Rowing is a full-mind-body workout. Between using legs, arms, shoulders and communicating while on the water, Concord Crew’s rowers make it look easy from the shore, but it takes lots of preparation to be fast.
Concord Crew’s Youth Women’s 8 boat knows a thing or two about speed. Led by coxswain Ella Brissette, rowers Julia Martel, Addy Twyon, Sawyer Spain, Chelsea Snow, Abby Melnick, Adah Fultz, Margaux Weatherhead and Rose DeFreitas put together a strong five-kilometer row on Saturday.
“It’s a whole world that so many people don’t know,” Weatherhead said.
It was the Crew’s first and only home scrimmage of the fall season, which drew rowers of all ages onto the Merrimack River to prepare for the upcoming regattas that run through the end of October.
They raced against the clock to beat their times alongside the Greater Lawrence Rowing and Maine Coast Rowing Association.
The crew put their boats in the water early in the morning and rowed until midday on a warm fall day. The smell of food from team tents wafted across the river as athletes enjoyed the calm waters and perfect rowing conditions.
One of the first Concord Crew boats was the Novice Girls 4. Rowers Kiera and Isla Ulrick, Anna Varley and Jocelyn Miller, and coxswain Anna Varley had a strong race.
All four of them were introduced to the sport by family members and plan to continue improving their skills.
“I’m really excited to like get to make a stronger connection with the people in my boat, and get the set work out,” Kiera Ulrick said. “Everything really worked out smooth.”
They just started rowing together this summer, Miller said, and she hopes they can get some wins as they continue competing.
The Youth Women’s 8 group raved about the community at Concord Crew. Many of them don’t go to school together, but they join forces as one on the boat.
“Doing it for your team first of all, because it’s really on you to carry everyone together,” Chelsea Snow said.
They also raved about the sourdough bread that Coach Steve Garside brings and the food the families cook for the team — rowing five kilometers can really build up an appetite.
Similarly, the Boys Novice 8 rowers said they found the crew a lot more approachable and easy to pick up than other sports.
“You get out on the water, you start rowing, you get tips every day,” said Quinn Moran. “There’s not much you have to know about it other than like a few little rules, it’s a pretty easy sport to pick up.”
For the next month, the rowers will travel around New England and compete in 5k races against other regional teams. The fall season is all about endurance and strategy, and the scrimmage was a big morale boost for the youth and novice boats, as many rowers said they performed better than expected.
During October, Concord Crew will continue to hold its middle school “Learn to Row” programs in an effort to grow the team.
The broader Concord Crew organization is open to rowers of all ages. Coaches, parents and friends of the team had their own “Master” category to test their endurance before their competitive season began.
