The Alumni of UCI Rowing created the “Friends of UCIrvine Rowing” organization and this website to:
- Provide a forum for the UCI rowing community
- Organize support for the program
- Recognize the athletic and academic achievements of UCI student-rowers
- Ensure that the UCI Rowing program remains a prominent fixture of the UC Irvine campus community
We welcome all who share these goals and will help work towards them. We particularly welcome families of UCI rowers, community boosters and members of the UCI Recreation Department, administration, faculty and staff.
We encourge all Alumni and other Friends to demonstrate their support for the program by attending UCI rowing events; supporting our coaches in the development of fine student-athletes; providing financial and other material support to the program; and answering the call when additional help is needed.
In response to UCI Rowing being discontinued as a varsity sport and transitioning to Club status in the summer of 2010, the Friends organization formalized its structure to provide support to the program. Specifically, we became a California corporation; filed with the IRS to become a 501c(3) charity to receive tax-deductible contributions; established bank and PayPal accounts to accept donations to the Crew; and named a Board of Directors.
In addition to fundraising, we are organized to provide the following additional types of service to the program, in coordination with our coaches. All Alumni and other Friends of the UCI Crew are welcome and encouraged to be active with the organization.
Liaison with UCI’s Administration and the Department of Campus Recreation
The Board Alumni are currently working with Campus Rec in an effort (i) to improve the quality and scope of the equipment and facilities at the boathouse on Shellmaker Island and for a new boathouse to replace the “temporary” facility first constructed in 1965 on Shellmaker Island.
Website
This website was designed and created by the Alumni along with current oarsmen, and is currently maintained by them. However, the website’s success depends on the use and input by rowers, coaches and Friends. This website is in the process of being expanded to include all past, current and future information about the program. Additional volunteer help to maintain the website is welcome. Contact David Heimerl if you are interested!
Special Events
In addition to the regular intercollegiate races, every year UCI Alumni and Friends gather at these special events. Please check out our events page for upcoming races and alumni gatherings!
Please contact us with questions, mark your calendars, and we look forward to you seeing you at our gatherings!
Masters rowing is loosely defined as post-elite or non-elite rowing, training and competitions of sweep rowers and scullers ranging in age from 27 years well into the eighties. USRowing defines the age categories for competitions.
Novice Masters rowers are both common and very welcome. No prior experience is required.
Masters rowing events are included yearly in many West Coast regattas, including the Newport Autumn Rowing Festival, the Long Beach Christmas Regatta and the San Diego Crew Classic (SDCC) held each spring on Mission Bay. USRowing yearly holds regional and national championships.
In addition, USRowing conducts a yearly two day Masters Sweep training camp. Men and women have attended from across the U.S. to work on technique and strength training under the tutelage of some of the finest college coaches. In 2008, the camp was held in Seattle, Washington under the University of Washington Head Coach Bob Ernst (UCI, Class of ’67).
UCI strongly encourages Masters rowing and would very much like to accommodate rowers at all levels of competition and recreation. However, due to the current severe demands on time and space on the UCI boathouse, at this time Masters rowing is severely limited.
Any UCI alums who wish to row out of the boathouse must first contact in a sufficient time in advance and receive permission from UCI Coaches.
As always, alums using the boathouse are asked to leave the equipment in at least as good of condition after as before their use.
UCI rowers who recently participated in Masters events include the following:
- The 2008 US Masters Regional and National Championships were held at the Long Beach Marine Stadium. Former Coach Scott Charette competed in both the Regionals and the Nationals. A number of UCI Alumni competed in the Nationals.
- The alums of the 1992 Men’s Crew trained under Coach Emeritus Duvall Hecht for a 2010 tour of club rowing regattas in England. The alums do most of their training at their home sites which are now somewhat dispersed across the US but get together at Shellmaker Island periodically for group practices.
Please contact us to learn more.