As a member of Texas Crew, you will have the opportunity to travel annually to places including Boston, San Diego, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, Tennessee, and Georgia (the site of the 1996 Olympic Rowing venue). We race as part of the American Collegiate Rowing Association (ACRA) and compete every spring for a national championship to light the tower orange. Texas Crew is a very competitive program and consistently one of the biggest programs in the South. We are a student-run organization with an executive board that makes many of the logistical decisions. There are many opportunities to take on a leadership position - we elect exec board members every Spring Break. Joining:
No experience is necessary to join. We want tall athletes, or anyone tough enough to make up the difference. At the club level, most collegiate rowers begin when they come to campus. Rowing is the ideal sport for those who were athletes in high school or any who want a challenging athletic outlet in a new sport. The team is comprised of athletes of all backgrounds: basketball, track and field, swimming, football, cross country, former Navy rescue swimmers - you name it. Our coaches will teach you everything you need to know about the rowing stroke. It is up to the individual to bring the right attitude: committed, consistent, competitive. First-year rowers (also known as “novices”) race other first-year rowers until their second year on the team. While it is advantageous to be tall and strong in rowing, there are opportunities in the spring for leaner, lighter oarsmen - lightweight rowers (160 lbs max for men, 130 lbs max for women). Lightweight rowing is competitive at the championship level and Texas Crew has a history of doing well in such events. Coxswains, who are small and light, provide steering and coaching from within the boat. They are essential to the performance of a crew during races and practice. When a crew wins a race, the coxswain wins with them - they are an integral member of the boat. Follow us on social media to stay up to date with Texas Crew news!
