or thunder. I f the weather does not allow rowing, practices are held on-land and include aerobic workouts, strength training, erging, and stretching.
