J.Crew partners with USRowing to host an activation in Boston during Head of the Charles weekend

This fall, J.Crew and USRowing are taking over Newbury Street during Head of the Charles weekend, serving up timeless American style in collaboration with the U.S. National Team at one of the sport’s most iconic events.

Expect a limited-edition, rowing-inspired collection that looks as good on the riverbank as it does long after the last race: graphic tees, hoodies, sweatpants, a half-zip, a baseball cap, and a tote. USRowing insignia, varsity lettering, and Boston 2026 graphics give each piece a real sense of place, with easy layers built for a chilly morning on the water and well beyond race weekend.

Then comes the fun part. U.S. national team athletes will be on-site, and the public can take them, and each other, on in erg relay races for a shot at prizes. The 100-meter erg challenge features national team athletes and alumni coaching participants every stroke of the way, so bring your game face (and your friends) and be sure to catch it on video!

USRowing's Gemini.com national team athletes will join to coach erg relays, sign autographs, and showcase the J. Crew collection, bringing America's best athletes and LA28 hopefuls to Newbury Street for this activation. 

Olympians and LA28 Hopefuls Attending

From the USRowing women's team, Molly Bruggeman, a World Champion and 2024 Olympian with 12 national team appearances, will be on hand, along with two-time World Champion and 2024 Olympian Azja Czajkowski, Etta Carpender, fresh off a 2026 World Championship bronze medal, and two-time Olympian Charlotte Buck, who started her rowing as a walk-on at Columbia University. Hometown heroes and Olympians Daisy Mazzio-Manson (Wellesley, MA) and Regina Salmons (Methuen, MA) will showcase Boston pride on Newbury Street!

From the USRowing men's team, 2024 Olympic bronze medalist and Dover, Mass native Henry Hollingsworth and 2024 Olympian and 2026 World Championship medalist Alexander Hedge will coach competitors during the 100-meter erg challenge. National team alum and two-time Olympian Anders Weiss, who also raced in the Oxford/Cambridge Boat Race, will join Hollingsworth and Hedge.

From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the athletes will sign autographs, pose for photos, and coach erg relay participants through every stroke. It’s a rare chance to get a signature, a selfie, and a few pointers from rowers who have raced on the world’s biggest stages and have their sights set on LA28!

A Collaboration of Timeless American Style

Rowing and American style have been a pair for generations. Think crested rowing blazers, boathouse stripes, and varsity lettering, all born in the boathouse and becoming wardrobe staples. This weekend, that heritage takes on a new, exciting form, closely tied to the USRowing brand and the US National Team in the lead-up to the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

J.Crew’s preppy DNA meets the community that gives rowing its character: the athletes, the alumni, the spectators lining the banks, and the Boston locals who make Head of the Charles feel like a fall homecoming. It’s the one place where you can try on the collection, get coached by national team athletes and alumni, and race your friends on the erg, all within earshot of the river.

Whether you’re a tried-and-true rower competing over the weekend, an admirer of the sport and fan of the national team, or simply an American style fanatic, there’s a spot for you. Come celebrate the weekend, find your new favorite layer, and meet the athletes who will represent the United States at our upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games!

Details:

• When: 10 a.m.- 3 p.m., October 17, 2026. Erg challenge begins at 1 p.m.
• Where: The J.Crew Flagship Store, 46 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02116

Media RSVP: Media representatives are encouraged to confirm attendance, and they can arrange requests for specific interviews through Media@USRowing.org.