POV: Your First Week Rowing at NAC
Five days ago, you didn’t even know what a “catch” meant. Now you’re walking off the beach with a whole new kind of confidence – and a feeling you’ll want to chase again.
Day One: “Wait, how do I hold this?”
The oar feels huge. The boat feels wobbly. You’re not even rowing yet – just learning how to sit, how to square and feather the blade, how to stay balanced without flipping into the water. You practice arms-only strokes, and everything feels awkward and uncoordinated. But somewhere in the chaos, there’s this flicker of possibility. You feel the boat glide for half a second, and suddenly you get why people love this.
Day Two: It starts to click.
You row in pairs and small groups. Drills help you slow things down and really feel the stroke. You start noticing details: the sound of the oars, the way the boat moves when the timing is right, the satisfaction of a clean catch. When it works, it feels smooth and powerful – like you’re a part of something in motion, not just sitting in a shell. And you want more of that.
Day Three: All eight together.
The full boat takes the water. At first it’s messy – people out of sync, oars clashing, timing all over the place. But then… for a few strokes, everyone clicks. The boat lifts and runs. It’s quiet in the best way. You’re moving together, and it feels like magic. That feeling sticks with you the rest of the day.
Day Four: You feel like a rower.
You row longer stretches now, with more intensity. You start to trust your body and your boatmates. You’re not overthinking every move – you’re just doing it. There’s a rhythm to practice now, and even the mistakes feel like part of the process. You catch yourself familiar with words like “ratio” and “swing” and realize: this sport is starting to make sense.
Day Five: Race day.
You line up for your first mock race. Your heart’s pounding, and the energy in the boat is electric. The coxswain counts down. “Sit ready…Attention…Row!” And just like that, you’re off. The whole boat drives forward, eight rowers moving as one. It’s fast, intense, a little chaotic – but it’s also thrilling. You cross the finish line completely focused, totally in it – and maybe a little surprised by just how far you’ve come in five days.
You started the week just trying something new.
By the end, you’re part of a team, working toward something bigger than yourself. You’ve learned a new skill, built trust with people you just met, and discovered a strength you didn’t know you had.
Five days. One boat. An unforgettable week.
This isn’t just a sport – it might be the thing that changes your life.