When first coming to Winona State, you will be introduced to a new environment and meet new people. You will come across lots of clubs to join, but ours, in my opinion, is the best. We are not a drinking club, a sort of fraternity, or just a social club, we are a club that behaves and trains like a varsity one. We currently compete against varsity programs, and frequently do quite well. However, we do also fun in the process of all this hard work. We are fortunate to spend a good deal of time together becoming a better team, and in the process, friends.

During the fall, the schedule will a bit lighter. I would like to point out that we will not be training in the mornings. It is a common misconception that rowing is a morning only sport. During the school year we will be training in the afternoons and early evenings, depending on the season.  However, during the fall count on committing about 1-1.5 hours per day for rowing. During the beginning of the fall season practices will only last about an hour, with other assigned or team workouts that should be done outside of scheduled practice. We will offer two practices in the afternoon and will require that you make one of these according to your class schedule.

The time commitment during the winter will hold the same as it did in the fall. The team will train on average about 1.5 hours a day. During this time we will include fun activities as well. This will help lighten the winter mood that may set in. Winter training is a crucial part of the spring season, most of which will be done on machines, but will include weightlifting, running and other fun physical activities.

Spring season will be more time demanding than the fall, as well as more challenging. During this time the time commitment will increase to about 2-2.5 hours a day for training. The season is shorter, more intense but very exciting.

Many who are starting out this year will wonder how they will have time to study and if this will negatively affect their grades. I realize that many of you have come to WSU not intending to be a student-athlete and that is why we’re keeping the fall relatively light. This will allow you the opportunity to become used to your surroundings. Rowing will not negatively affect your grades unless you choose it to. Good grades come from good study habits. It is that simple. Cramming the night before an exam on a subject you have not looked at before is not a sound strategy for a successful college career. Rowing may actually help, as it brings structure to your day, which otherwise include class and doing nothing with your roommates. It offers a period of time in your day where your main focus is not class related.

Those who overload themselves with other extracurricular activities will find it challenging to row and keep up their grades. Rowing will take up your time, and as time goes on it, is encouraged to drop some of these activities if you wish to continue on after freshman year.

We will also be competing at regattas throughout the year. This will require traveling over the weekends. As said before, fall will be lighter in terms of time commitment but we will be traveling to at least two regattas in the fall season. We will have at least one trip to an indoor competition that will be held on rowing machines during the winter season.

Spring season will be more demanding in terms of traveling, as the entire rowing year is focused on the spring racing. Towards the end of the semester we will be participating in regattas almost every weekend and one regatta after the school year has ended. During spring break we will be taking a trip to more favorable rowing conditions. This week will be spent training twice a day. This may sound demanding, and it is, but this trip will bring a feel of team that you will not be felt as intensely during the previous part of the school year. I strongly encourage anyone who is going to row in the spring to place this trip on his or her calendar. Any team that hopes to be competitive will spend their spring break training. This will enable a team to jump start their on the water training before competitions begin.

I would like to point out that no experience is necessary. Most college rowers are walk-ons and have been in a sport before they came to college. This is an exciting opportunity to try a new sport that would not otherwise be available. Most of the people who do try out rowing have athletic backgrounds. Rowing is physically one of the most demanding sports there is, but also can be exhilarating and extremely competitive. When you come to row with us in the fall the main focus is to allow you the opportunity learn the sport and give you the opportunity to race.

One of the big questions that many ask is regarding membership dues. While we do receive some funding from the university the students must pay some expenses. For some of the bigger trips the student will be required to pay their share in order for the expenses to be paid. The club works hard at keeping costs down, but being competitive while operating on a low budget is challenging.

There will be informational meetings at the beginning of the year. The times will be posted on our website and I encourage you to attend one of these. This way you will be able to meet me and the other members of the team. Any questions that you may have are welcomed.

During the first couple practices things may seem to go a little slow, since we are going to have to cover a good deal of material before we can set you out on the water. This also gives us time learn who you are. The first two weeks will be sort of a trial period where many people will come and go, but after that time we will be a little more efficient. By this time you will have gotten used to your class schedule and begun to have made friends, some of who will be on the rowing team with you.

I would like to end by saying that the rowing club is about competition and fun. Those who join find it to be a rewarding experience. We will have activities outside of rowing, such as paintball, hiking to the bluffs, bowling, and other social activities that will help keep the mood light.

I encourage anyone who is interested in joining to come to one of the informational meetings or to contact me via e-mail at pahaddal2872@winona.edu.

Thanks,

Paal A. Haddal
Head Coach
WSU Rowing Club