Frequently Asked Questions

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Below you will find frequently asked questions for Atomic Rowing as well as Adult and Youth Memberships with the Oak Ridge Rowing Association (ORRA).

FAQs → Atomic Rowing

How do Atomic Rowing and Oak Ridge Rowing Association relate to one another?
  • Oak Ridge Rowing Association (ORRA) is the host organization and venue for rowing events. 
  • Atomic Rowing is the name of the coached programs at ORRA.  
  • Learn to Row 
  • Private Lessons
  • Youth Juniors-Development
  • Youth Juniors-Varsity
  • Adult Masters-Development
  • Adult Masters-Performance

No rowing experience is necessary to become part of Youth or Adult Development coached programs

There are 3 rowing seasons:

  • Spring: 2000m head to head competitions (January-June). Spring is the Championship Season for Rowing.
  • Summer: Open Row & small boat training (June-August).  Summer is the Transition/Development season for Rowing.
  • Fall: 5k time trial style competitions (August-December).  Fall is the Preparation season for Rowing.

Youth JUNIORS: 

  • Varsity: Monday-Friday 4:15-6:16pm; Saturday 8:30-10:30am.
  • Development, FALL: Tuesday / Thursday 4:15-6:15pm;  Saturday 8:30-10:30am. SPRING: Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday 4:15-6:15pm;  Saturday 8:30-10:30am.
  • One Off: a once per week program for Development rowers.  FALL: Saturdays 8:30-10:30am.  SPRING: Tuesdays 4:15-6:15pm

Adult MASTERS:

  • All Masters: Tuesday / Thursday 6:30-8:30pm. 
  • Performance: Saturdays 11am-1pm 
  • Spandex Shorts, T-shirt and Cap (for sun protection)
  • Socks & Sneakers
  • Refillable Water Bottle
  • Wear layers in cold weather
  • Recommended: have an xtra dry t-shirt and socks
  • Recommended: have healthy snacks, especially when coming directly from school or work. 
  • Recommended: sunblock as needed
  • Rowers train in cold weather and rain, similar to runners.
  • In severe weather we train on land, in the boathouse.
  • When roads are unsafe, practice is cancelled.   
  • Cancellations are communicated via the teams established communication methods. 
  • GroupMe (juniors, parents and masters each have GroupMe chats)
  • CrewLab (juniors, parents and masters each have CrewLab “teams”)
  • Email (used for larger information communications)

COSTS:

  • Costs vary by season
  • Visit the Atomic Rowing tab on this website for information
  • Costs cover coaching, venue use and equipment use.
  • Additional costs are associated with competition and race uniforms

EXPECTATIONS:

  • Rowers in their 2nd + season become ORRA Members (Oak Ridge Rowing Association, Atomic Rowing’s host venue).
    Most members choose to keep costs low by volunteering at ORRA-hosted events (see Regattas Tab on this website).
  • You may elect to forego the volunteer experience for a higher fee.
  • For more information on ORRA memberships, visit the Members tab on this website.
  • Races are not included in regular program costs, since not all of our athletes may participate at certain events.
  • Travel costs including entry fees, hotel and transportation fees are divided evenly among those traveling and are billed after races.
  • Athletes must wear “like” attire during competition.
  • Uniforms may be purchased at the beginning of the season.
  • Athletes in their first season keep it simple by wearing same color t-shirts and black spandex shorts. 
  • Most races require that parents transport or carpool their athletes to and from the race venue.
  • Per USRowing rules, junior athletes under the age of 18 are not allowed to drive themselves to away races.
  • Group/team travel is planned for up to 2 events per year.
  • When the team travels as a group, parent/booster Chaperones and team leaders are present to monitor the safety and progress of the group.

Yes!

We do not want program or travel costs to prohibit the participation of any athlete.

  • Go to RegattaCentral.  Select “Programs and Classes” or “Private Lessons”
  • Beginners select youth Juniors Development, youth Juniors One Off, or adult Masters Development programs
  • Experienced Competitors select youth Junior-Varsity or adult Masters  Performance programs
  • Private Lessons can be taken by youths and adults; beginners and experienced.

For specific information please email our Athletics Director

Consider the “One Off” program!  This option is a once per week session for those who aren’t able to commit more time but still want to stay involved in rowing. 

  • Go to Regatta Central, click on “programs and classes”, find the youth  Juniors Development One Off option in our list of offerings.
  • For more information on future rowing opportunities, email our Athletics Director.

FAQs → Members → Adults

I am interested in learning more about rowing. Do I need to be a Member?

No membership required to learn to row. Please go to our Learn to Row section of this website for more information.

Yes. Adult memberships are structured to support both individuals as well as families, and there are easy categories for this. Just you? Join as a Category 1 member. Is there another adult family member that also wants to row? Add them as a Category 1B member.

  • Learn to Row sessions and Private Learn to Row Lessons do not require membership. 
  • Continued participation in our Development and Varsity/Performance coached programs require that you are a current member in good standing

For persons to compete as part of the Atomic program, they do need to be a Member in Good Standing. However, you do not have to explicitly participate in coached programs to compete. We have Members that compete nationally in the Masters classification without being in the Competitive program sessions.

  • To use our docks as a one time guest, please email mstinson@orra.org with your request, and consider offering a donation of any size to the club.  If you need equipment and/or boathouse access and/or temporary storage, email our Athletics Director with your request.
  • If you are an out of town rower who would like to visit our program and boathouse, please email our Athletics Director in advance and we can discuss how to involve you!
  • If you live outside the Oak Ridge area, the Non-local Rower Membership gives you the access & privileges of a regular Member at a substantial discount. Check out the Members section of this website.

In general, yes. 

  • Membership gives you access to facilities and equipment.
  • The exception to this occurs with our beginner rowers in our Coached Programs, wherein land training occurs during the January and February portion of our spring season. 
  • Registered participants, in their first season of rowing, are not required to be ORRA members. 
  • Regatta Central is a web-based portal we use to manage registration for Members, Programs and Camps.
  • We also host several regattas and all participating teams use Regatta Central to register for our events.
  • For ORRA Membership, go here.  
  • For Coached Programs and Private Lessons, go here.

Please send an email to info@orra.org and we’ll get right back to you!

FAQs → Members → Youth

I still have a question. Who can help me?

Please send an email to info@orra.org and we’ll get right back to you!