We have members all over the Truckee-Tahoe area and row in a variety of locations.

Not yet, but we’re working on it! We’re a brand new club comprised of masters rowers who like to get together in a variety of locations (e.g. Incline Village, Sand Harbor, Cave Rock, South Lake Tahoe, Homewood, Tahoe City, and even Donner Lake). We are currently seeking one or more locations where we can store boats, with the long term goal of multiple permanent homes so our members can enjoy the entire lake.

Do you know of any suitable locations? Can you help us?

We have several club boats available, including singles, doubles, and fours in flat water, open water, and coastal options. They are currently stored at private residences until we secure a permanent location on the lakeshore.

Lake Tahoe Rowing Association (“RowTahoe”) is a not-for-profit membership club, incorporated in Nevada, organized under section 501(c)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code, and managed by an elected Board of Directors. All Regular Members may vote in club elections and serve on the Board after one year of membership.

Our youth program, Tahoe Crew, is a nonprofit public charity, organized under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is governed by a self-sustaining Board of Directors.

We are not an organized team with regular practices. However, we do conduct frequent group rows in various locations and love rowing with guests. Check out the Club Calendar for more details.

Yes! We recently started Tahoe Crew, our youth program available to 8th grade through 12th grade students! Learn more here.

• Unlimited access to club boats year-round on a first-come, first-served basis (subject to safety conditions, ability, and certification in different types of boats)

• Priority access to club equipment during group rows

• 25% discount on all training/lessons, club SWAG, and club-sponsored events (including regattas)

• A RowTahoe hat (new members who pay the initiation fee only)

• Ability to vote in club elections and serve on the Board after one full year of membership

• Opportunity to hang out with an awesome group of people who love this sport as much as you do.

Yes! If you do not have a residence within 25 miles of any shore of Lake Tahoe and plan to row with us more than four times per year, you can obtain a discounted out-of-town membership.

Note that out-of-town members are not eligible to vote in club elections or serve on the Board.

Yes! Check out our Volunteer Membership, which is perfect for people who own their own boats and/or won’t be using club equipment often.

Volunteer Members are not eligible to vote in club elections or serve on the Board.

However you would like. Volunteering at events like the North Tahoe Regatta is a good way to quickly satisfy this obligation, or you can spread the time out over the year if you prefer.

No. We are not a boat rental company. However, we do welcome Guest Rowers to take boats out for single session.

Note that you must be an EXPERIENCED rower (preferably affiliated with a club) and USRowing member to purchase a Guest Rower pass.

Insurance. RowTahoe is covered by USRowing’s club policy, but it only applies when individuals are USRowing members. Fortunately, there is an inexpensive USRowing basic membership available for only $15 per year.

While there are similarities between race kayaks and rowing shells, the skills required are different. We require guest members to be experienced rowers.

If you are interested in learning to row, great! You are welcome to sign up for our Learn to Row Program.

Given the time it takes to teach someone to row, the cost of the equipment, and our priorities as a non-profit, corporate and private events are not activities we currently support. If you are interested in helping organize or host a group “Introduction to Rowing” day, please contact us and we will get back to you when we are able.

Rowing shells move considerably faster than paddle boards and most other paddle craft, and given rowers sit backwards we do our best to leave space between our shells and other watercraft. If you see us on the lake, wave hello - if we are in a place to safely do so we will wave back (rowing shells are tippy so we don’t let go of our oars when in motion).

Lean more about our coaching experience and credentials here.

Most of the training takes place on the north shore of the lake in either Incline Village, Kings Beach, or Tahoe City. However, we are able to conduct sessions in other locations, depending on coach availability and conditions. Contact us for more details.

We do not currently offer a one-day or one-session on water program on the water. Our Learn to Row program is standardized, and offered as a complete program with one land session and four on-water sessions, as this provides the information and training to be safe in a rowing shell on the water.

We do offer a one-hour “Erging for Beginners” class on land, during which you will learn how to use a rowing machine correctly.

We are exploring the possibility of doing single day “Introduction to Rowing” events to get more people exposed to the sport once we have sufficient staff and an appropriate location.

We offer Learn to Row training to individuals 18 years old and up, subject to our safety rules, an assessment of physical fitness, and coach availability. We reserve the right to decline training to anyone.

Our Tahoe Crew program serves youth in 8th to 12th grade.

First, we currently do WET FOOT launches from the beaches, most of which have at least some submerged gravel or rocks. Hence, a good pair of water shoes, or, at a minimum, sturdy sandals are STRONGLY recommended. It’s not muddy, so you don’t need rain boots, but you’ll be glad you brought something to protect your feet.

Next, avoid loose-fitting or baggy clothing. If you have some Lycra cycling shorts (preferably the non-padded kind), wear those. Keep shirts as close-fitting as possible.

Dress in layers. You’ll be surprised how quickly you get hot and uncomfortable while rowing, even on colder days. Start with a light, short-sleeve shirt and shorts (preferably Lycra), add a second long layer, and top it off with a close-fitting jacket or vest.

You won’t wear shoes in the boat (rowing boats have their own built-in shoes), but we do recommend a pair of socks. Don’t wear them, just carry them - you’ll put them on once you’re in the boat.

Finally, NO GLOVES in the boat. You will need your hands and fingers to directly contact the oars while rowing, and they will be difficult to get off once you are sitting in the boat.

We don’t. Buying a boat before you know how to row is just about the worst mistake you can make. Too many people rush to buy boats, and end up having a bad experience (and unused equipment). In fact, some of our best new boats have come from people who went out and purchased high-end equipment without knowing how to use it!

Don’t be that person. Take lessons first, figure out whether you like it and what your goals and interests are (recreation, competition, flat water, oepn water, coastal, etc.) then worry about a boat.

Also, depending on exactly where you live, it might make more sense to just join RowTahoe and use our boats, as we have a lot to choose from.

In order to use RowTahoe equipment or participate in on-water club activities, you must be able to swim or tread water continuously for 20 minutes. This is a critical safety rule and not negotiable.

No. As a Coast Guard-patrolled body of water, you are required to carry an approved PFD for each person on the boat at all times, but whether you wear it is a matter of personal preference/comfort.

RowTahoe provides appropriate PFDs for all club equipment and guest rowers. If you would like to obtain your own, recommend the manual inflatable belt pack style. Self-inflating PFDs should not be used in rowing shells.

We recommend carrying a noise maker (marine whistle or air horn) on the boat, as well as a mobile phone or marine radio.

Club rules prohibit using club equipment if the wind speed a time of launch exceeds 15 knots. In addition, temperature restrictions are:

• Coastal Boats - Air temperature no less than 40F/5C.

• Shells - Air temperature no less than 50F/10C.

The water in Lake Tahoe is very cold year round, and even brief immersion can lead to hypothermia. This is dramatically accelerated when combined with low air temperature, so we avoid rowing on the lake when it is too cold.

Club rules require all rowing to take place outside of buoy fields, with or without moored boats, except during launch, landing, and introductory lessons with a coach. Open water and/or coastal shells may row on the entire lake, while flat water (“racing”) shells must remain within 400 meters of shore at all times.

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