Community Rowing

Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream …
Well, it’s obviously much easier sung than done. So, we decided to try a 90-​minute rowing class through CRI’s Living Social voucher.
And we rowed.
The rowing class was a great introduction to the sport. We started off with 10 minutes of basic instruction on the rowing machines indoors, with Dorian guiding us through the rowing procedure. Then, it was off to the barge.
The first time I came here I had Megan as the group instructor; the second time I had Sandy. Both were great at teaching beginners the timing, positioning, and terminology associated with your typical 8-​man rowing. Feathering and squaring my oar became second nature, while catching the water and finishing the stroke was dependent on my timing with the person in front of me.
By the 15-​minute mark, my group of beginners were on our way to rowing for 5 strokes, then 10, then a minute, and then for 2 minutes straight.
Now only if we had a big, burly drum master to improve our efficiency with a steady beat!
My only feedback for improvement? Speedier communication. I registered for my second visit a few weeks prior to the class and wanted to confirm my attendance. Almost two weeks later I received multiple responses from different CRI customer service folks confirming my registration, but only after I’d reached out to the main regatta site and left multiple messages on their landline.
Perhaps I’ll try sculling next …

I am reading the post by Katie B, declaring the facilities are clean and well maintained, and I am about to tell you my opposing view on that. Yes, the building is beautifully designed on the OUTSIDE, but it is not well maintained on the INSIDE. Bathrooms are dirty, the weight room Katie referred to, a mess. I bought Intro to Rowing and had to pay a facilities fee on top, and so far, I have only seen the weight room in any condition for me to use it ONCE. They toss all equipment in there to accommodate the space for private functions. Tried to use the practice oar on the dock, every time I’ve been there its been blocked by other boats. Place is so poorly managed. It is a disgrace to have people who can’t get things to function on the same level as the architectural design intent of the building. Wrote to the Director of Operations to raise my concerns, never even answered me. Katie F is right, communication is not the best. That said, forget the facilities and bring anti-​bacterial wipes to take care of yourself. The Instructor I had is great, I had Bode. Too bad this outstanding teacher doesn’t have the support he needs in the boathouse management to really shine.

I’m very sad that the communication through email was so bad that I never even got to come try out there rowing. I was trying to figure out how to get a lesson for me and my crossfit box (150 people), and if we could use the Living Social offer listed. I talked to one person at first who was helpful, then she transferred me to someone else. I had a lot of questions I had never done this before and felt their website not very helpful. It would take me at least 7 days to respond me to my emails. The third time after 10 days, I wrote back and told him to shove it. Too bad because they could have made a lot of $$ and get a big group of people who would probably go more. Very upsetting.

I just started rowing at CRI and I love every minute of it! I am on the Comp Women’s Masters Team and the coaching I am receiving from Matt & CT is incredible. I love the group of women that I am with 3x/​week.
As far as the boathouse goes, it’s beautiful. Everything is maintained so well and kept clean. All members have volunteer duties, and there’s a weight room.
If one can’t completely afford a program, CRI offers great financial aid.

I rowed and coxed at CRI. When I joined CRI, I very intimidated — a gorgeous boathouse, world class athletes, competitive programs etc. There are some amazing coaches here and the same goes for your teammates. I’ve done both of their programs — the competitive and non-​competitive sweeps programs and both are great. I was in AmeriCorps when I was rowing/​coxing for them and I applied for financial aid and got it! It was awesome. Walking through the boathouse, you will find rowers and coxies of all ages and races. This is a great place to learn to row, just row for fun or to compete. Lastly, great community of people here who are very dedicated to the sport of crew.

No big surprise… Boston has a HUGE crew community. As I never rowed in high school or college like so many who grew up here, I wanted to try it out after college. I called around to a few places, and found this to be the best for beginner instruction.
They have a beautiful boathouse, and a great community, as it’s a big club. The coaches are well-​seasoned vets in the sport, and very technical, which I appreciate. It’s great that they have tons of ergs as well, so you can get your form down when out of the boat as well.
Nothing beats a sunset row down the Charles when the boat is gliding!

This place is as good as it gets. Has to be the best in the country.
Fantastic new facility with striking architecture and exceptionally well equipeed — Must be 50 erg machines, separate workout room, showers, meeting rooms, and the rowing with 4 docks to launch from on probably the best spot on the probably the most gorgeous river in the country — plus superb coaches and staff — all for a bargain price that you could not match in any sport facility with half the resources. You can row singles, pairs, quads, or sweeps (8 to a boat). Get your workout while the ducks, geese, corcorants, herons and turtles give you the once over. How can you beat that?
11/​19/​2013 — Three years later. The place gets better every year. Clearly the best boat club in Boston. Probably the best on the planet.

I’M TOTALLY FROM BOSTON NOW! Yup. I row. I ROW! You know those people out on the Charles River that go to Harvard, or North Eastern or Boston University (because they’re from Boston and they’re cool) and they walk into those beautiful boat houses (because they’re from Boston and they’re cool) and they pull those killer boats along the placid water beside the steep banks of the Charles (because they’re from Boston and they’re cool)?
Now I do all of that at Community Rowing. I’m from Boston. I’m cool. I row.
Go join. Go learn.

Disclaimer: I used to teach/​coach at CRI so take my opinion for what its worth.
This is a fabulous community program where you don’t have to pay an arm and a leg to learn how to row (or just to get back into rowing if you’re out of practice). Summer camps are offered so you can get a more condensed learning experience, or you can just sign up to row a few times a week anytime between spring and October.
This is the best option if you don’t want to pay to join a boathouse (like you might have to with many other places on the Charles) and you can get back to rowing, or get into rowing in a very non-​pretentious and fun way. Its laid-​back and since equipment is expensive and the programs are not, so some of the oars/​boats are not brand new. Its a great place and I loved being part of the boathouse community.

Want to learn how to row on the scenic Charles River? CRI is the place to do it. You’ll have fun and meet lots of great people at the same time.