While these prices seem extraordinarily high, these must be multiplied by your team size in order to outfit your entire squad for practice and regattas. Furthermore, because debris is common on lakes, rivers, and reservoirs; you must buy spare parts and insure all of these items. 



Teams that wish to be competitive must also buy motorized boats, so that their  coaches can ride along next to their squads, and trailers, to transport their equipment to and from competitions.



With these high fixed costs, it is no wonder that many elite members of the sport were educated at a private school. In fact, on the current British National Team roster,  1/3 of the team members attended private school. However, only 7% of the country's children are privately educated (​http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/07/31/olympics-2012-is-rowing-still-elitist_n_1722551.html#slide=more241873) . Even with this discrepancy, the shift is moving the inclusion of the sport from private universities to public; and even from the collegiate level has trickled down into a growing number of competitive high school and club teams. As this trend continues, there are more highschool students eligible and wishing to incorporate the sport into their collegiate experience.  I myself am among this group. Although an injury ended my career here at Duke, rowing was something I wasn't able to give up after senior year of high school. Historically in the United States, Ivy League crews had dominated the sport;  however, now the University of Washington and Wisconsin are top contenders for Men's Rowing and the University of Virginia and University of Southern California are consistently recruiting and training strong teams.



​

What was the catalyst for this growing trend of inclusion in public institutions? Title IX was certainly a component for the growth at the women's collegiate level.



 "In 1981-82, when the NCAA began tracking sports sponsorship at member

schools, there were just 43 that offered women’s rowing, with 28 of those in

Division I. That total more than doubled by the time the NCAA made it a

championship sport. Today, 142 NCAA members sponsor it – 85 in Division I, 17

in Division II and 40 in Division III". (http://www.ncaa.com/news/rowing/article/2012-05-23/rowing-increases-popularity)



Title IX was only one of many factors to the sport's growth. For women, it supported existing clubs and also provided the funding needed to get club teams not only to the varsity level, but with adequate funding to be competitive. I think though, the advent of Learn2Row programs is what rejuvenated interest and made experiencing the sport an accessible reality. 



Learn2Row programs are offered at most boathouses and allow people of any age, background, skill level, and socioeconomic status and connect with others based on availability and desired intensity. No prior experience is necessary, only the ability to swim (for insurance liability purposes). For a fraction of the real cost, you can use the club's equipment. Whether you opt to go for a "long and low" workout or a shorter, faster stroke rate. The rowing experience is both mentally and physically challenging--however, the sense of accomplishment when you overcome is second to none. Learn2Row programs allow people of all means and athleticism to experience this joy. 

​

​