A group is planning to bring coastal rowing to the South Jersey area.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
A group of rowing enthusiasts is currently forming the South Jersey Chapter of USRowing’s Coastal Rowing Working Group, which they say will tap into the rich history of rowing in South Jersey and provide rowers with a new sport to enjoy for recreation and competition.
“We established a group of dedicated people to create the foundation for bringing the new sport to South Jersey,” chapter member and Ventnor City Beach Patrol Co-captain David Funk said.
The members have met to develop an implementation strategy to introduce the sport to South Jersey, he said. Old Dominion Rowing Coach Dan Garbutt, who is affiliated with USRowing, and Funk are the group’s certified coastal coaches.
The sport, which is performed in open water, would include singles, doubles and quad boats in male, female and mixed boat categories.
Funk said with area high schools and Stockton University having flat-water rowing teams and South Jersey lifeguards who have keen awareness of the ocean tides and currents and participate in surf boat rowing championships, membership in the sporting group is a natural fit for South Jersey’s oceanside communities.
USRowing started developing a framework to grow the sport nationally in coastal communities in 2020, is advocating to make it an Olympic sport, establish national team trials and identify and recruit athletes.
Although the sport did not make the cut for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, it could be added by the time the United States hosts the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Funk said coastal rowing bridges the gap between open-water and flat-water rowing, such as what high school and college teams do.
“Coastal rowing is the mountain biking of rowing – some people call it the adventurous version of rowing. Navigating the currents, wind, and waves make it particularly challenging and exciting.” John Rhee of USRowing said on the organization’s website.
Local athletes would have the opportunity to compete in regional and national qualifying competitions, including in Florida and Portugal, where the sport holds an international competition.
Funk said other countries have coastal rowing programs, although there are no coastal rowing groups in New Jersey at this time.
“Our group is looking forward to making the sport grow and expand here in South Jersey,” Funk said. “It’s something new and exciting for the rich history of rowing in South Jersey.”
The area has several flat-water rowing clubs, including Viking Rowing Club in Ventnor, which has a masters rowing program, Brigantine Rowing Club, and Stockton University has a Women’s Rowing Team and a Men’s Club that rows out of the Atlantic City High School boathouse in Atlantic City.
Open-water rowing would offer graduates and beach patrol members with a new outlet for recreation and competition.
Funk said the boat required for coastal or open-water rowing is “a crew shell on steroids,” that is designed for stability in the ocean.
“It’s a beefier boat,” he said.
Margate Fire Chief Dan Adams, who was a member of the Longport Beach Patrol for about 35 years, said the boats could cost about $6,500 for a single to as much as $20,000 for a quad.
“I got on board to help with fundraising,” he said.
According to a release, Garbutt has opened discussions with area boat manufacturers to fill the needs of a growing coastal rowing community and has obtained a commitment from Swift Marina in Margate as a location to house the boats.
The group plans to hold coastal rowing camps for prospective team members. Tom Feaster, a former delegate to the USA Olympic Committee and past member of the Sea Isle City Beach Patrol who has coached at Stanford Naval Academy, University of Rhode Island and University of Tampa, will head recruitment.
The group is looking to the South Jersey community for financial support and involvement in the program.
“We know that this sport will bring new excitement to the sport and offer more athletic opportunities for all rowers,” Feaster said.
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