What is a club sport?
Club sports are not affiliated with the athletic department at Montgomery Blair High School or the Montgomery County Public School system. Blair Crew is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a volunteer Board of Directors which hires coaches and oversees the management of the club.
What do I wear to practice?
Blair Crew practices on the water after school and on Saturday mornings, in rowing shells, and on the land for conditioning workouts.
Bring a reusable water bottle. Blair Crew is helping lower the amount of plastic being used in the world by banning disposable water bottles.
Wear weather-appropriate clothing. We practice outside in all weather conditions except thunder and lightning, or temperature below 45 degrees.
Wear tight fitting shorts made of lycra spandex and a tight-fitting shirt. Loose clothing can get caught in the moving parts of the boat.
Where do we practice (land/water)?
Water practices are held at Bladensburg Waterfront Park:
4601 Annapolis Road
Bladensburg, MD 20710
Winter land workouts are held after school on weekdays at a gym near Montgomery Blair High School.
How do I get to the boathouse?
Blair Crew has water practice weekdays and Saturday. We rent a round-trip bus to transport athletes between Blair High School and the boathouse. Families carpool to Saturday water practice.
Do I have to try out?
There are no tryouts or cuts. It is Blair Crew’s goal that all our rowers fully participate in all the activities of the team.
Do I have to go to all the practices?
Yes. All water and land practices are mandatory. Blair Crew wants everyone to row, and it is very important for rowers to practice consistently in the same boat with the same group of rowers to build continuity and be in sync for regattas. We have lots of rowers and a limited number of seats in boats. Blair Crew uses the following criteria, in order of importance, to fill seats:
- Attendance
- Erg scores and run times
- Rowing technique
The first two criteria are objective and easily measured. Attendance is the most important. If we have two rowers for one position in the boat, coaches will fill the position with the rower who has come to the most practices. If there is a tie, the rower with the lowest erg score and run times will get the seat. The rower coming to the most practices usually has the best scores, as they are usually in better physical condition.
What is an erg?
An erg, or ergometer, is a rowing machine used to practice technique and improve fitness when rowing on the water is not available.
Blair Crew uses Concept 2 rowing machines.
How much does crew cost?
There are two independent racing seasons, fall and spring, and a winter conditioning program.
Dues for the fall season are $1,250 plus a commitment to fundraise. The spring season is similar. Winter conditioning is recommended for all who wish to row in the spring; the fee for winter conditioning is about $400.
Limited scholarships are available. Inquire at blaircrew@gmail.com.