Masters Programs

The Atomic Rowing Masters Program is for adult rowers aged 19-you name it! We have rowers of all adult ages involved in our coached Masters Program! If you have prior experience, you are eligible for our Experienced or Development program. If you are a beginner, we encourage you to take advantage of our Free Learn to Row Day! Please register here, and if you have more questions, feel free to email. Our focus is on physiology and skill fundamentals for developing solid boat moving ability, and our Masters team also loves the social aspects of the sport!

Regardless of your experience or fitness level, we have a place for you. Come join our Atomic family!

Atomic Coaches offer private lessons at ORRA to beginner and experienced adults, aged 22-80. Lessons provide a customized experience, allowing beginners to move quickly to a point where you may join our development group. Beginners work 1 on 1 with the coach to learn stroke fundamentals over two 90-minute sessions. This accelerated learning experience gets you in to a single scull, under the watchful eye of a Master’s rowing coach. After these two sessions, you will be ready to be moved in to larger boats with other developing rowers. Feel free to register for your private lesson now, or contact our Executive Athletics Director to learn more. Cost: $100 for the pair of lessons.

Fall Season is a 15-week experienced adult rowing program where athletes develop a broad training base through focused skill development, distance training and participation in the Fall 5k Head Race Season. Racing opportunities include the Secret City Head Race on our home course in Oak Ridge, Music City Head Race in Nashville, Head of the Hooch Regatta in Chattanooga, and our 1st Annual Christmas Regatta on December 14 on our home course in Oak Ridge.

Spring Season is a 20-week experienced adult rowing program to expand fitness and skill gained in the fall. Early focus on strength, endurance and team building progresses to technical refinement and transfer of fitness to moving boats on the water. The goal is to develop in all areas to reach desired levels at Dogwood Masters Regatta on May 31, 2025.

Summer Season 1 is a 3-week experienced adult program where the primary focus is preparing for Southeast Masters Regional Championships in Aiken, SC. June 20-22, 2025.

Selective participation in Experienced Masters coached programs is determined by coaches.

2024 Fall Season: August 27-December 14, 2024

2025 Spring Season: January 14-May 31, 2025

Practice Days: Tuesdays and Thursdays 6:30-8:30pm; Saturdays 10:30am-12:45pm

Fall Season Program Cost: $465.00 *ORRA Membership is Required*

Spring Season Program Cost: $620.00 *ORRA Membership is Required*

Masters Race Schedule

Fall 2024
Secret City Head Race – Oak Ridge, TN
October 12, 2024
Music City Head Race – Nashville, TN
October 26, 2024
Head of the Hooch Regatta – Chattanooga, TN
November 1-3, 2024
1st Annual Christmas Regatta Scrimmage – Oak Ridge, TN
December 14, 2024

SPRING 2025
Atomic Indoor ErgFest – Oak Ridge, TN
February 22, 2025
Percy Priest Regatta – Nashville, TN
March 29, 2025
Dogwood Masters Regatta – Oak Ridge, TN
May 31, 2025
Southeast Regional Masters Championships – Aiken, SC
June 21-22, 2025
USRowing RowFest National Championships – Ypsilanti, MI
July 16-20, 2025

In this introductory program, our coaches build on lessons from the Adult Learn-To-Row to develop rowing mechanics, build fitness, and prepare rowers for future opportunities with Atomic Rowing. Participation in Learn to Row/Free Trial Days, and/or 1:1 coached sessions is strongly encouraged, but not required to begin the Adult Development program.

The developmental program is divided into three sections:

Session I – Land Basics: In this 4-week segment, participants learn rowing basics on land with the use of the Concept 2 Rowing Ergometer, with an occasional on-the-water session. Training sessions focus on technique, using drills and steady state rowing. General strength, basic endurance and team building will lead to increased ability to transfer concepts and practices to moving boats on the water in subsequent sessions.

Session II – Land and Water Basics: In this 4-week segment, participants who have completed Session I expand skill and knowledge of the basics introduced in Session I. Technical competency is increased and stroke proficiency is developed. The second half of this session offers the opportunity to transfer land rowing concepts and practices to moving boats on the water!

Session III – Preparing to Race: In this 11-week program, our newer rowers who have completed Session I and II expand rowing knowledge and skill on the water. Rowing skill is accumulated of time and repetition. This session provides the opportunity to acquire readiness to compete in the Dogwood Masters Regatta May 31, 2025 in Oak Ridge on our home course. Masters Development Session I and/or II are necessary prerequisites for this session. Masters who compete at Dogwood Masters may continue with our Summer 1 program. This program is focused specifically on racing in USRowing’s Southeast Regional in late June.

Program Dates and Cost:

Session I

January 21 – February 13, 2025
Cost $130
Registration is Open

Session II

February 18 – March 13, 2025
Cost $130
Registraton is Open

Session III

March 18 – May 31, 2025
Cost $345
Registration is Open

*ORRA Membership is NOT Required for your first season*

Practice Days: Tuesdays and Thursdays 6:30-8:30 PM

  1. If registering for Atomic Rowing’s Competitive program, make sure you are an ORRA member. Membership information can be found HERE. Membership is not required for Development Rowers in their first season.
  2. Register for your respective program on RegattaCentral.
  3. Print and complete the Waivers and turn in to the coaches’ office or bring it to your first practice.
  4. If you plan to race in USRowing sponsored events,  you must be an active Basic member of USRowing with a signed waiver. Some regattas may require you upgrade to a Championship membership. This is a yearly membership that you can sign up for, renew, or check status at http://www.usrowing.org/join.aspx.
For more information on the Oak Ridge Rowing Association and Membership, please visit www.orra.org. Payment plans are available. For more information, please e-mail accounts@orra.org.