Jan 08, 2025
Competition
San Diego Crew Classic & USRowing Announce Partnership
January 8, 2025 - The San Diego Crew Classic® and USRowing® are excited to announce a partnership to support regattas, rowing programs, and coaches with clarity regarding the application of USRowing’s new universal coaching standards at sanctioned regattas. The Crew Classic is one of the first outdoor regattas every year, and this collaboration ensures stakeholders understand the policy and the certification process early in the racing season. At the Crew Classic — and every sanctioned regatta in 2025 — crews will be eligible to compete regardless of their coaches’ status.
The partnership has led to the development of new compliance FAQs for sanctioned regattas, and compliance FAQs for coaches attending sanctioned regattas. The alliance will also include a designated USRowing team that will be supporting coaches through the certification process before they participate in the regatta in San Diego, and two on-site USRowing representatives to navigate any last-minute matters and lead an on-site Q&A session for coaches and club leaders.
“Improving understanding around coaching certification and therefore safeguarding, can only improve rowing and we are pleased to be working with USRowing and all of the coaches at our regatta,” says Mark Rose, San Diego Crew Classic President. He added, “It is clear to us that the top priority is ensuring the safety of our athletes and their ability to enjoy our regatta. We are pleased to report that all registered teams will be able to compete like they always have, provided their memberships are current and compliant with USRowing. We look forward to having a great, safe regatta, while moving the sport and this initiative forward.”
For all sanctioned regattas in 2025, the minimum prerequisites for participation will be the same as those in place in 2024, which include active organizational and individual membership (Standard Organizations must have an approved COI on file). Individual requirements remain the same, which include current membership, waiver, and completed Self-Attestation/SafeSport training, if applicable. Specific to coach compliance, USRowing will lead adoption of coaching standards outside the current regatta compliance process unless a regatta requires identification of coaches or maintains an athlete-only area.
Amanda Kraus, USRowing’s CEO who will be working closely with the Crew Classic and hopes this partnership supports USRowing membership said, “We’re proud to partner with the Crew Classic - a premier spring rowing regatta in the United States – to help create an experience of partnership for our members. The lead up to the Crew Classic is a great place to initiate the certification process for coaches, it's not the finish line. We look forward to working with coaches and teams over the year to ensure a seamless and efficient certification process.”
USRowing will also enter multiple Para boats in inclusion events at the Crew Classic to help develop and discover young talent. Ellen Minzner, USRowing’s Para High Performance Director - the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee’s 2023 Coach of The Year will also be in attendance for these events.
The San Diego Crew Classic is March 28-30, 2025, in Mission Bay. Early registration for the regatta closes on January 14, with standard registration closing on March12. USRowing members can register here.
About USRowing
USRowing is the national governing body for rowing in the United States, dedicated to promoting and developing rowing at all levels, from juniors to elite competition. With a membership base of 1,400 member organizations and 77,000+ individuals, USRowing provides theoretical and practical education programs that strengthen and grow rowing while helping members achieve their goals. The national governing body works closely with international rowing bodies to represent the United States at the highest levels of competition, including the World Rowing Championships, Olympic and Paralympic Games.
About San Diego Crew Classic
The San Diego Crew Classic, established in 1973, is the premiere spring rowing regatta in the United States, attracting athletes from novice to Olympian levels. Held annually on Mission Bay, the Crew Classic serves as both a highly competitive regatta and social gathering for families, friends, and rowing enthusiasts, fostering a lifelong appreciation for the sport across generations.
