Spring Season Registration - SOON!

We are revising the OAR Junior Registration forms for the Spring Season. They should be posted Friday (30 Jan) to the OAR website.

The season is planned to start 17th February for Junior Rowers.

Please check your own medical records and make sure you've had a physical examination in the past 1 year. If you are due for an annual physical exam please try to schedule this with your doctdor within the next three weeks - so that you do not miss getting on the water when the season starts.

Feel free to phone me (350-8115) or email me (mikeruthgis@hotmail.com) with any questions, concerns, recommendations, comments, anytime.

Thanks ... Mike Ruth (Parent Coordinator, Junior Rowing Program).

Parent Rep to Board: Dave Phillips

We are planning to propose Dave Phillips to be the second parent-rep to the OAR Board, representing hte Junior Rowing program.

Most everyone will know Dave as the person who graciously drives the trailer to the regattas. He's had three kids in the rowing program, a daughter and son (now graduated) and Daniel, his third child, is still in the rowing program. Dave is also becoming a skilled sculler, having taken the learn-to-scull class for adults last year.

Please give a big "thanks" to Dave for his continued services to the club, and now to the Junior Program.
... Mike Ruth

OAR Banquet

Sorry for the late information. This should be a great program with the gold medalists, I HIGHLY encourage you to attend! If you have any questions feel free to call me, 360.951.6720.
See you tonight!!

Please join us on Saturday, January 24th for this annual celebration with a spaghetti buffet & potluck dinner. The program will feature recognition of the past year's accomplishments, and words from our keynote speakers: U.S. Rowing Olympic gold medalists Anna Mickelson Cummins (2008 Women's 8+) and OAR's own Kris Norelius (1984 Womens 8+).

A $5 donation is requested per person to cover costs for pasta and facilities.

Details:
OAR Annual Banquet
Saturday, January 24, 5:30PM
First United Methodist Church
1224 Legion Way S.E.
Olympia, WA 98501

Questions: 360.878.2434

Program: Anna Mickelson Cummins, 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist in the Women's 8+ event, and Kris Norelius, OAR member and 1984 Olympic Gold Medalist in the Women's 8+, will be our keynote speakers.

A short program will follow dinner to introduce our new and outgoing board members, have a word from our coaches, recognition and awards.

400 Inches

By the way, I came home and did some more math and figured out that there are:

39.3700787 inches in 1 meter (about 40 inches)

Which mean that if you miss those last 2 inches into the chest over the course of a 2000 meter race you will be missing about
10 meters at the finish line.
(10 meters per stoke over 2000m = 200 stokes x 2"= 400"/40" (per meter)= 10 m)

When races are won or lost by feet, 10 meters is HUGE!!

Make sure you swing ALL the way into the chest and squeeze every last inch out of your stoke because it adds up quick!

Coxswain Clinic

Mary Whipple is putting together a coxswain clinic at the UW boathouse on Sunday February 8th at 9am. I would STRONGLY encourage any coxswain to attend. Its a very responsible price and it will be very valuable to you and the team. If you have any questions, let me know!

Who: The 9th Seat presents Mwhip+ Coxswain Clinic

When: February 8th, 2009

What time: Level I at 9am-2pm, Level II at 2:30-4pm or 4:30-6pm

Where: University of Washington, Conibear Shellhouse

How Much: Level I $75, Level II $75 ($50 if signed up for Level I)

How to register: www.regattacentral.com under the "camps & clinics" button, look for The 9th Seat and click on "Show Details"

What Topics: Steering—Owning your own water, Coach to Cox interaction, Racing vs. Practice, and The Olympic Experience

Why: Learn from the best, Mary will give you the no fluff version of how she has earned the 9th seat in the fastest women's eight in the World.

Any questions can be sent to the9thseat@gmail.com

Looking for a Parent-Representative to OAR Program

As we are getting closer to Spring season, we are also looking for one more adult (parent) to participate in the coordination of the Junior Rowing Program. The duties are straightforward: to represent the Junior rowers' needs to the OAR organization, attend monthly OAR board meetings, help with Junior regattas and other events. There would be two of us, as I am already committed to help the program through 2009. So whoever volunteers would split these various duties between the two of us.

Thanks to a recent OAR policy decision, there should little or no administrative work required - mainly just helping with the season startup and collecting the Junior registration forms in February and turning these in to the club management. Most of the activity is fun, provided you like participation in the week-to-week activity of the Junior Rowers.

If anyone reading this would like to discuss this, or suggest someone (such as your mom or dad or uncle or aunt or grandparent) for this role, please email me (mikeruthgis@hotmail.com) or phone me (350-8115 - leave a message if I don't answer).

Thanks - Mike Ruth
... One of Two (I hope!) parent volunteers to the OAR Junior Program for 2009.

Happy New Year!

Hope you all had a wonderful wintery break. Just a reminder, practice starts again on Monday Jan 5th (Same day as school) 3:30 at Briggs YMCA.
See you on Monday!!