Letter From Our CEO - February 2026

Dear USRowing Members, 

It’s exciting to see spring regattas starting to pop up on calendars across the country, which means racing season is right around the corner. I know many of you are grinding through those final, grueling weeks of indoor training. Hang in there. And to our lucky members who never had to leave the water during the winter months, please take a few extra strokes for the rest of us. 

As I watch the excitement and intensity of the Winter Olympic Games unfold, I am reminded of the power of sport to unite, inspire, and elevate entire communities. It certainly builds anticipation for what lies ahead in Los Angeles in 2028 for our sport. The road to LA 2028 is already underway, and the enthusiasm surrounding these Games reminds us why we do this work together. 

Speaking of competition, it was hard to miss Hugh Jackman, yes, Wolverine himself,  PR’ing his 2K. It is always fun to see our sport in the spotlight and to be reminded that rowing has a way of humbling and inspiring everyone, no matter who you are. Go Wolverine! Check out his post on Instagram here.

Heading into our spring competition season, we were thrilled to see such an enthusiastic response at the 2026 USRowing Indoor National Championships, where 182 national champions were crowned, and 444 medals were awarded across more than 1,800 entries from clubs nationwide. The event showcased tremendous effort and depth across age groups, setting an exciting tone as we build toward the sprint season and a full slate of on-water racing ahead. 

And speaking of getting back on the water, I am especially excited to share a new initiative USRowing is launching this May called Return to Rowing Day, welcoming former rowers back to the boathouse. 

For the first time, USRowing is inviting clubs across the country to open their doors on any Saturday in May 2026 that works best for them and welcome former rowers back. Whether someone last rowed a few years ago or a few decades ago, this is about reconnecting with our sport and our community. 

Return to Rowing Day is designed to be flexible and low pressure. Clubs can tailor the day to fit their facilities and membership, including on the water rows, casual erg pieces, coffee on the dock, alumni gatherings, or simple reintroductions to the boathouse. USRowing will provide a promotional toolkit, including social media language and programming ideas, and all participating organizations will be featured on USRowing.org so former rowers can easily find an event near them. 

We hope your organization will consider joining this collective effort to bring people back to the boathouse and back into the rowing family. Registration for clubs is now open here.

Here is to the final push of winter training and the promise of spring racing! 

All best, 
 
Amanda