We want to help you get the most out of your rowing experience! Whether you’re new to rowing or want to improve your technique and squeeze out every ounce of speed possible, we can help.
Traverse City Tritons Rowing offers private rowing lessons, personal training plans and remote coaching.
On-water private rowing lessons are offered to both individuals or small groups of up to 4. Individuals will go out in singles. Groups of 2 can take 2 singles or 1 double. Groups of 4 will go out in a quad.
Private lessons are 2 hours with about 90-minutes of water time and a video review at the end of each session with areas the athlete should focus on prior to the next lesson.
We start with a block of 5 private lessons. Individual sessions can be added once the initial block has been completed.
Athletes will have a phone call with their assigned coach to discuss their rowing experience and goals, outline the training plan based on those goals and schedule the 5 lessons.
Your coach will observe your rowing making sure the boat is properly set up for you and will be looking for balance, oar grip, body positioning and general sculling technique. Drills will be performed on the water to help correct issues they find.
The primary focus of this lesson is the catch and drive. Proper connection at the catch and proper application of power on the drive create confidence in small boats and resolve many of the common issues scullers face.
The primary focus of this lesson is connection at the finish, a clean tap out and the recovery. Perfecting these aspects of the stroke allows power produced on the drive to translate into run and speed in the boat.
The topics and focus of these lessons will be determined by what the coach has seen in the previous lessons and the goals the athlete stated in the kickoff call.
Common topics for those looking to gain confidence in the boat include: basic balance drills, steering and continued work on technique and connection.
Common topics for those interested in competition include: advanced balance drills, racing starts and on-water pieces to help the athlete continue building speed.
Athletes must be registered with USRowing, affiliated with Traverse City Tritons Rowing and have a current USRowing electronic waiver. USRowing registration must be renewed each calendar year.
See the Registration Checklist in our Handbook for information on registering with USRowing.
Show up for your lesson a few minutes early and be prepared to move quickly to maximize your water time.
Coaches may have other lessons (or a personal life!) after yours and will not be able to run over if you arrive late.
Private rowing lessons are offered in 5-lesson blocks. Individual sessions may be added after the 5 lessons have been completed.
Private lesson in a single: $50/session – $250 total
Semi-private lesson with 2 people in singles or a double: $70/session ($35/person/session) – $350 total
Small group lesson with 4 people in a quad: $100/session ($25/person/session) – $500 total
For self-motivated athletes who what to take their rowing to the next level, individualized training plans provide dramatic improvement in a short period of time.
Athletes will have a phone call with their coach to discuss where they are with their rowing, the volume they typically do and their goals. If necessary, coaches will help set appropriate goals based on the conversation.
Next, your coach will put together a training plan that includes running, strength training and erging or on-water rowing if you have access to a single.
Depending on where you are in relation to your goals, your training plan will either be 4 or 8 weeks long and will have workouts for you to complete AND submit to your coach 5 days per week.
Your coach will schedule a weekly, 15-minute check-in call to review your progress and discuss any challenges you’re having.
Athletes will need access to a Concept2 rowing machine with PM5 monitor or have the ability to provide GPS data from on-water workouts.
Athletes will need to have a chest or wrist worn heart rate monitor. One of the Garmin chest worn monitors or an Apple/Android watch works great.
Athletes will need access to a treadmill or a place to run outside where they can do a 5-10 minute warmup run.
4-week training plan: $100
8-week training plan: $150
With remote coaching, athletes provide video of themselves on an erg or rowing in a single. Our coaches will review that video and provide a voice over with annotations, key focuses, and drills for the athlete to work on.
Purchase the remote coaching session from our online store.
If there is a specific focus you want a coach to look for please indicate that in the notes at checkout.
A Google Drive link will be provided for you to upload your video and is where you will receive the completed video review.
The video must be taken perpendicular to the athlete, with the rower in roughly centered in the frame and with the athlete and oar (if on the water) in full view at all times.
Once your video review is complete, your coach will reach out to let you know it’s available and to schedule a 15-minute phone call to discuss any questions you might have. Be sure to watch the review and have a list of questions ready for your scheduled call.
Video reviews are typically returned within 72 hours.
You then spend the next week practicing and provide a second video for our coaches to review your progress and provide final thoughts.
$35/session