Learn to Row

For those new to the sport, our Learn to Row courses provide a structured introduction to rowing. Participants learn the fundamentals of rowing through a combination of land-based and on-water training, including rowing technique, boat handling, and water safety. Many people continue rowing because of the fitness benefits, personal achievements, and strong friendships they develop along the way.

Why Give Rowing a Go

Rowing is more than just a sport — it’s an opportunity to challenge yourself, develop new skills, and become part of a supportive team. Training builds fitness, strength, endurance, confidence, and resilience, while working together in a crew teaches trust, communication, and teamwork.

Rowing also develops valuable skills that extend beyond the water, including goal setting, time management, discipline, commitment, and the ability to work towards shared goals. Along the way, rowers build strong friendships, a sense of belonging, and the confidence that comes from seeing their hard work pay off. Whether you’re aiming for competition or simply looking for a new challenge, rowing offers an experience that can stay with you well beyond your time at school.

Could Rowing Be for You

While the course is aimed at Year 9-10, we welcome all secondary school students to enrol, who are enthusiastic, willing to learn, work as part of a team, and challenge themselves. Rowing is an endurance sport that develops strength, fitness, discipline, technique, teamwork, and commitment. We are also looking for coxswains from all year levels. Ideally, coxswains are under 50kg, confident, competitive, motivating, and not afraid to make themselves heard! When there is demand we may organise a course for adults, usually during summer after New Years.

Our learn to row course

In the second half of Term 3, is when we offer our dedicated Secondary School ‘Learn to Row’ course for students. We will advertise specific dates when our volunteer coaches have locked in their availability. This four-week course includes two evening training sessions during the week and one weekend morning sessions each week, (sometimes two if weather is looking good) providing a more intensive introduction to competitive rowing. Rowing is a team sport, so regular attendance is important, to help you and your crew progress together. Please advise in advance if there are some sessions you are unable to attend.  Our boathouse is located at 2 Onepoto Rd, Titahi Bay, Porirua.

WHAT should you EXPECT

The course offers a combination of land-based and on-water training, and is designed to prepare new rowers for the upcoming season, providing a solid foundation and an opportunity to become part of our club community before training and competition begin. No previous rowing experience is required – just a willingness to learn and have fun on the water.

We highly recommend participants who are wanting to continue their development and join the club, to build friendships within the squad in preparation for the upcoming season.

What You’ll Learn

Our experienced coaching team will introduce you to the fundamentals of rowing, including:

• Safe handling of rowing equipment
• Basic rowing technique
• Working together as a crew
• Building confidence on the water

Rowing is a technical and demanding sport, and even elite athletes are always working on improving their technique. Four weeks won’t make you an expert, but it’s more than enough to get you started and discover whether rowing is for you.

What to Bring to Each Session

• Fitted activewear (e.g. yoga pants, shorts, base layers)

• T-shirt and long-sleeve top

• Jacket or windbreaker

• Beanie or sun hat

• Socks (to wear in the boat)

• Crocs or water shoes (essential)

• Running shoes

• Towel & change of clothes

• Refillable water bottle

Register your Interest or enrol

If you are interested in learning to row, please register your interest and when we have dates sets for our courses, we will let you know. Or go ahead and enrol if enrollments are open. Occassionally if there is demand, we may run an adults only course early in the New Year.

What next, after the course

If you are interested in continuing to row, we would invite you to join as a member and join our novice squad. If participants continue rowing after the Learn to Row programme a portion of their LTR fees paid will be credited to their payable subscription.

NOVICE SQUAD

The Porirua Rowing Club Novice Squad is the next step for rowers who have completed Learn to ROW and are ready to continue developing their rowing skills and experience. At PRC there is no selection process or limit on squad numbers. If you enjoy rowing, want to continue developing your skills, then the Novice Squad is for you.

The Novice Squad is open to new rowers who are ready to progress from learning the basics into regular training and competition. Novice rowers will train regularly throughout the rowing season and will have opportunities to attend training camps and compete at regattas.

Racing is an important part of learning to row. It gives you the chance to put your training into practice, experience the excitement of competition and learn how to work together as a crew. As you develop, there may also be opportunities to compete at larger regional and national events.

The first season is about building strong foundations and developing good habits. Rowing is a technical sport, and even experienced rowers are constantly working on their technique. We will spend plenty of time developing good habits from the beginning so that rowers have a strong foundation to build on as they progress.

What We Expect From Novice Rowers

Being part of the Novice Squad means being part of a team.

We expect rowers to:

• Attend training regularly
  
• Commit to attending regattas, local and away
• Arrive on time and ready to train
• Listen to coaches and be willing to learn
• Look after boats and equipment
• Support and encourage their crewmates
• Give their best effort at training and racing
• Communicate with coaches when they cannot attend

Consistency is important. The more regularly you train, the more you will develop as a rower and the more your crew will progress together.