Imagine a sport where no padding is necessary - one in which shin guards, helmets, cleats and harnesses are obsolete. The only equipment necessary is a water bottle. This is a reality for rowing, a sport found right here in Richmond.

River City Crew is an inclusive, co-ed rowing program designed for eighth to twelfth grade students in Richmond. The team is comprised of students from 16 different public schools, and home schooled students are also welcome to join. River City Crew has several programs dedicated to producing fit, responsible and team-oriented rowers. The fall and spring seasons feature on-the-water workouts, which take place at Robious Landing Park located behind James River High School.

Rowing requires patience, dedication and enough willpower to learn techniques that push your body to its physical limits. Rowing works, not only your back muscles, but also your core, legs and arms. Learning to row is no easy task; rowers must be trained to have an excellent sense of balance, strength and synchronization.

After sprinting from the WWII Veterans Memorial Bridge to the Robious Landing dock against a "rival" boat in a mock competition, rowers feels like they could pass out. Arms are jelly-like, and they feel barely able to walk.  However, practice doesn’t end there. Rowers still have an eight-seater boat and oars to carry uphill back to the boathouse, shells to wipe down, seats to strap down and notches to check for optimal footing. They also gather tennis shoes and check the rigging one last time. Only then do they return home, knowing they left everything out on the water.

Collegiate senior and River City Crew Captain Patrick McKercher knows what it's like to fight his way to the top as a team, after having seen an overwhelming change in the team since he began in 2007. He explains, "River City Crew developed from a small team of about 15 to a team of about 60 over the span of two seasons. [We] usually compete strongly, finishing top three in every race and [competing] all around Virginia against some of the [state's] top teams."

Coach Tom O'Rourke attributes River City Crew's success to his passionate student athletes who understand that Crew offers a unique experience. Each individual rower cannot win a race alone; each stroke must be equally powerful and completely unified. One “checked” oar could be the difference between a loss and a win for the team.

Several learn-to-row summer sessions are offered beginning in June and running through August. “These sessions are for complete novices who are interested in learning about crew or joining later in the competitive seasons,” said Coach O’Rourke.

The team’s intensity is in full throttle in the spring and fall seasons, when rowers are out on the water. Their fall season runs from late August to mid-November, when novice rowers get a feel for what it’s like to row out on the James River, and returning students get back into the rhythm of working as a team. The team's spring season runs from March to late May.

If you want to see what it’s like to see a boat fly, cheer on River City Crew at the James River Regatta on April 16th at Robious Landing, or watch a spring practice Monday through Friday from 4-6 p.m.) For more information about River City Crew please visit www.rivercitycrew.com, or you may contact Tom O'Rourke at (804) 356-2799)or tom@rivercitycrew.com.