18 years!!!
Yep - believe it or not, this summer is our eighteenth summer of Hatchets Rowing. EIGHTEENTH! That’s close to TWENTIETH! Our kids were not yet born when Jeremy and I started Hatchets and now they are 12 and 15.
I did a count earlier this spring and found out that we’ve had 25 different rowing coaches over the years. We’ve been starting to talk about what we’ll do for our 20th summer, potentially a bit of a get together with current and past rowers and coaches? We’ve got time to decide though.
THIS SUMMER SO FAR
We’re only one week in, but it’s been a busy one so far. Those of us who were rowing all spring are appreciating the calm water, since the spring was a bit windier than I remember past years being.
We’ve taught over 10 people to row who have never tried it before with 3 more coming this week. Our junior scullers (ages 8-13) have been busy learning skills and playing games on the water. Our fitness rowers are putting on the kms and enjoying the gorgeous Lake Muskoka views, and I’ve got a fresh supply of sunblock for the summer.
Some of our core group of rowers at the end of last season. We’re happy to be back on the water and away from the indoor rowing machine.
This is a picture of our yearly staff training. It varies every year based on what we think is most important to cover based on the coaches. This year it included a full learn to row coached by half of our coaches, with the other half testing their drama skills by creating tricky scenarios.
Learn to Row drills on the dock
This was our first loop around Horseshoe Island this summer season. L-R Lily, Robin, Kathy.
HATCHETS LEADERBOARD!
Again this year, we have our Hatchets Leaderboard up! Throughout the summer, we will be tracking the “TOP 10” in three different categories. The challenges started the week before the May long weekend when our spring season started. These challenges are for us to have a reason to push ourselves to grow in fitness and mental stamina and because it’s fun to keep track of our kms, and scores. We try to update the distance results every Friday at noon for the week, and the other challenges we update as people complete the challenges. We will send out a Summer End total at the end of our summer season which ends Friday August 21st at NOON, but then we’ll keep tracking them through the fall - because it’s fun!
FISH GAME: This challenge is open to those UNDER 14 only. The Fish Game is on the Concept2 Indoor Rowing Machines. Our Junior Scullers compete for the top score for the summer in the fish game.
DISTANCE CHAMPION: This challenge is open to all ages and levels of rowers. All on water rowing kilometres count, regardless of where they are rowed. Rowing on a machine, other forms of paddling and other activities do not count. Just rowing on the water, in any location. If you need helping getting onto your tracking sheet, or you want to join the challenge email us and we’ll get you setup. You can also ask us to put them in while you’re here, or keep track on paper and get me to fill in a few at once. Let’s see how many kms we can track this season!
PULL UP CHALLENGE: Remember, pull ups or chin ups must be witnessed, and you must go ALL the way down and ALL the way up for each chin up/pull up. You can choose to do chin ups or pull ups. I find pull ups harder, so I do chin ups - but it all depends on your muscles and what you are most used to.
Save The Date: HATCHETS HAT-TRICK WEEKEND
August 15th & 16th
Two of last year’s Indian River Relay teams facing off before the start of the race!
Mark the date in your calendar and come join us for one, some, or ALL of the events on August 15th & 16th!
We will kick off the weekend with our annual Muskoka Poker Run, a 22km row/race, launching from Port Carling at 6 am. This year, we are setting a time standard for this row - details to come.
Then we will head over to Hatchets for our Indian River Relay at 11am - for EVERY SKILL LEVEL of rower. Our Indian River Relay is a short race open to everyone! We have teams of four that use our Mission 20/20 shells one at a time to race to the first buoy and back to the dock to switch with the next person for the relay part of the race. It is a team-based event.
Finally, we finish off the weekend with our Sunday Afternoon Row with a long but relaxed pace row on Lake Muskoka. This is a 20km day trip where we take out our bigger open water rowing shells and row on Lake Rosseau, stop for lunch and then row back.
If you’re interested in joining, please email Kathy at kathy@hatchetsrowing.com.
This Week's Focus is SAFETY on the water!
This week's focus is safety!
Before heading out onto the water - don't forget your life jacket, safety kit, and whistle! Always be aware of other boaters, buoys, and the shoreline around you and IF YOU FLIP, STAY WITH YOUR BOAT, it's visible and it floats! And remember, WEAR BRIGHT, VISIBLE CLOTHING.
Where should you row? You should be close to your left (starboard side) shore when you are rowing. If you have to pass someone you move closer to the middle, and then back close to the left (starboard) shore. Of course watch for docks and buoys, but as a general rule - WHENEVER POSSIBLE ROW WHERE A MOTORBOAT WOULDN’T DRIVE AND ASSUME BOATS DON’T SEE YOU. If you’re not sure if a boat sees you, move over closer to shore and do whatever you can to get their attention. You will notice a boat change course quickly as soon as they spot you.
Summer Rowing programs!
Wondering when our programs are this year?
Check out our schedule here! We row every weekday morning from 6 am to noon, and weekend mornings from 7:30am to noon. Contact us before you come so that we make sure it is the best fit and that we have your boat ready for you!
Competitive Rowing: Every week day at 6 am and 7:30 am. Weekends at 7:30 am only.
Fitness Rowing: Every weekday at 6 am and 7:30am. Weekends at 7:30am only.
Junior Scullers: Every day at 10:30am.
ALL REGISTRATION IS BY EMAIL OR PHONE! Just reach out to Kathy by phone/text at 705-765-1939 or by email at kathy@hatchetsrowing.com.
Once again we have lots of opportunities for you to get on the water, rowing, and we can’t wait to see everyone again!