2010 Youth Racing Program

Please email alixjk@gmail.com or trot1488@gmail.com to verify availability.

A technically focused six-week summer rowing program for high school athletes at historic Vesper Boat Club on Boathouse Row in Philadelphia. This unique six-week program is designed to give high school rowers an opportunity to make new friends, improve their skills and fitness, and race for a world-recognized historic rowing club. Five scheduled practice sessions per week together with the extended duration of this program allows meaningful development of the athletes’ technical abilities and capacity to join new crews and make them go faster—a key to successful team rowing at any level. Go back to school stronger, fitter and faster!

The Vesper Youth Summer Racing Program is directed and coached by Jim Trotter. Jim brings over a dozen years of youth coaching experience and success to the Vesper boathouse. Highlights of Jim’s career include coaching the 2009 winning Senior girls double at the Scholastic Nationals and City Championships as well as the 2002 winning girls lightweight eight. Jim’s athletes have gone on to row at numerous top rowing colleges, and he will be incorporating guidance on the college preparation and recruitment process into the sessions. Jim will be assisted by other members of the Vesper coaching staff. Head Vesper Coach Michiel Bartman, a triple medal winning Olympian, will also guest lecture on rowing technique and competition. Athletes will meet five days per week for a minimum of two hours of rowing, land training, and video technique review. Cardio and weight training guidance for off days will also be provided.

The Vesper Youth Summer Racing Program will feature very limited enrollment to ensure that every athlete receives ample personal attention and to foster the focus that will maximize the benefits of the experience. The program will be focused on sweep rowing, but sculling may be incorporated at the desire of the athletes, particularly in the latter half of the program. While this is not a learn-to-row program, athletes who have mastered the basics of rowing and are ready to work hard to improve will be included if the balance of applicants permits.

The program will run from June 22nd through July 31st, 2010. Practice sessions are scheduled for Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00 to 11:00 am, with additional sessions for race preparation. The program fee per athlete is $1,400.00, which includes a Vesper racing uniform, tee shirt, hat, entry fees, and all related expenses. Enrollment is competitive and limited to 18 rowers and three coxswains. Participants in this program will be selected to create compatible, competitive line-ups to ensure that participants can row, learn and race successfully. All rowers must be at least 14 years of age, have passed a swim test and have mastered the basics of the rowing stroke with coached instruction. Applicants will be required to submit their height, weight and best 2k erg score as well as a reference from their coach.

Questions? Need more information? Contact Jim Trotter at (610) 453-3196 / trot1488@gmail.com or Alix Kocher at (610) 999-9533 / alixjk@gmail.com.