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, you are encouraged to email: lglenn@orra.org to learn the best avenue into our coached program. 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!

During Summer and Fall 2024, ORRA offers private lessons 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 an ORRA rowing 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. Contact our ORRA Executive Athletics Director, at lglenn@orra.org, to learn more and to schedule your private sessions. 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 15-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 main focus is preparing for Southeast Masters Regional Championships on June 20-22, 2025.

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

2024 Fall Season: August 27-December 14, 2024

Practice Days: Tuesday-Thursday 6:30 – 8:30 PM; Saturday 11:00 AM -1:00 PM

Fall Season Program Cost: $465.00 *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 – Oak Ridge, TN
December 14, 2024

Register for the Atomic Masters Team Here!

In this introductory program, our coaches build on lessons from the Adult Learn-To-Row to develop the rowing mechanics, build fitness, and prepare rowers for future opportunities with Atomic Rowing. Participation in Adult Learn-To-Row 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 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 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 session, 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 TBD
Registration Opens late fall

Session II

February 18 – March 13, 2025

Cost TBD
Registration Opens late fall

Session III

March 18 – June 3, 2025

Cost TBD
Registration Opens late fall

*ORRA Membership is NOT Required for your first season*

Practice Days: Tuesday – Thursday 6:30-8:30 PM

Register for Adult Development Classes Here!

If you have any questions about our coached programs, please reach out to lglenn@orra.org.

  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.