FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  1. What is Patriot Crew?
    Patriot Crew is a varsity sport offered by Parkersburg South High School. We do not receive any financial funding from the school or the Board of Education. The PSHS Boosters promote and support the rowing program at Parkersburg South.

  2. I have never rowed before. Can I still do crew?
    Most students who join the team have no previous rowing experience. If you are willing to work hard then Patriot Crew is for you. The crew program provides opportunities for a wide range of athletic abilities and can help a non-athlete become highly trained and competitive over four years of high school participation.

     
  3. Is there a height or size requirement for rowing?
    No. Rowing is a very serious sport and takes a lot of dedication. You do need strength, endurance and technique, all of which you will develop through the crew program. Each boat has four or eight rowers and a coxswain. The coxswain steers the boat and gives instructions to the crew. During a race, the coxswain is also a motivator and tactician. For rowers, height is an advantage, but not a prerequisite. Coxswains are usually small and light. The best coxswains are smart, light, verbal and confident.

     
  4. What is required to be a crew member and are there tryouts?
    Parkersburg South Crew accepts all students without regard to race, religion, creed, or national origin. There are no tryouts to become a member of crew. No previous athletic, rowing experience or tryouts are necessary.
     

     

  5. Is there any special equipment or rowing gear required of rowers?
    The PSHS Boosters supply most of the needed equipment. The crew members are responsible for their personal clothing including their uniform (unisuit - approximately $60.00) which are ordered through the clothing coordinator. For practices and warm-ups, rowers need running shoes, spandex pants or shorts, wool socks, fleece jacket, plus the usual tee shirts and sweats. Rowers may purchase optional team jackets, sweats, gear bags, caps and more from our team clothing coordinator.

     
  6. How big is the team?
    Last school year (2003-2004), we had 15 students athletes participating. We hope to have more next year.

     
  7. How do I join the team?
    Attend the information and registration meeting which is normally held the first week in January. Contact Parkersburg South High School and ask when Crew registration is being held. Practice begins immediately following registration. (Practice is immediately after school until between 6:00 - 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday). Practice is held in all types of weather. We do row in inclement weather to the point that it may become dangerous. You may be a little wet, but we will not row during high water or high winds. In the event that we cannot row, we will have land workouts. Rowing competitions are called regattas and they begin at the end of March, see Regattas. The regattas are held on Saturdays with Friday being a travel day if the regatta is held out of town. Since Parkersburg South is only one of two high schools in the state of West Virginia that offers crew, most of our regattas are in other states. The season culminates in May with those boats that qualify competing at National Championships held at different locales each year.

     
  8. Were does the team practice?
    We practice at the Mid-Ohio Valley Rowing Club boathouse which was converted from the old Parkersburg water treatment plant, and it sits just inside a 25 ft tall by 10 mile long floodwall at the end of 19th Street. Land training is held during January and February and we begin practice on the water sometime at the end of February or beginning of March. (Directions to boathouse)

     
  9. What does it cost to join crew?
    The annual rowing fees are approximately $400 per rower. (This amount various depending on the number of rowers and the location of away regattas.)
    The money pays for:
     

    This money can be raised through various fund raisers. The balance you pay depends on how much money your child raises during the fund raisers.

    Athletes need a unisuit (approximately $60) for races. For practices and warm-ups rowers need running shoes, spandex pants or shorts, wool socks and a fleece jacket plus the usual tee shirts and sweats. Rowers may purchase optional team jackets, sweats, rain wear, gear bag, caps and more from our team clothing coordinator.

    Service is required of both the rower and their family; as volunteers are integral to the program and without them there could be no rowing team. We are a volunteer organization and ask that each family get involved and join our PSHS Boosters. We need everyone to do their share of fundraisers, work on maintaining the shells, help organize and chaperone events and trips, help with the administrative tasks or assist with the Brundage Regatta (driving launches during the regatta, working the concession stand, directing traffic, etc.)

    We will make all efforts not to exclude any rower due to financial needs. Contact the Booster President for details.

     

  10. Why is crew so expensive?
    Most of the expense of crew is attributable to the equipment and maintenance costs. An 8-person shell (boat) costs between $16,000 - $25,000. Oars cost over $250 a piece; Ergs over $700, a voice amplification system ("Cox Box") for the coxswain is $500; and we also use small boats (lauches)with outboard motors to follow the shells during coaching and races. All of the equipment requires maintenance and ultimately needs to be replaced. There are also fees for insurance. The rowers' dues cover the cost of the hotels, food, entry fee, and transportation to the regattas. The rest of the funds needed to run the program must be raised by the rowers and the boosters in a variety of fundraising events. Our fundraisers include: an auction, car show, selling advertisement for the Brundage, and donations.

BACK