Rowers gracefully glide through water
Through the water, rowers splash their oars to guide themselves across the surface, but not forward. Rowing is a unique sport, with rowers sitting in boats, propelling themselves backward to their destination.
The Channel Islands Rowing Club is a local rowing group in Oxnard, California. It was founded in 2018 by a group of parents, and the club offers two teams for student rowers: the novice team and the varsity team. The difference in the teams is based on skill and experience with rowing. Varsity rowers are also allowed to travel to Club Regattas and USRowing-sanctioned events.
Miera Stouch, junior, is a rower on the varsity rowing team who was first introduced to the sport by a friend. “I really enjoy the feel of the water as I push my oars through it and the camaraderie,” Stouch said.
At the rowing club, novice rowers row part-time, while varsity rowers practice full-time. “[Rowing] is a big-time commitment. If you are a varsity rower full-time, it is about eight to 10 hours a week,” Stouch said.
Charlie Bronson, sophomore, another varsity rower on the team, has been rowing for two years. For an average week of training, the full-time rowers show up to the Channel Islands Harbor five days a week. “[An average day of training] for me is usually two hours of practice, and then a 30-minute run when I get home,” Bronson said.
Rowing is not an individual sport, so teamwork is essential to the success of every member on the team. Varsity rower Luka Gravely, sophomore, enjoys rowing’s camaraderie and healthiness and has been rowing for almost two years. “[Rowing] is a really good sport to stay healthy and fit and also just to have fun experiences with friends,” Gravely said.
Gravely feels that rowing has had a big impact on his life. “[Rowing] kept me dedicated for a lot of things and kept me focused and not to space off in school,” Gravely said. Stouch and many others encourage students to join rowing as a fun, relatively low-impact sport. “It takes a lot of grit and you really have to lock in, but once you are committed, it is really a good time,” Stouch said.
The Channel Islands Rowing Club helps many students get exercise through rowing and land workouts. It takes effort and dedication, but it is an enjoyable sport for many. Rowing promotes camaraderie and teamwork is critical to the overall team’s success. “[Rowing] has a huge impact on my life. It has taught me to be disciplined. It has taught me to push through hard struggles in and outside of the boat, and it’s taught me a lot about leadership,” Stouch said.
