At a minimum, the participants are required to:

• Be at least 15 years old

• Meet weight (less than 220 lbs) and height requirements to fit in rowing shells

• Be a good swimmer

• Be able to do moderate exercise for an hour

• Be able to sit down on the floor unaided by furniture from a standing position, and then stand back up, thus simulating getting into/out of a boat

• obtain US rowing waiver required in order to participate

Physical Fitness

Rowing is a physically demanding sport, so you should arrive with a basic level of fitness and endurance. You don’t need to be an athlete, but you should be comfortable with sustained physical activity and able to safely participate in 2 hours of rowing.

Participants must also be able to safely use the club’s rowing equipment. This includes being able to fit safely and comfortably in the boats (average boat width = 13 inches), assist other rowers in carrying and handling the boats (average weight of a quad = 114 lbs to be carried by 4 people), and have sufficient mobility and flexibility to get into and out of the boats safely.

These requirements are important not only for your own safety, but also for the safety of your fellow rowers and the proper handling of club equipment. The main goal is to ensure you are ready to enjoy the experience and participate safely.

The fee for Learn To Row class is $150. After the completion of the class, participants may consider joining the club with an additonal payment of prorated annual membership fee. All fees are non-refundable.

Many members volunteer coach new rowers and anyone wishing to improve at club rows. These members have coached high school, college, and other club rowing programs and are willing to share their expertise. We occasionally have other current coaches host clinics at our boathouse.

Rowing takes place on the water, and it is possible (although not usual) to fall out of the boat. Therefore, when registering for Learn to Row or becoming a regular member, each participant must confirm that they are able to swim 100 meters and tread water for 2 minutes. We have a safety launch on the water at all times with our Learn to Row classes.

You should wear shorts/sweats (spandex type and bike shorts are great!), a t-shirt, and athletic shoes. Shoes are not worn in the boat, so you will always need to have socks. When we get on the water in chilly fall/winter weather, wear warm clothes (layer with sweats, jacket, and hat). BEWARE of baggy clothes as they get caught in the sliding seat.

Rowing is year round in Texas! The only exceptions for being out on the water are for lightning or the occasional frost in winter.

GHRC welcomes all types of rowers. We support both competitive and recreational rowers. While we organize and participate in multiple regattas every year, participation in races are NOT mandatory.

Click on the REGISTER button on this page to submit a request to book a Learn To Row session. We will contact you to confirm the dates and the payment method.