Masters Team
RCTW offers a successful and growing Masters team for adult athletes over the age of 21. Our Masters range from novices to highly experienced, with goals ranging from general fitness to winning national regattas.
No experience is necessary to join the Masters team. We offer Learn to Row sessions several times a year for new rowers. Experienced rowers transferring from another club are welcome to join without Learn to Row after evaluation by a member of our coaching staff.
Masters Learn to Row
The Masters Learn to Row course is designed to introduce the sport of rowing to adult newcomers and serve as a refresher for those returning to the sport. Completing the course is required for those in both categories to the Masters (21+) program of RCTW.
The Learn to Row course is organized and conducted by experienced members of RCTW, volunteering to teach, coach and join you on the water. After completing the Learn to Row course, each participant will have 30 days to try out the membership in RCTW before joining. During that time, we encourage you to join practice sessions and coordinate rowing with other members in our RCTW Master group chat on GroupMe.com, which is the primary forum for RCTW Masters communications (you will receive an invitation to join that group chat).
Course Structure
- Three 2-hour sessions over a weekend.
- Fri 5:30pm – 7:30pm – boathouse tour, introduction to rowing, navigation/safety, erging and other fundamentals
- Saturday 9:30am-11:30am – on-water session, stroke basics and practice/drills
- Sunday 9:30am-11:30am – on-water session, stroke basics and practice/drills
Course Fee and Waiver
The cost for each participant is $250 (plus payment card processing fee).
Each participant will be required to sign a standard waiver and release form.
Eligibility
- No experience is necessary.
- You must be over the age of 18.
- You should be able to swim, tread water and lift 30 lbs over your head.
- Due to boat weight restrictions, you must weigh less than 230 lbs.
Location
The RCTW Boathouse located at Northshore Park, 2505 Lake Woodlands Drive, Unit A, The Woodlands, TX 77381
Gear and Attire
- No specialized gear is required.
- Wear close-fitting athletic wear in synthetic, moisture wicking and breathable knit fabric.
- Bring sneakers/dock shoes with rigid and slip resistant soles and socks.
- Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and plastic water bottle are recommended.
Rescheduling and Makeups
If we have to cancel a session due to inclement weather or park directives, we will notify participants of any schedule changes as early as possible. No other makeup sessions will be offered.
Masters Learn to Row 2026 Schedule
MAR
13-15
May
15-17
JUL
10-12
Sep
11-13
NOV
13-15
Registration
Registration is conducted through Boathouse Connect. Click on a class link associated with the session to create an account on Boathouse Connect to register and pay for the class. Please note that your registration is not complete until you have paid for the class and completed and signed the waiver/release in Boathouse Connect.
Experienced and Visiting Rowers
Visitors from other clubs are welcome to join practices and other scheduled group rows. Please contact membership@woodlandsrowing.org.
Experienced, active rowers are welcome to join the RCTW Masters following evaluation by an RCTW coach.
FAQs
What is the Masters Program?
The masters program is RCTW’s adult rowing team. Our Masters’ level of experience ranges from competitive athletes to absolute beginners. Some of our Masters rowed competitively in college, while many first learned to row through our club. Masters have access to the RCTW boathouse, boats and other equipment, as well as special programs like rowing camps with guest coaches retained by the club. Masters practice and row together recreationally and compete and support each other in regattas (on an optional basis).
What is the minimum age to join Masters program?
Masters must be at least 21 years old.
What experience level is needed to join, and is there a trial or beginner’s class?
No prior experience is required.
Beginners complete a Learn to Row class and water safety assessment before joining.
Are there any physical requirements?
Yes. To row, you must be able to swim, tread water and lift 30 lbs over your head. Our boats can support up to an average of 230lbs, therefore, a weight limitation of less than 230lbs is necessary.
Are there any other rowing lessons (private or semi-private)?
No. The Learn to Row course is designed to put you in the position of beginning to row, but you will gain technique, skills, strength and confidence to partake in the sport of rowing by joining in practices and rowing with other Masters.
How do the Masters stay in touch?
Primary communication is through GroupMe. You will receive an invitation to join the Masters’ GroupMe chat. Masters organize practices and coordinate with one another to row through GroupMe.
Are there any social activities off-water?
Yes. We love to have breakfast together after a morning’s row on the weekends. We also organize other get-togethers on an ad hoc basis. The Masters are a friendly, outgoing group, diverse in age and background, sharing a passion for the sport of rowing, and eager to welcome and introduce others to it.
What are the costs to join?
Annual membership for 2025 is $610. The annual membership fee is prorated for midyear joiners. The membership fee helps to cover the boathouse lease and park/township fees, purchasing and maintaining the boats and other equipment, insurance, US rowing membership, plus special programs like rowing camps with guest coaches. If you support the club through volunteering on one of our committees for at least 10 hours in a calendar year, you will receive a $100 discount on your membership fees for the following year.
There is an additional fee for Masters who wish to compete in racing events. The additional feesupports entry fees, transportation of equipment, coaches’ meals and lodging and other costs, and averages around $100-$200 per event. This cost varies based on the number of events you compete in, the length of the regatta, and other fees, which are shared by the regatta participants. Competitor’s lodging and transportation are their expense.
What are the club’s boats and equipment?
RCTW has several racing shells – singles, doubles and quads – as well as a few tubs used to train novices. RCTW is primarily a sculling crew, but we have a few shells outfitted for sweep rowing.
There are also several Concept2 erg (indoor rowing) machines and other training equipment at the boathouse.
Where is the RCTW boathouse, and what are boathouse hours?
The RCTW boathouse is located in The Woodlands’ Northshore Park, at 2505 Lake Woodlands Drive, Unit A, The Woodlands, Texas 77381. Boathouse hours are the Northshore Park hours.
Additonal questions?
If you have any other questions, reach out to membership@woodlandsrowing.org.
Please allow a few days for us to respond, we are a volunteer-driven nonprofit, but be assured that we will get back to you.
See you on the water!
