Wahoo Rowing Camp for Boys

We are glad to announce our camp dates for this Summer ’24:

Week 1: Sunday, June 23 to Friday, June 28 (6 days) Camp full

Week 2: Sunday, June 30 to Thursday, July 4 (5 days) Camp full

Week 3: Sunday, July 7 to Friday, July 12 (6 days) Camp full

2024 camp fee will be $1,250 per camper (all inclusive, same fee for all weeks, unchanged from last year!).

Camp week starts with drop-off at the Blue Ridge School between 1pm and 1:30pm  (Sunday). At the end of the week, pick-up will be at the Boathouse at 11am on the last day (Friday). Exception is Week 2 where Pick up will be on Thursday (July 4) at 11am.

For any questions please email Camp Director, Frank Biller at summercamp@virginiarowing.org

 

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OVERVIEW

Our approach to teaching the athletes is unique among summer rowing camps.

We make no attempt to duplicate a typical high school (or college) training regimen. Instead we spend camp time delving into the minutiae of effective training in a way that most high school programs simply cannot, due to time and other constraints.

Every athlete will learn the differences between:

• 1. Rowing a seat in a shell versus becoming a true boat mover
  2. Being a participant at team practices versus becoming a true athlete who is deeply invested in his physiological, technical, and mental progress

“Our son got a tremendous amount out of the camp, and I can’t thank you and the rest of the staff enough. He is passionate about rowing, and I’m sure it’s the best thing that has happened to him.”

-Parent of a Camper 

SPECIFICS

• Camp size is limited to roughly 20 athletes in order to ensure a good athlete-to-coach ratio and to provide as individualized a program as possible.
• Each athlete’s development is equally important to the coaches, regardless of the camper’s age, size, current abilities, or potential.
• Each athlete will row both sweep and sculling shells, often get the chance to choose the actual boat they’ll row at each practice.
• Land-based, age-appropriate mobility and strength training. We’ll identify—and begin correcting—common muscular problems such as reciprocal inhibition, synergistic dominance, and asymmetry. The training will improve proprioception, balance, and muscular symmetry.
• Athletes will learn ways to approach their training intentionally and mindfully to get the best out of their mental performance, as well as how to process racing/training experiences effectively.
• We’ll significantly improve ergometer technique in order to reap the most benefits from land workouts.
• Athletes will learn the basic biomechanics of rowing and the physics of the rowing shell
• Campers will have the opportunity to really take time to learn skills, to appreciate oarsmanship as well as to see their sport from a different angle.

“I recently practiced with my coach back home, and my stroke is greatly improved in his eyes. I had a great time practicing with you, and I look forward to keeping in touch throughout the rest of my high school career, and into college.”

—Recent Camper

Camps are held at the home of Virginia Rowing. Address is 276 Woodlands Rd, Charlottesville, VA  22901.

“The Wahoo Rowing Camp at UVA is the perfect environment for our rowers to improve their sculling and sweeping skills, and to grow as oarsmen.  Over 90% of the rowers we’ve sent have gone on to row in our varsity crews. WRC is the first sculling/sweeping camp we recommend when a parent or oarsman asks about getting significant development during the summer.”

—Jim Glavin
Head Coach
St. Joseph’s Prep Rowing

COACHES

Wahoo Rowing Camp is coached by the Virginia Men’s Rowing Staff.

COST

Camp fee per week is $1,250 and includes coaching, housing, meals, transportation, and dorm supervision. A $250 deposit will be required by March to secure spot.

 

HOUSING & MEALS

Our home base is the Blue Ridge School located just outside of Charlottesville at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Shenandoah National Park. Their picturesque campus provides us with top notch accommodations and dining facilities.

Campers will be sharing dorm-style rooms with round-the-clock supervision from camp counselors. We can accommodate rooming requests as well as any dietary restrictions; please just let us know!

“My son felt that you made his rowing make sense, and he improved dramatically after his week with you. He even shared pointers and tips that he learned from you with his coaches—and they implemented them!”

– Parent of a camper

TRANSPORTATION

Wahoo Rowing Camp can provide transportation to and from the Charlottesville Airport, train station, or bus station. We provide all transportation during camp to and from the boathouse for each practice (certified Blue Ridge School staff drivers).

 

“My son loved the Wahoo summer camp! He never truly understood all the mechanics of how he was being told to row back home. He spent the entire 3 hr. drive home after WRC explaining everything to me—which muscles were most important, why and when you engage certain [muscle groups], how a rower prepares mentally to row, etc.  

 

He also appreciated that the coaches clearly were interested in helping every kid get better—not in cherry picking the best rowers for special attention. And I found you all really personable and easy to work with, answering questions quickly when we registered. We’ll be back for sure.” -Parent of a Camper

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS?

Please contact us at summercamp@virginiarowing.org. Thanks!