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State Crew Recruiting Rowing In The Desert? A few years ago it was impossible. But with the completion of Tempe Town Lake in 2000, students at Arizona State University have been given the unique opportunity as the only university in Arizona to participate in the history of collegiate rowing in a place where water is a scarce resource. Rowing at Arizona State presents many advantages over other schools. The climate in the greater Phoenix area averages a high of 65 and a low 43 in the coldest winter months, which allows athletes to row virtually anytime during the year. Olympic rowers have discovered this and often come to train in Tempe during the winter. It's not uncommon in the mornings to be adjusting your boat right next to members of the U.S. National Team. Another advantage is the lake itself. The 2-mile long lake boasts a levy completely surrounding all four sides of the lake. With minimal water flow going in or out of the lake and prohibited use of gas motors on boats, the water is exceptionally smooth. Many people have described rowing in the lake, "like rowing in a bathtub." This allows perfect practices that can't be blamed on water conditions. Is ASU Crew an NCAA or club sport? ASU Crew is a club sport and receives very minimal funding from the University. Because of that, the burden of funding needed to maintain the program falls mainly on the rowers themselves. Each participant is required to work at fundraisers which include football games, car washes, and other events. Rowers are also encouraged to help attract corporate and private donors to keep the program running. I've never rowed before. Can I row for ASU Crew? Yes! We are open to anyone interested in being part of a highly competitive and motivated team. Previous experience playing a sport involving aerobic conditioning, strength training, and coordination might make rowing easier to learn, but is by no means a pre-requisite. Because rowing is as much mental as it is physical, we are looking for people who have the focus as well as the drive to be part of a truly cohesive team.
What time are practices? It is said that rowers are one of the few people who see the sun rise and the sun set. The reason is because of classes. Where practices for ASU are typically from 5am to 7am, practices may be changing to the evenings in the Fall of 2006, though. Where are your races? Our race locations vary each season. Our spring season is focused on 2,000 meter sprints while our fall season focuses on endurance for 6,000 meter races. In the past we have raced in in the greater San Diego, San Francisco, and Los Angeles areas, and even right here in Tempe. The traveling expenses are paid by the individual rowers, but the team makes every effort to keep the cost as low as possible. Additional Information Just as a reminder, there are no weight/height limits for ASU Crew--all are welcome to join and participate in the tradition here at the University. This is an excellent opportunity to get in the best shape of your life and forge some long-lasting friendships while competing at a collegiate level. If this sounds like something you'd be interested in, please email Coach Wilkinson at Jeff.Wilkinson@chw.edu. In your email please include the following information if available:
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