Apr 28, 2025
Competition
The Race Is On: Road to Youth Nationals Begins This Weekend
The journey to the 2025 USRowing Youth National Championships kicks off this weekend, as more than 1400 athletes take to the water at two key qualification regattas. These events mark the first steps toward securing a coveted spot at the nation's premier youth rowing competition.
Southwest
In California, the 2025 USRowing Southwest Youth Championships will take place May 2–4 on Lake Natoma in Gold River. This year’s regatta will feature over 1,700 athletes racing in 663 boats across more than 50 events, representing 35 clubs from across the region. Leading the way in entries is Los Gatos Rowing Club, which will field 62 boats and look to defend its national title in the men’s quadruple sculls. Meanwhile, the women’s quadruple sculls promises a rematch, with Redwood Scullers aiming to repeat last year’s gold-medal performance over runner-up Los Gatos.
The Southwest region proved dominant in the 2024 Youth National Championships, producing multiple national champions and medalists. The men’s four with coxswain will be a race to watch, as last year’s top three crews—Newport Sea Base Rowing, NorCal, and Newport Aquatic Center (NAC)—are all returning to the event. Newport Sea Base captured gold last year in Sarasota, with NorCal and NAC earning silver and bronze, respectively. Oakland Strokes also had a standout showing in 2024, taking gold in the men’s four and bronze in the men’s eight. Expect Marin and Newport to contend again after finishing second and third in last year’s women’s eight.
Other Southwest clubs to watch include River City Rowing Club, who return to the women’s double sculls with a new lineup after last year's gold, and California Yacht Club, aiming to improve on their previous bronze in the men’s double sculls.
Central
Simultaneously, the 2025 USRowing Central Youth Championships will unfold May 2–4 on the Oklahoma River in Oklahoma City’s Boathouse District. The regatta will see over 700 athletes racing in 315 boats across nearly 50 events. Dallas United Crew leads the field in entries with 34 boats set to compete.
The women’s youth double sculls will be the largest event, featuring 20 entries. Episcopal School of Dallas will be looking to close the gap after narrowly missing gold in the men’s double sculls last year by just 2.3 seconds. Texas Rowing Center's men’s quadruple sculls, which took bronze at the 2024 Youth Nationals, also returns as a strong contender. In the women’s quadruple sculls, Hockaday and Founders Rowing Club, who finished 7th and 8th last year, are expected to build on their previous success.
Upcoming Regionals
The Mid-Atlantic and Southeast Regional Championships will take place the weekend of May 10–11, followed by the Northwest and Northeast Regional Championships on May 17–18. In addition, five other qualifying regattas will be held throughout May to determine the crews advancing to Sarasota to compete for the national title.
National Championships
The 2025 USRowing Youth National Championships will be held June 12–15 at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, Florida, in partnership with Visit Sarasota County and the Nathan Benderson Park Conservancy. Athletes must qualify through one of 11 regional regattas held over the next four weekends.
A world-class venue, Nathan Benderson Park has hosted numerous elite rowing events, including the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials and the 2024 Youth National Championships, solidifying its reputation as the premier stage for American rowing.
The 2025 Youth Series and 2025 USRowing Youth National Championships will be streamed live on Overnght.
