SQUADS
NOVICE
Novice Club Rowers
Caters to both Men and Women who want to get into rowing but have never raced before.
Novices competing in this group are generally aged between 17 and 34, with the main target of
becoming fit and confident in their rowing, and competing in the Novice bracket at NZ Club
Championships (NZCC) in February.
CLUB
Who are you
If you have rowed before, and are between 16-34, you most likely fit into one of the following
Club Squads: Junior, Intermediate, Club or Senior. These squads are based on your level of
experience, and will be your racing grade for regattas. Our Club rowers range from school
leavers to ex-olympians, and everyone in between.
Who are we
At Waikato Rowing Club, we deliver a holistic athlete program, that can be tailored to the
individual’s needs, whatever their rowing goals may be. WRC has an experienced coaching
team that is committed to the development of each member, both on and off the water.
We make great rowers, but we also make great people. WRC encourages social engagement,
fun and fitness - a major focus for the development of our intermediate and club grade
rowers. WRC also prides itself on facilitating competitive rowers looking to advance in
the sport. We offer an elite level programme for our senior rowers and look to work
alongside the Waikato RPC to provide our rowers with the best pathway forward to making
the RPC or NZ crews in the seasons ahead. This program attracts over-seas olympians and
national champions to come and join the WRC summer squad each season, all contributing
to the richness of our club culture and social environment.
What we do
We row 4-5 sessions per week, ranging from technical sessions to competitive pieces.
We hold 1 or 2 annual WRC camps, where our squads spend 2-3 days together training
intensively 3 sessions per day. We find these camps really gel crews together and create
real opportunities for accelerated improvement and team bonding.
Land based trainings at our “town shed” involve ergs (machine rowing), and strength and
conditioning with our own specialist trainer and targeted weights program.
We also partake in the occasional cross-training activity, such as Pilates, Box-fit and cycling.
Where we do it
We row at two unique locations - one is based in Hamilton, at our “town shed” on the Waikato
River, the other is our “lake shed” on Lake Karapiro, in Cambridge. See our Find out More
pages for specific locations. Where you row is dependent on your squad and your preference.
If you live or work locally, we can usually cater for you to row at the most convenient place.
However, generally Novice and Intermediate squads row in Hamilton, and Club and Senior
squads row at Karapiro. Everyone rows at Lake Karapiro on Saturdays, and most local regattas
will be held at Lake Karapiro during the weekends.
Land-based training is held at our “town shed”.
When we do it
Morning rows at both venues are from 5.45-7.30am (approx). We do allow flexibility for
workers with other commitments. Extra sessions, such as afternoon rows can be arranged if
appropriate. Afternoon land-based training is held at the “town shed” from 5.30-7.30pm on
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (generally). Our doors are open all year round, but the
official club season runs over summer, from October to the end of February.
Our major target regatta is the New Zealand Club Championships (NZCC), held in February
from the 13th-17th, 2018. We also participate in North Island Champs and several smaller
local regattas through-out the season.
How can you do it too
If this sounds like you, get in touch via our Contact Us page, or simply come down to one of
our land-based trainings at the “town shed” and check us out.
MASTERS
MASTERS CLUB ROWERS
Caters to long time rowers and novices who range from competitive to those who enjoy a
healthy social component. Masters are usually over the age of 27. Training and coaching comes
from within the group and is structured around what people within the group want to achieve.
Some train all year and those who are competitive target the NZ Masters Championships and
Legions Masters Regatta. Others train on a social basis when time permits.
INTERNATIONAL
INTERNATIONAL ROWERS
We have a history of hosting individuals or crews (including the Swiss Olympic Gold medalists
LwM4- prior to Rio) and currently have a two time Spanish Olympian with us. Internationals
who also have aspirational goals are welcomed to join our summer programme from October
through to February and compete for the club at NZCC alongside our Senior rowers, while
enjoying the famous Lake Karapiro water training alongside the Waikato RPC and NZ Summer
Squad crews.
