South Orlando Rowing Association SORA News

Ergathon

Wed, 28 Oct 2020 12:00:08 GMT

We have an Ergathon!

SORA Crew will be having an Ergathon Fundraiser during the week of November 2, 2020. The Ergathon is to raise funds to upgrade our fleet of boats and to be able to host our end of season celebrations.

Our club will commit to rowing 500,000 meters during this week. This goal will be shared between our High School and Middle School rowers, and our Masters rowers and SORA staff. We are asking all High School and Middle School rowers to participate and seek sponsorship for their meters rowed. Each rower should have a goal (10,000 meters for HS, 5,000 meters for MS) to help us reach our 500,000 meters goal.

Let’s support our rowing community by supporting SORA's effort to build a fleet to compete effectively at our regattas. There will be prizes for: Most Funds Raised (1 for High School and 1 for Middle School) and Most Meters Rowed (1 for Varsity, 1 for Sophomore/Freshmen, 1 for Middle School). In addition, families who contribute over $150 will see their name proudly displayed on the team banner on race day at regattas.

Erging will take place at Moss Park during weekday practice. To ensure we are social distancing, coaches will hold different erging sessions during the week of November 2 during regular practice time. At the end of each row, a picture of the erg monitor display showing the number of meters rowed in order to provide evidence for sponsors.

Key Dates

Monday, October 19 Sign up forms handed out to individual rowers at practices
Monday, November 16 All monies due to SORA (Each rower can either write a check to South Orlando Rowing Association for the total amount of their pledges or can pay via PayPal)
Week of November 16 All prizes will be awarded at practices

Saturday Schedule Change

Mon, 28 Sep 2020 19:10:56 GMT

We will be making a change to our Saturday schedule to help with unifying both the boys and girls teams and to help keep down the numbers that arrive/are on land at one time.

New Saturday Schedule - Starting, Oct 3

8:00am - Boys Team
8:30am - Masters
8:45am - Girls Team

Coach Terry and I will be making an announcement today at practice, however it is important to remind ALL rowers that it is VERY important that HS and Masters do not arrive until their scheduled time. If a parent or rower is dropping off at a time other than their scheduled time, we ask that they do not park in front of the boathouse or get out of their car until the allotted time.

I know there is a lot of confusion about the Governor's announcement on Friday, however Orange County Parks receives all of its mandates from the Mayor's Office. Even though the governor stated that we are going to Phase 3 and local governments cannot make their own rules, they are allowed to keep existing rules in place so the Orange County policy stands. We have a great relationship with the park and with Maegan the site supervisor and want to be sure that we are following the mandate set by the mayor and Orange county parks.

Winter Break Youth Rowing Schedule

Fri, 27 Dec 2019 19:02:27 GMT

Here is the full high school schedule for the winter break.

Friday - Dec 20 Secret Santa Gift Exchange
Saturday - Dec 21 - Holiday Breakfast after practice
Monday - Dec 23 - 8 AM Practice
NO Practice Dec. 24-26
Friday - Dec. 27 - 8 AM Practice
Saturday - Dec 28 - 8 AM Practice

Sun - Dec 29 - Ben Davison, USA Olympic Hopeful, University of Washington Alumni and US Rowing Sculler will host a Sculling Clinic in the 1x and 2x's.The clinic will consist of time on the water and Ben will discuss his experience on the US National Team, College Rowing, Nutrition and his experiences with US Rowing.

Cost $30 (Register Here)
Time 8am - Noon
Number of slots: 16

Monday - Dec. 30 - 8 AM Practice
NO Practice - Dec. 31 and Jan 1
Thursday - Jan 2 - 8 AM Practice
Friday - Jan 3 - 8 AM Practice
Saturday - Jan 4 - 8 AM Practice
Monday - Jan 6 - 8 AM Practice

On Tuesday, January 7th we will return to regular afternoon practices. This week will also begin Thursday practices for all varsity rowers and select novices. Please see your coach if you have any questions/concerns about Thursday practice.

Upcoming L2Row Events

Sun, 17 Nov 2019 18:48:37 GMT

Learn to Row $75 per Session

In these L2Row you will learn the basics of rowing with others that are just starting out. This class will teach you everything you need to know from carrying oars and boats, to your first time on the erg (rowing Machine) to rowing on the water.

Dec. 3 & Dec. 5 Tues/Thurs 9:00am - 11:30am
Dec. 14 & Dec. 15 Sat/Sun 9:00am - 11:30am
Jan. 21 & Jan. 23 Tues/Thurs 9:00am - 11:30am
Feb. 4 & Feb. 6 Tues/Thurs 9:00am - 11:30am
Feb. 29 & Mar. 1 Sat/Sun 9:00am - 11:30am
Mar. 10 & Mar. 12 Tues/Thurs 9:00am - 11:30am
Mar. 31 & April 2 Tues/Thurs 9:00am - 11:30am
Apr. 15 & Apr.17 Wed/Fri 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Apr. 29 - May 1 Wed/Fri 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Register at Events

Questions - Please contact Kelly Hagan - kelly@soracrew.com or Coach Deidrah Kennedy - coachdeidrah@soracrew.com

Spring Regatta Info

Wed, 27 Mar 2019 11:54:14 GMT

2019 Spring Travel Information

We are very excited for the start of our 2019 Spring Travel Season. Here is a general overview of travel regatta information and costs for the three regattas that have been planned at this time. SE Regional Championships will be a small select group, those rowers will be notified by Coach Terry if they will be attending. Detailed Information for Miami has already been sent out. Detailed information for both Sculling and Sweep states will be out in the coming days. All questions in regards to if your rower is or is not rowing in the following regattas, should be directed to Coach Terry.

Miami International Regatta - April 5th - April 6th

Rower registration - $175

Included in the registration fee is the following:

Transportation  
Lodging - 1 night
Hospitality will provide nutritious snacks and lunch on Saturday at the regatta
Regatta fees
Boat transportation

Venue: Miami Rowing Club

3601 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149

Departure: Friday, April 5th, 2019 at 3:00pm
Lake Hart/Moss Park Publix parking lot
10615 Narcoossee Rd, Orlando, FL 32832
(Corner of Moss Park Rd & Narcoossee)

Return: Saturday, April 6th, 2019 - Evening

We will be departing Miami immediately following the regatta and return to Lake Nona

Lake Hart/Moss Park Publix parking lot
10615 Narcoossee Rd, Orlando, FL 32832
(Corner of Moss Park Rd & Narcoossee)

Hotel: HIlton Garden Inn - 305-854-2070
2500 Brickell Ave, Miami, FL 33129
www.HGIMiamiBrickellSouth.com

FSRA Sculling States - April 12th - April 14th

Rower registration - $250

Included in the registration fee is the following:

Transportation
Lodging - 2 nights
Friday Night Pasta Dinner at hotel
Hospitality will provide nutritious snacks and a catered lunch on both Saturday and Sunday at the regatta.
Hospitality Tent Rental - 20 x 20 tent, Nathan Benderson rules state that you must rent a tent from them if it is over 10 x 10
Regatta fees
Boat transportation

Venue: Nathan Benderson Park
5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota, FL 34235

Departure: Friday, April 12th, 2019 at 11:45am
Lake Hart/Moss Park Publix parking lot
10615 Narcoossee Rd, Orlando, FL 32832
(Corner of Moss Park Rd & Narcoossee)

Return: Sunday, April 14th, 2019 - Evening

We will be departing Sarasota immediately following the regatta and return to Lake Nona

Lake Hart/Moss Park Publix parking lot
10615 Narcoossee Rd, Orlando, FL 32832
(Corner of Moss Park Rd & Narcoossee)

Hotel Hyatt Place - Sarasota / Lakewood Ranch - 2.5 miles to venue

6021 Exchange Way, Bradenton , Florida 34202
www.sarasota.lakewoodranch.place.hyatt.com
941-748-3100

FSRA Sweep States - April 26th - April 28th

Rower registration - $250

Included in the registration fee is the following:

Transportation
Lodging - 2 nights
Friday Night Pasta Dinner at hotel
Hospitality will provide nutritious snacks and a catered lunch on both Saturday and Sunday at the regatta.
Hospitality Tent Rental - 20 x 20 tent, Nathan Benderson rules state that you must rent a tent from them if it is over 10 x 10
Regatta fees
Boat transportation

Venue: Nathan Benderson Park
5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota, FL 34235

Departure: Friday, April 26th, 2019 at 11:45am
Lake Hart/Moss Park Publix parking lot
10615 Narcoossee Rd, Orlando, FL 32832
(Corner of Moss Park Rd & Narcoossee)

Return: Sunday, April 28th, 2019 - Evening

We will be departing Sarasota immediately following the regatta and return to Lake Nona

Lake Hart/Moss Park Publix parking lot
10615 Narcoossee Rd, Orlando, FL 32832
(Corner of Moss Park Rd & Narcoossee)

Hotel: LaQuinta Inn & Suites - Sarasota I-75- 3 miles to venue
5931 Commercial Way, Sarasota, FL 34232
www.lq.com
941-342-8778

Text Sign-up for regatta specific information: This is the best way to get up to the minute information. Information will be sent out via text the entire weekend.

Miami International Text to 81010 the message @9h96dk

FSRA Sculling States Text to 81010 the message @scull2

FSRA Sweep States Text to 81010 the message @sweep20

Packing list:

SORA duffle or similar SMALL DUFFLE ONLY

Regatta Wear and Travel Wear

Unisuit
Hi-Vis Yellow Shirt and Hat
Solid black shorts or pants. (no stripes or markings of any other color)
SORA jacket or black SORA half-zip pullover.

Travel Gear

Warm-weather practice gear
Rain gear
SORA practice/regatta clothes for 2 Regatta Day
Non- Racing gear for Friday - Sunday
Toiletries
Refillable water bottle
SMALL backpack for daily regatta gear

Meals: The rowers should have money for all non-provided meals.

Miami

Friday

Dinner on own

Saturday

Breakfast at the hotel - No Cost
Lunch provided by SORA - No Cost
Dinner on own after Regatta

Sculling States

Friday

Lunch on their own
Dinner Pasta Dinner provided by SORA

Saturday

Breakfast at the hotel - No Cost
Lunch provided by SORA - No Cost
Dinner on own - Transportation will be provided

Sunday

Breakfast at the hotel - No Cost
Lunch provided by SORA - No Cost
Dinner on own after Regatta

Sweep States

Friday Lunch on their own
Dinner Pasta Dinner provided by SORA

Saturday

Breakfast at the hotel - No Cost
Lunch provided by SORA No Cost
Dinner on own - Transportation will be provided

Sunday

Breakfast at the hotel - No Cost
Lunch provided by SORA No Cost
Dinner on own after Regatta

Nathan Benderson Updated Rules and Information

Parking: $5 parking fee per day
Tents: No tents allowed on the beach.

Spectator Bike Path:

Spectators are welcome to bring their own bikes. All public areas are accessible, except only coaches are allowed on the Coaches' Ride Along Path on the western shoreline. There is a secondary path which is available to Spectators slightly west of the Coaches' Path

Regatta Tower Access:

Regatta VIP tower tickets will be $10 per day advance sales / $15 at the door. Purchase tickets at this link: https://www.regattacentral.com/clubs/?org_id=1583

Limited number of Tower Access tickets will be sold. Tower opens at 7:30am Tickets provide access to the 2nd floor only.

Emergency Contact Numbers

Coach Terry Davison 352-422-7366
Kelly Hagan - SORA Program Coordinator 407-744-6298
Dave Keezel - SORA Board President 407-920-1971

If you have any questions, contact Kelly Hagan, Coach Terry, or any member of the SORA Board.

SORA Gear Store down for maintenance.

Mon, 25 Feb 2019 19:13:54 GMT

We are making some changes to the store. It will be back soon.

High School Practice Schedule Changes for This/Next Week

Wed, 30 Jan 2019 13:23:39 GMT

HS Rowers and Families,

As we gear up this week for the start of Sprint Season starting with Novice regatta on Saturday, February 2nd and Southern Erg Sprints the following Saturday February 9th, I would like to inform you of a change in our typical schedule. Due to circumstances beyond my control, I will be making a quick trip to Ireland tomorrow returning next Thursday prior to Erg sprints. With this unexpected trip I am confident that I have a good plan in place to keep the momentum going.

I am confident that our Novices are ready for our first big race of the Spring Season. Typically the week or two prior to erg sprints most of the focus is on spending time on the erg and this year is no different. However, many of our rowers have, or have access to, ergs at their homes and local gyms. Because of this ALL erg days will be completed at HOME.

If you do not have an erg, please speak to either Kelly or Coach Katie about borrowing/signing out one from the club.

The schedule is as follows (this information can also be found on the SORA Calendar):

Wednesday, January 30th Regular practice at the park 2:30pm - 4:30pm
Thursday, January 31st Practice for ALL high school rowers - Boat Loading
Friday, February 1st
- Novice OFF - Rest day
- HS Varsity ERG day
- 4K steady state, 3 x 750, 3 minutes rest
Saturday, February 2nd Novice Regatta
- HS Varsity encouraged to attend regatta, we will have two ergs there for training
- 3K steady state, 5 x 500, 2 minutes rest
Sunday, February 3rd Rest Day
Monday, February 4th Erg Day for ALL
- 3K steady state, 3 x 1000, 100 on 100 off, 3 minutes rest
Tuesday, February 5th Regular practice at the park - 3:30pm - 5:30pm
Wednesday, February 6th Erg Day for ALL
- 2K steady state, 3 x 300- 80%, 1:30 rest, 1500 Piece
Thursday, February 7th Regular practice at the park - 3:30pm - 5:30pm
Friday, February 8th Rest Day
Saturday, February 9th Southern Erg Sprints - details to follow

Information on Novice Regatta - This Saturday, February 2nd is Novice regatta at Turkey Lake, it is a in-town regatta. Coach Katie and Coach Joe will both be in attendance, in addition to our Program Director Kelly Hagan and many of our Board members to assist. While this is a regatta that is focused on our Novice and Middle School teams, we highly encourage our Varsity girls and boys to attend to support the rest of the team and help out in the absence of myself.

Arrival Times for Rowers

Coaches and Coxswains 6:30am
All Rowers 7:00am

If you have any questions. Please feel free to reach out to me or anyone else on staff.

Thank you,
Coach Terry

2019 Spring Travel Team Hotels

Tue, 22 Jan 2019 18:51:05 GMT

Miami, Fl - Miami Rowing Club

Homewood Suites - Miami Downtown/Brickell
1750SW 1st Ave.
Miami, FL 33125
305-285-7112

www.miamidowntownbrickell.homewoodsuites.com

Sarasota, Fl - Nathan Benderson Park

Hyatt Place - Sarasota / Lakewood Ranch - 2.5 miles to venue
6021 Exchange Way
Bradenton , Florida 34202
941-748-3100

Sarasota, Fl - Nathan Benderson Park

LaQuinta Inn & Suites - Sarasota I-75- 3 miles to venue
5931 Commercial Way
Sarasota, FL 34232

941-342-8778

Oak Ridge, TN - Melton Lake

Staybridge Suites Knoxville West - 15.9 miles to venue
11319 Campbell Lakes Drive
Knoxville, TN 37934

865-675-7829

Sarasota, Fl - Nathan Benderson Park

Hyatt Place - Sarasota / Lakewood Ranch - 2.5 miles to venue
6021 Exchange Way
Bradenton , Florida 34202

941-748-3100

Thanksgiving Week Practice Schedule

Wed, 14 Nov 2018 20:42:05 GMT

Middle School: No Practice

High School: Mon, Tues & Wed 8am-10am

Welcome to the 2018-2019 Youth Rowing Season!!!

Tue, 04 Sep 2018 17:09:34 GMT

The Board of Directors of the South Orlando Rowing Association wants to welcome each of you to the 2018-2019 rowing season. While we are a non-profit organization established to promote rowing and build competitive teams, we are also a collection of rowers, parents and enthusiasts who are excited to watch these athletes do what they love to do most of all...race!

Lead again by Terry Davison, our veteran coaching staff returns for another champion-producing season, but our summer lineup began with a novice Board of Directors. Together, we are deeply committed to keeping SORA a great place to row. Each one of us is eager to see your athlete thrive. We are grateful for your interest and welcome your comments. Your inquiries can be sent to any one of us via email, or feel free to catch us in the boatyard or on race day. Additionally, this Board would like to offer a hearty, “Thank you!” to the last Board of Directors for their tireless efforts. Thank you for keeping SORA - and all of us - going strong.

Also new to the 2018-2019 SORA lineup is Program Coordinator, Kelly Hagan. She will collaborate with the Board and coaches to help make sure we are compliant, on track, and best meeting both individual and team needs. You can contact Kelly at kelly@soracrew.com. Robert McClory returns to keep our website current, to assist with online member interactions, and to keep our rowers’ accounts up-to-date. Robert is best reached at support@soracrew.com

Also back again are many of you - our tireless volunteers. Thank you for your efforts at the successful Breakfast at the Boatyard event. We appreciate your time and look forward to working with you more throughout the season. Your contributions make a significant difference and SORA would not be the same without you.

This new season holds a lot of potential for our teams. While life in any organization is always changing, there are some things that are constant. Fast rowers in fast boats means fast fun...and we plan on helping create a lot of that while we cheer your athlete on.

Until we see you - row fast, work hard, and have fun. And GO SORA!

Sincerely,

Dave Keezel, President - dkeezel@gmail.com
Susie Schmideler, 1st Vice-President - qmaliblue@gmail.com
Amy Morris, 2nd Vice-President - amyjomorris@gmail.com
Mike Cogen, Treasurer - cogen@mpinet.net
Amy Hillis, Secretary - amy.hillis@gmail.com

2018-2019 Youth Rowing Registration Now Open!

Wed, 22 Aug 2018 14:59:18 GMT

The time has come to register for our High School and Middle School 2018-2019 Season. Click here to go to the registration page.

Most of the details for the upcoming season can be found on that page or on our website but we will have a Parent's Meeting soon to fill you in on what to expect this year.

Support SORA's Own Mike Varro

Tue, 26 Jun 2018 14:57:03 GMT

SORA At Nationals!!!

Fri, 08 Jun 2018 12:11:50 GMT

SORA's Lightweight Girls 4+ Nationals Schedule (Eastern time... and as always subject to change): 

Time Trial - Fri 12:33pm
Reps (2 Flights) - Fri 5:52pm
Semis (2 Flights)- Sat 12:52pm
(A) Final - Sun 12:20pm

Live broadcasts from Nationals:

Main Page: https://www.youtube.com/user/usrowingorg

Friday Reps: https://youtu.be/8b-CNRn0Q_A
Saturday Semi's: https://youtu.be/hM9Q2O51-mY
Sunday Finals: https://youtu.be/6Ny4DOTiVQc

Heat sheet is here: https://www.herenow.com/results/#/races/20504/heats

Results here: https://www.herenow.com/results/#/races/20504/results

Pig Floyd's Spirit Night

Fri, 23 Feb 2018 14:12:12 GMT

Come join us from 5-9 PM on Thursday, March 8th at Pig Floyds (https://pigfloyds.com/) in Lake Nona for another SORA Spirit Night! 15% of the proceeds will go to benefit our club so please tell all your family and friends.

Club Sponsorship Opportunities Available

Sun, 18 Feb 2018 03:48:59 GMT

You'll notice our new club sponsorship area on the website. If you are interested in having your company's logo displayed as an official SORA sponsor, please email fundraising@soracrew.com for more information.

Action Required: High School State's Pre-Registration

Mon, 29 Jan 2018 13:13:02 GMT

Deadline 2/20/18

In an effort to be pro-active this year, we want to get all of our High School rowers pre-registered for States as soon as possible. They are very strict about this process so please read and follow the instructions below. We appreciate your help with this. Please send the requested documents/picture to support@soracrew.com or as a reply to this email.

Returning rowers (see list below) only need to do step #1

1. Current School Enrollment Documentation

Documentation showing the athlete is currently enrolled in a Florida state secondary education program. The document must include 4 items: athlete’s name, institution attending, grade level or graduation year, and current date. Examples of acceptable forms that should have all 4 required items: class schedule, transcripts, report cards, ED-line info page, etc.

--------------------------------------------

2. Athlete Photo

A recent digital photo of each athlete taken individually against a mono-color background with a clear view of their face (a referee looking at this photo must be able to recognize the athlete wearing the ID). Preferably the image should be no more than mid-torso up. No sunglasses or hats, caps, visors, etc. Photo should be taken in a portrait orientation and recommend files size is about 1MB (thumb nail size photos are not scalable and will be rejected). If it's a phone picture, send the full-size or original-size file.

If you are not on the list at the end of this email, you also need to provide the following:

3. Photo ID

Any school or government issued photo ID with name and photo on it is acceptable. Examples: passport, county park ID, driver’s license, green card, military ID, etc. If the student does not have a photo ID, they can get a Florida ID from their local DMV office.

4. Date of Birth

If the school documents and photo ID submitted don’t have a Date of Birth listed, provide a copy of the athlete’s birth certificate.

Athletes who do NOT need to do #2, #3 or #4

Evan ALI-MCCLORY
Aron ALI-MCCLORY
Nicholas ANTRIM
Kyra BALDASSARRA
Madison BOGERT
Lindsey BUCKREIS
Giovanni CARRION
Theresa COGEN
Abhinav DHULIPALA
Abriana DUTTON
Alex FENTRESS
Drew GILL
Parker HAGAN
Madeline HILLIS
Sophia KEEZEL
Julian KERN
Ratnesh KESINENI
Timothy LABATO
Nina LEMOS
Alexandra LUKE
Ryan MARTIN
Alex MILLER
Avery MORRIS
Madelyne MURPHY
Sydney NOVAK
Lauren OWENS
Hanna PERRY
Laina PINNA
Jonathan ROBERS
Logan SCHMIDELER
Kiera SHEA
Claire SLATER
Brody SUMMERS
Leala VAN MALLEGHEM
Matthew WILLIAMS

Save The Date: Feburary 17th

Fri, 26 Jan 2018 13:17:59 GMT

What: Sam's Club Fundraising Opportunity
Who: All SORA Rowers and a Few Parents
When: Saturday, February 17th

From 10am - 5pm on Saturday, February 17th we will have an opportunity for our kids to do some fundraising outside of the Lake Nona Sam's club. This will be a great opportunity for our rowers to get out into the community and raise awareness/funds for our club.

Please save this date so we can have everyone participate. Details and signup to come very soon.

Nonahood News Features BJ!

Wed, 24 Jan 2018 15:26:18 GMT

In a recurring series, Nonahood News features "everyday heroes" and this time it's SORA's on Robert BJ Jackson. It's a great read about a pretty amazing guy:

https://www.nonahoodnews.com/nona-heroes-specialist-robert-bj-jackson/?utm_campaign=nona-heroes-specialist-robert-bj-jackson&utm_medium=social_link&utm_source=missinglettr

2018 Kickoff Dinner Tonight!

Fri, 19 Jan 2018 21:59:00 GMT

We want to invite all our members and their families to our annual Spring Kickoff Dinner at 6:30, Lake Nona High School Cafeteria.

If you are bringing food for the Pot Luck, please arrive between 6:15 and 6:30. We also ask that you bring serving utensils. The dinner will start at 6:30 and information program will start around 7:00.

Election Results, Fundraising Success and EOY Ceremony

Tue, 12 Dec 2017 13:15:00 GMT

Election Results

Last night we had our board elections for 2018 and the new board was unanimously approved.

President - Phil Murphy
1st VP - Lori Varro
2nd VP - Mike Cogen
Treasurer - Mike Shea
Secretary - Kelly Hagan

They will start their term on January 1st. Thank you to outgoing board members Ron Yelland (Treasurer) and Sarah Miller (Secretary) for your outstanding service to SORA.

Fundraising Success

So far we've had two spirit nights bringing in nearly $800. Thank you to all who came to McDonald's and Chipolte to support our cause. That money is going towards funding some new sculling oars and improving our launch motors.

High School End of Year Awards Ceremony

We're currently looking for high school parents (Freshman-Junior) to form a committee to plan our end of year ceremony to be held on May 25th (Venue TBD). Our Senior parents will contribute but we'd like to start a new tradition of them being able to enjoy this last awards ceremony without having to plan it. Please email support@soracrew.com if you are interested in helping.

Board Elections

Mon, 04 Dec 2017 17:24:43 GMT

It's time for SORA Board of Directors Nominations and Elections. If you are interested in serving on the board, please use the link below to download the nominations form. Please read both the requirements for qualification and the attached bylaw sections about duties and responsibilities.

Application: SORA Board of Directors Nomination Form 2017.pdf

The application deadline will be 9pm on December 6th, 2017. No applications will be accepted after that time.

You may nominate yourself or someone else but if you're nominating someone else, they will need to complete/submit the application by the deadline.

There are only two ways to submit your nomination application:

Send an email with the nomination form attached to support@soracrew.com with the subject line: SORA Board Nomination Application. You must receive a reply confirming receipt of your application for it to be considered submitted.
Hand the form directly to our current Secretary, Sarah Miller who can be reached at 407-256-9129 if you want to make arrangements to meet her at the park during practice hours. Applications submitted this way will receive email confirmation from Sarah as proof of submission.

No applications will be accepted if submitted any other way.

Existing board members who wish to be considered for re-election must also submit an application.

The elections will be held on Monday, December 11th at 6:00 PM at the Lake Nona YMCA. We will publish a slate of nominations after the 12/6 deadline and voting will take place in person at the meeting. If we have competing nominations for a single position(s) we will reach out to each nominee to make sure they want to run for a contested position or switch to an uncontested position if available. We encourage all nominees to be present at the election.

Turkey Scrimmage

Mon, 20 Nov 2017 18:34:59 GMT

When we announced that the Head of the Giblet was cancelled it took a race off the calendar of a lot of teams including ours. While we weren't ready to pull off the kind of regatta we've done in the past, Coach Terry wanted to make sure our rowers still got a chance to race and test themselves against a quality team. That turned into a two team dual/scrimmage against Sarasota Scullers and the day could not have gone better. SORA wants to thank the coaches, rowers and parents of Sarasota Scullers for making the trip. We look forward to seeing you throughout the year and having you back again next season.

HOTS a Success!!!

Mon, 20 Nov 2017 18:26:39 GMT

Over the weekend of 11th and 12th, our high school varsity rowers and a few masters traveled up to the Head of the South regatta in Augusta, Ga. All rowers put in a great effort and we brought home a few medals in the Women's Jr Lightweight 1x (1st), Women's Jr Novice 1x (2nd), Women's Jr 2x (3rd) and Men's Jr Novice 8+ (3rd).

Congrats to all who went on the trip for braving the cold weather to represent SORA well!

Returning to Moss Park!!!

Wed, 25 Oct 2017 12:54:37 GMT

We have a big week of news and events at SORA including our return to Moss Park!!! Here are the details:

High School:

Wednesday - Rowing boats from IOP to Moss Park and then shuttled back to IOP to finish practice.
Friday - Practice at Moss Park
Saturday - Practice at Moss Park
Saturday - 10:30am Work Day (Boatyard cleanup, prep, etc). All parent help appreciated.

Middle School:

Wednesday - Off but please go to Moss Park to get your park passes between 1pm - 7pm
Thursday - Start practice at IOP and rowing boats across to Moss Park to finish practice. Pickup will be at Moss Park.
Saturday - Halloween Regatta

Starting next Monday, all programs will resume practice at Moss Park at regularly scheduled times unless otherwise notified via text, email or news.

Gator Head Regatta Uniform/Gear

Fri, 20 Oct 2017 13:04:25 GMT

The following is to clarify what all rowers should wear & bring tomorrow. We hope to have the Uni order in time for racing tomorrow but it's not guaranteed so we ask the following:

All rowers who have these bring

Unisuit
SORA High-Vis Shirt
SORA Polo
SORA High-Vis Hat

You should arrive wearing your Uni (if you have one) and SORA Polo (or other SORA shirt if you don't have a polo). The idea is to look professional and "the same". No rower should be wearing any shirt without a SORA logo.

The High-Vis Shirts are if the Uni order doesn't come in, Coach Terry wants to be able to put out full boats of rowers in SORA High-Vis shirts if necessary.

Moss Park to Hold Puerto Rico Benefit Event September 30th

Fri, 22 Sep 2017 17:33:20 GMT

If you are in town next Saturday, Orange County is holding an event at Moss Park to help those affected by hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. It would be great to have SORA represented there since we both have members who were directly affected by this and it's being held at our home park.

This is a hurricane relief effort for Puerto Rico coordinated by Jennifer Thompson, Orange County Commissioner. The event will take place next Saturday, Sept. 30th at Moss Park from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm. There will be a 5K run starting at 9:00am. We have enormous shipping containers to be filled with supplies that will be sent over via cargo ship. Details to follow as soon as we have them but please consider helping. We're looking for organizations and individuals to fill boxes (thinking 16x16 packing boxes) with supplies for 1-family that can stack neatly in the shipping containers. Thank you in advance for your assistance.

A great article about our own Mike Varro's Team USA Boat

Tue, 19 Sep 2017 18:01:14 GMT

http://www.row2k.com/worlds/features.cfm?id=3919&site=worlds

Moss Park Closed For Now

Thu, 14 Sep 2017 13:30:25 GMT

No doubt this is trying times for many in our area after Irma. We hope you are all doing well, getting power back and are coping the best you can. Please reach out to your SORA family if you have need. We have a large and diverse membership that may be able to help. If you need help, email support@soracrew.com and we'll be happy to use our system to ask on your behalf, even if it's to locate a hard to find item or find stores that are open. Let us be a resource if you need it.

As for us, SORA isn't the worst off by far but the damage to our boatyard, dock and Moss Park itself will take some time to recover from. Please know the board and coaching staff are working on plans for temporary and long-term rebuilding. We hope to be able to send word out of those plans soon.

The most important information we have to share is this: Per Orange County Park Services and our local Moss Park manager, we need to keep out of Moss Park while their cleanup is happening.

While it's true our boatyard and dock area sustained damage, Moss Park itself suffered even more and there is a massive amount of cleanup to be done... and yes, as a club we've discussed jumping in to help if they want it but for now they have to do certain things just to make it safe to enter.

So the park is closed until further notice (we hope it reopens next week) and we've committed to keeping all members and staff out until they tell us we can reenter. This is crucial to our relationship with not only Moss Park but Orange County Park Services and we ask that everyone associated with SORA honor the commitment we've made so they can do their work.

On a positive note, our GoFundMe drive has been amazingly successful so far (https://www.gofundme.com/sorarebuild) and we appreciate everyone who is donating and sharing. With your continued support, we believe our initial goal is attainable but we're not quite there yet so please keep passing the link/post around. Remember, even if you are not in a position to donate yourself, sharing on your social media feeds can help a lot.

Thank you for your patience and if you have questions, please email Phil at president@soracrew.com or reach out to coach Terry at tdavison5@tampabay.rr.com.

GoFundMe Drive Live

Wed, 13 Sep 2017 12:18:37 GMT

https://www.gofundme.com/sorarebuild

As you all know by now, our boatyard (And Moss Park generally) has suffered tremendous damage from Irma. We have started a GoFundMe drive to help raise funds to help us rebuild. We appreciate any contributions but even if you aren't able to contribute directly, sharing to your social media accounts can help a lot. Thank you and once we get up and running again we hope to see you all back at the park.

Irma Did Damage

Tue, 12 Sep 2017 16:02:54 GMT

First and foremost, we hope all of you came through hurricane Irma safe and without significant damage to your property. We know some or even many of you lost power and some still don't have it back yet. Please reach out to the extended SORA family if you need anything. This is a time to help each other as much as possible.

I wanted to send word out that our boatyard & dock did suffer significant damage which will prevent us from rowing for at least a week, maybe more. Coach Terry and President Phil have a plan to recover but it will take some time. We are looking into insurance coverage and also will be sending out a gofundme to raise some funds to help in those efforts.

Please do not go to the park until advised by SORA/Coach Terry. When we are at the point where we are ready to ask for members' help, we will.

Coach Terry will be sending erg workouts for those with ergs at home and trying to organize a temporary home for our SORA ergs somewhere so we can have organized workouts.

More word on that, pictures from the park, the link to a gofundme and more soon.

1pm Today for Final Irma Boatyard Prep

Fri, 08 Sep 2017 12:01:58 GMT

We are asking all high school rowers to join Coach Terry at 1pm for final boatyard storm prep. We need to get the rest of the boats on the trailer and all remaining loose articles secured ahead of Irma. Thank you in advance for all who can make it to help.

Hurricane Irma Update

Thu, 07 Sep 2017 16:08:33 GMT

Practice is cancelled for all programs for Saturday and Monday. We hope to resume normal operations on Tuesday.

We will need all high school rowers able to attend practice tomorrow (Friday) to help with securing the boatyard and loading the trailer.

Please stay safe during the storm.

Irma & SORA

Wed, 06 Sep 2017 16:27:50 GMT

Hello all. Just passing along that Coach Terry and President Phil are actively monitoring Irma and our weather situation. We have secured a safe place for our boats and plan on moving them this weekend. As of now, practice is on for high school through Saturday morning (Today, Friday, Sat AM) and middle school today and tomorrow. If the weather is bad any of those days, we will have land workouts and we'll be doing storm prep (securing the boatyard, oars, de-rigging boats, loading the trailer, etc). If any parents are available to help with storm prep, please check in with Coach Terry at the park to see what you can do to help.

As always, any practice cancellations or changes will be sent via the text alert system but I'll also try to post them here and in the news section if possible.

Weather and practice.

Wed, 30 Aug 2017 16:30:32 GMT

With the high school season already under way and the middle school season starting on Tuesday, weather is usually on a few peoples' minds.

One question we get a lot is "Is practice cancelled today" due to inclement weather. The most common answer is "no" for a few reasons so unless you hear otherwise, assume it's on. First, it's Florida and we understand the weather when kids are getting out of school may not be the same as when practice starts. We try to keep in mind that for our high school rowers, there are a lot of carpool situations where the rowers are being brought to the park at the beginning of practice but then picked up by someone else at the end. Canceling practice can leave kids without a way to get home.

That said, the first concern SORA has is safety which is why the decision to cancel practice is made by someone at the park with an eye both on the sky and the radar/weather reports. If it's deemed the forecast calls for bad enough weather to make even getting to the park dangerous the call will be made.

If it's just a typical summer afternoon/evening with some storms in the area, it's likely practice will still go on, even if it's land-based under our grounded pavilions. If there isn't lightning in the area (as indicated by the park's lightning sensor) we may even go on the water in rain. Rowing is a rain or shine sport and we encourage all rowers to be prepared for practice in the elements.

If practice is cancelled, the primary (and sometimes only way depending on timing) we will let you know is the text message system so it's crucial all parents AND rowers sign up at Text Message Sign Up

If you have more questions or concerns about this, please talk to your coach.

Middle School Practice Starts Next Tuesday!

Mon, 28 Aug 2017 21:00:00 GMT

Today we welcomed back our high school rowers and beginning next Tuesday (9/5/17) our middle school season begins at 5:30. Make sure to bring your high-visibility gear (shirt/hat), water and running shoes.

Sculling Oar Sponsorship (2017-2018)

Wed, 23 Aug 2017 13:14:38 GMT

YOU CAN SPONSOR A SET OF SCULLING OARS for the 2017-2018 season!

In an effort to improve our equipment this fall, SORA is providing the opportunity to members, alumni, and supporters to sponsor a set of SORA sculling oars for $100+ (details below). The money from this project will go to the SORA equipment fund and will lead to improved quality and new future sculling oars for SORA.

If you don't know which set you want to sponsor... ask your favorite rower which set they like! Each set is marked with a label where they are stored (ex B1, C5, D3, etc). Each row (B - G) has a specific brand of oar: Dreher, Concept 2, WinTech or Braca).

You can complete your sponsor request online. Upon receiving your request, we will assign sponsors on first come, first served.

$100 Sponsor: sponsor a set of oars already in the SORA fleet. Your sponsor name will be on both oars in your sponsored set.

$300 Sponsor: Sponsor a set of NEW SORA sculling oars. 4 sets available. These oars will be purchased during the Fall Season.

SPONSOR FORM AVAILABLE ONLINE (click here)

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT & SPONSORSHIP

FAQs:

When will sponsor vinyl be applied:
- By Sept 15 for $100 sponsors and by Nov 15 for $300 sponsors (we will need to order the new oars first!)
How long will my name be on the sponsored oar?
- Until August 2018. We will renew oar sponsors at the start of the 2018-2019 racing season
Where will my sponsor name be applied?
- Between the Handle and the start of the oar sleeve. The name will be positioned for viewing when the rower is at the catch & through the drive (on the square)
Does sponsoring an oar make it so my rower has priority use
- Unfortunately No. These are sponsors for team-use blades (available to all SORA rowers). However, if your rower has a set they currently use primarily, i would suggest sponsoring those oars.

HEAD OF THE CHARLES Responses are needed

Fri, 04 Aug 2017 21:07:48 GMT

Head of the Charles

The 2017 Head of the Charles Regatta (Boston, MA) is October 21-22. This is the largest Fall regatta in the United States and is a 2 day rowing festival in Boston. Even if we put in entries, there is no guarantee our bids will be accepted.

The top 50% of competitors from last year have guaranteed bids (they can enter that race again)
Crews placing in the bottom 50% or who did not race in the previous year (SORA), put in entries to the Lottery.
The regatta committee randomly draws crews from the lottery to fill the remaining spots for each category.

Before SORA submits its bids to the Lottery that COULD include a Women's Youth 4+, Womens Youth 8+, Womens 2x, Mens Youth 8+, Mens Youth 4+ and a Men's Youth 2x, we need to know that there is an interest from our membership & an ability to cover the costs for the regatta.

The regatta cost will be an estimated $900 per rower. This cost is an estimated $575 in regatta fees and $325 in travel (Flight) and food costs.

TIMELINE:

August 27 - Yes/No responses due for each rower
October 1 - $575 regatta fee due for rowers & coxswains
NOTE: the latest we should hear if our lottery bids are accepted to the regatta is October 1.

PLEASE NOTE: To make the Head of the Charles a possibility for more of our membership, WE WILL NOT BE ATTENDING Head of the Hooch this year. Instead, we will be attending a head race in Sarasota the weekend of November 4-5.

What happens if our entries for the Charles are not accepted through the lottery? Our team will race at the Gatorhead regatta on October 21 instead.

To help us in our planning for Head of the Charles, please submit your reply via our online form CLICK HERE

High School EOY Ticket Sales END TODAY!!!

Mon, 22 May 2017 16:49:23 GMT

Due to special security procedures at our venue for this year's event, we have to cut off ALL sales today and will not accept any walk-ups. We apologize for this but it was the one concession we had to make.

Get your tickets here: High School End of Year Ceremony

Winter Break Practice Schedule & Sign Up

Wed, 21 Dec 2016 19:45:25 GMT

Coaches Terry and Freddie are available during OCPS Holiday break and will be holding practice for rowers who are in town. HOWEVER, Rowers must sign up/RSVP to let the coaches know you are coming. If we don't have participation in the time slot, the coaches won't make the trip to the park.

With Erg Sprints being moved up 2 weeks to 1/28, it is important that rowers stay training over break. If you are not in town or not able to make it to the lake, your rower should have a training plan from their coach.

Hurricane Preparations & Practice Cancellations

Wed, 05 Oct 2016 02:53:06 GMT

Due to the approaching hurricane we will not have practice for ANY programs Thursday or Friday.

Wednesday practice will go on for all programs and we need all hands, especially in the high school program, to help secure our boatyard against potential weather concerns. It's crucial that we get all equipment moved or prepared to weather the storm and we encourage any parents who want to help to attend Wednesday practice.

Saturday practice should be unaffected but if we need to cancel or affect that practice we will send word out by Friday evening via text and email.

High School FAQs About Practice

Mon, 29 Aug 2016 12:19:32 GMT

High school rowing is one of the most rewarding, team-focused things your child can participate in. The bonds formed on their team may last far beyond high school. It's also one of the most challenging things they can do which should help them become more disciplined, focused and organized as they get ready to embark on their journey to adulthood. Rowing crew competitively requires commitment and old fashioned hard work but the rewards are plentiful.

Our coaches are the ultimate resource for practice information and if you ever have a specific question, even if it's answered in general below, please don't hesitate to ask. Their contact information can be found in the "Coaches" section.

As a disclaimer, this is general information put together by me (Robert, President) based on my 6 years being involved with SORA. ALL final decisions are the discretion of the coaching staff any may from time-to-time differ from this information. Disclaimer made... here are the answers to some of the questions asked most often by families of new high school rowers about rowing practice

Q: We seem to practice a lot including Saturday morning. Is this necessary?

A: Yes, it's necessary if we want to compete against the teams we race against. If you look across the crew world you will see most teams practicing 6-7 days a week, usually year-round and that those morning practices on the weekend are crucial. Since our sport is so dependent on the conditioning of the rowers it's necessary that they train as often as possible. At the end of each season we do a survey to see how the previous season went. Each year we hear that being more competitive is something most of our rowers are looking for. This year we've taken a step towards that goal of being more competitive against our local rivals and beyond.

Q: What if my rower can't make every practice due to a schedule conflict?

A: Please communicate that to your coach and they can work with your family wherever possible. That said, with crew being the ultimate team sport, it's important for rowers to be at as many practices as they can. Leading into our Spring season/State Championships, attendance will be even more crucial as we settle into boat lineups practicing together for those big races. If one rower is out, the entire boat is unable to practice. It's up to the individual coaches to determine their policy where attendance is concerned so please have this conversation with them as soon as you become aware of a potential schedule conflict.

Q: What if my rower has a lot of homework or a big test the next day. Is it ok to skip practice?

A: School and academic performance is THE priority for student athletes at SORA. Our coaches understand the rigor of trying to balance crew with school work and if it's necessary to miss practice for academic reasons then they will fully support that. That said, our coaches will stress time management so that the rowers can structure their schedule to both excel in their academics AND their rowing. We've found that most rowers, even with the demanding schedule of crew often elect to have tough academic schedules and still manage to achieve very high GPAs.

Q: What if it's raining... really hard. Do we still practice?

A: Yes! The general rule is that unless it's truly unsafe to get to practice, our coaches will be on-site and ready to run practice rain, shine or storm. Safety is our #1 priority so the coaches will keep this in mind when making "plan b" plans for a rainy/stormy day but it is very possible to get a lot of good work in on rainy days so rowers should not use rain as a reason not to come. Also, due to carpool arrangements for many of our rowers, it's not possible to cancel practice at the last minute. IF we do feel the need to cancel practice based on current forecasts or observed weather at the park, we will sent out a text alert, post on Facebook and send email.

Q: What about days when school is out? Do we practice then too?

A: All OCPS (Orange County Public Schools) days off are on the SORA calendar you can subscribe to on this website. On those days we generally have practice though it may be in the morning. Your coach will communicate this to you and we will attempt to get word out via text what the practice schedule is for those days.

Q: I hear we train during Spring Break. Is this true?

A: Yes! This is another nearly universal thing in rowing. You'll even see many teams from up north traveling to Orlando over their Spring Break to train in our warm weather. Spring Break is THE primary kicking off point for the push for our State Championships. Each coach will build their training schedule and release it to their team as early as possible. We also have "Camp Crew" leading into Spring Break where the rowers all camp together (boys and girls with their own camp areas) at Moss Park. This is a great bonding experience and we highly encourage all high school rowers to attend.

High School Parents' Meeting on Monday, August 29th

Wed, 24 Aug 2016 14:31:59 GMT

Coinciding with the first official day of high school practice is our annual fall parents' meeting. We will meet at 5:45 under pavilion 2 at Moss Park.

We ask that all parents attend this short meeting where we'll cover all the important info for this season and answer any questions you may have.

If you tell the gate that you're there to pick up a rower, you will not need to pay park entry fees.

Important Dates

Tue, 16 Aug 2016 14:24:42 GMT

Important Upcoming Dates:

August 16th, 18th, 22nd, 23rd & 25th - (3:45pm - 5:30pm) Captains' Practices (HS Only)
August 20th - (7:45am - 11:00am) - Pancake Paddle
August 29th - (3:30pm - 6:15pm) - First Day of High School Practice
August 29th - (5:45 - 6:15) - Parents' Info Meeting
September 6th -First Day of Middle School Practice

Still to be announced:

Middle School Parent's Info Meeting - These should be just after the start of the season.

In these weeks and days leading up to the start of the season we will make every effort to "over communicate" so you don't miss out on any important dates, events, deadlines, etc.

This season more than any other I hope that the SORA Google calendar found on the home page of soracrew.com will become the goto source for information followed by the SORA events page. The goal is to have ALL things SORA on the calendar this year as early as we can get them there. You can subscribe to this calendar to incorporate it into your own calendar. This is highly recommended.

Important Info

Wed, 03 Aug 2016 16:32:03 GMT

It's almost time to start registering for the 2016-2017 season. We're putting the finishing touches on the plans for the season now so look for a list of important dates as well as registration info soon.

Also, we've completed moving all of our financial/billing to professional management rather than having it done by volunteers. In the future, all billing concerns or questions will be answered by their staff. Communications to membership about billing issues will either come from our automated system (in use since last season) or our accounting staff. The only volunteer involvement in the system will be in regards to registration processing. This completes a nearly 2 year long process of streamlining our financial/business practices to ensure our continued growth and stability as a club.

A Star in Our Midst!

Sun, 24 Jul 2016 01:20:34 GMT

Our very own Timothy Labato is starring in a short film called Fallen Fruit premiering Sunday, August 7th at Universal Cineplex 20. If you want to support Tim, check it out along with a red carpet event before. A few tickets are still available.

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-official-premiere-fallen-fruit-painted-black-tickets-25586687471

Trailer: https://vimeo.com/154145586

Memorial Information for Dale

Thu, 02 Jun 2016 14:01:59 GMT

There will be two memorial events held by the Barton family for those who want to come together and heal/celebrate Dale's life.

Friday, June 3rd, 6pm-9pm at the Barton home, 1201 Homosassa Ct, Longwood, FL 32779.

Details:

Although we are having an official memorial at Wekiva Springs the following Sunday, we wanted to offer anyone and everyone to come to our house Friday June 3rd for an evening with our family.

Please do not dress in anything special, Dale sure wouldn't have. We will provide food and beverages.

The purpose of this evening is healing. The Barton family was beyond blessed to be able to see where he walked, laughed and lived in Barcelona Spain and we are ready to share that with his extended family.

Please contact Kenneth, Dale's older brother for more details if you need them. 407-978-7064.

Sunday, June 5th, 9:30am-2pm at Wekiwa Springs State Park, 1800 Wekiwa Cir, Apopka, Florida 32712.

Details:

SPEED LIMIT IN THE STATE PARK 10 MPH. Please mind this, they are extremely strict.

This is the official memorial for Dale W. Barton's passing.

The event will be a pot luck because several people have voiced their interest in bringing food to the Barton Family. Although we will provide food for everyone, please don't hesitate to bring something. Please do not bring any alcohol to this event.

Dress Code: Dale W. Barton.
Flip Flops, shorts, T Shirts, BBQ Stains, and a big smile is all we would like to see on Sunday. There's no major need to shroud your self in black, or any kind of suits.

Directions:
Please read these details - Wekiwa Springs fills to capacity on the weekends. We will be providing special hang tags for your vehicle that will allow you in to the Park, even if they have reached capacity.
Although the event says Wekiwa Springs, we will host the event in the Dining Hall at Wekiva Youth Camp inside the Park. We will provide maps, directions, signs and everything necessary for arriving at the location.

Feel free to contact Ken G Barton, send me a text: 407-978-7064 or call for directions or more information about the official memorial.

Very Sad Day

Wed, 25 May 2016 14:51:43 GMT

It is with a heavy heart that we share with the SORA family the loss of one of our alumni, Dale Barton ('15)

No information is currently available on the circumstances. The family has created a legacy page on facebook:
https://m.facebook.com/Dale-W-Barton-Legacy-282667305410470/

If you have stories, photos or laughs to share of your time with Dale, the family would love to hear them on the legacy page.

We will share information on a service/memorial as soon as those details are available.

From Nick Barton on Facebook:

This is the most heart breaking message that a family would ever have to post.

The Barton family, and the whole world lost a great, giant, gentleman on 5.22.16 - Dale W Barton.

Dale was living in Barcelona, Spain with young folks from all over the world. He was a "paid beach bum", happy, planning to chase the sun, and enjoying the life he was creating for himself.

Nick, Theresa and Kenneth are with him in Barcelona.

We will post all about the memorial plans soon. Please do not send flowers, we will provide info about that soon.

For now please share a photo, story, joke and memories of Dale on the Dale W. Barton Legacy page on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/Dale-W-Barton-Legacy-282667305410470/?pnref=story

Please think of Dale as the unique big boy who marched to his own drums, if you listen hard, you may be able to hear them.

Love the Barton Family.

Photo Booth Pictures!!!

Mon, 23 May 2016 03:06:35 GMT

A HUGE thank you to Melissa from Memories That Matter (mymemoriesthatmatter.com) for donating her time and photo booth at the banquet. Below is the link to the pictures. If you ever have need of this kind of service, please reach out.

http://www.robertmcclory.com/p231169061

IMPORTANT!!! Waivers still needed for many rowers!

Fri, 11 Mar 2016 17:41:36 GMT

The below rowers are missing waivers and MUST have them completed by 4 p.m. today (Friday) to be able to race this weekend.

Updated Friday, 2:45pm

HighSchool:
Abhi

Blake

Brianna

Devin

Ford

Kevin

Leah

Nina

Ryan

Rylie

Middle School:

Avery

Isabella M

Joshua

Madison

PREFERRED METHOD is online

https://membership.usrowing.org
Cost is $5.95 for the basic online waiver
PLEASE NOTE: all high school rowers will need to have the championship membership to race at SE Regionals (Sarasota, May ___). This cost is $45 and includes your waiver. If you choose to just sign the waiver now ($5.95), you can upgrade your memership before SE Regionals.

If you are unable to fill out the online waiver, you can fill out the paper waiver:

http://www.usrowing.org/docs/default-source/waivers-and-forms/2016-waiver.pdf?sfvrsn=6
WAIVER MUST BE PRINTED AND TURNED IN AT THE BOATHOUSE BY THE BEGINNING OF FRIDAY PRACTICE. NO EXCEPTIONS

Waivers for OARS

Wed, 09 Mar 2016 18:11:40 GMT

The OARS regatta is the first regatta of 2016 that requires all of our rowers to sign the USRowing waiver. If you did this in the Fall, YOU MUST FILL IT OUT AGAIN for 2016.

This includes High School, Middle School, Masters and Adaptive.

PREFERRED METHOD is online

https://membership.usrowing.org
Cost is $5.95 for the basic online waiver
PLEASE NOTE: all high school rowers will need to have the championship membership to race at SE Regionals (Sarasota in May). This cost is $45 and includes your waiver. If you choose to just sign the waiver now ($5.95), you can upgrade your memership before SE Regionals.

If you are unable to fill out the online waiver, you can fill out the paper waiver:

http://www.usrowing.org/docs/default-source/waivers-and-forms/2016-waiver.pdf?sfvrsn=6
WAIVER MUST BE PRINTED AND TURNED IN AT THE BOATHOUSE BY THE BEGINNING OF FRIDAY PRACTICE. NO EXCEPTIONS

Thank you for your response in completing these waivers. We will run our waiver report Thursday at noon and update the membership on missing waivers.

ANY ROWER RACING THIS WEEKEND MUST HAVE A USROWING WAIVER COMPLETED.

Battle of the Blues Planner (For SORA Rowers)

Fri, 26 Feb 2016 20:14:05 GMT

We are excited to be hosting the Battle of the Blues on Saturday! Although this is much smaller than the Giblet, we do still need volunteers for stake boat holding and finish line. Please visit our signup genius http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0c4baca72ba7fc1-battle

REPORT TIMES:

All High School rowers 8:15 a.m.

All Middle School rowers 8:45 a.m.

Expected release times:

Middle School 1:30 (earlier if not racing in MS 4+)

High School 4:30 p.m.

Race Schedule: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1mEnOx5XHwetI2LtKvmUfwX2ivW5cd-PiIhOv0qwX330/edit?usp=docslist_api

Although we are not loading a trailer at the end of the regatta, we do need to clean and put away equipment, pull in stake boats, and pull up launches.

Hospitality: This will be a "bag lunch" event. We do have award-winning BBQ being sold for lunch and some of the proceeds will go back to SORA so you can either bring lunch/snacks for yourself/your rower or buy lunch from Smitty's BBQ.

For more information (Including BBQ lunch for sale and RAFFLE!!), please visit the Battle of the Blues website: www.soracrew.com/bob

As always, Moss Park is a NO PETS and NO ALCOHOL park.

Park entry fees do apply on Saturday.

Volunteers needed for Thursday and Saturday

Tue, 23 Feb 2016 18:33:49 GMT

Saturday is our battle of the blues regatta!! Although this event is MUCH smaller than the Head of the Giblet (6 teams), this is a wonderful day to show the local rowing community what SORA is all about.

A detailed regatta planner will come out tomorrow morning. However, we do need volunteers to make Saturday a success. If you can help, please visit our sign up genius: www.SignUpGenius.com/go/20F0C4BACA72BA7FC1-battle

For more information on our regatta, or for raffle prizes, visit www.soracrew.com/bob

More nutrition info from US Rowing

Tue, 23 Feb 2016 16:12:47 GMT

The Importance of Vitamins, Minerals & Supplements for a Young Rower

by Jill Castle, MS, RDN | Feb 23, 2016

Vitamins and minerals are undoubtedly an important component to exercise performance. They help the body use food, assist in efficient energy use, and supply important factors for growth and development. There are 14 vitamins and over 22 minerals that keep the “engine” in the young rowers body humming along.

Vitamin and mineral supplements are often used as an insurance policy against poor food choices or eating behaviors.

They have also been advertised as providing a boost of energy, improvingendurance in athletic endeavors, and offering up peak performance, but few of these claims, if any, have been substantiated in the research. Up to 94% of young athletes who reported using supplements use vitamin and mineral combination supplements to enhance sports performance, according to a 2012 U. S. National Health Interview Study.

For many rowers, adequate vitamins and minerals can be obtained from a healthy, balanced diet consisting of whole foods like fruit, vegetables, dairy products or non-dairy substitutes, meat, fish and beans, and whole grains. Additionally, many commercially-made foods are fortified with extra nutrients, such as ready-to-eat cereal (folate, calcium, and iron), milk (vitamin D), bread (folate and sometimes calcium) and orange juice (calcium and vitamin D), making the quest for a diet rich in vitamins and minerals easy to achieve.

On the flip side, there may be young rowers who are at a higher risk for poor micronutrient intake due to their eating habits. In this case, a multivitamin and mineral supplement may benefit their health and athletic performance.

Here are some common reasons why a multivitamin supplement may be advantageous for the young rower:

The rower is underweight or has a low body weight. A rower who is below his expected body weight for his age and stage of development may benefit from a multivitamin supplement. When calorie intake is lower than required and growth is stagnating, micronutrient intake may suffer as well.

The rower is a picky or selective eater. Some young rowers may be picky, shunning whole food groups such as vegetables, meat or dairy, which can set them up for inadequate consumption of nutrients such as vitamin A, iron, zinc, calcium and vitamin D.

The rower makes poor food choices, often. A diet with too many high-calorie, low nutrient foods, such as chips, cookies, desserts, and fried foods may lead to high calorie consumption but a low intake of vitamins and minerals.

The rower has a food allergy. Rowers with a food allergy or multiple food allergies may be at risk for nutrient deficiencies, especially if they avoid whole food groups such as milk and dairy products, which places calcium and vitamin D at risk. Those with more than one food allergy are at the highest risk for nutrient deficiencies, as well as growth problems.

The rower is a restrictive eater. Rowers who are very careful about food selection and the quantities of food they eat in order to control or lose weight may miss out on important nutrients, particularly iron, calcium and vitamin D. Young athletes who diet to shed pounds may sacrifice important nutrients while cutting calories.

The rower has a known nutrient deficiency. A swimmer who has a documented nutrient deficiency, such as iron deficiency, will need a nutrient supplement. This is typically diagnosed and prescribed by a healthcare provider and may be in the form of a single nutrient supplement or a multivitamin and mineral supplement.

In general, if it appears the young rower has a condition that may benefit from a multivitamin supplement, always double-check with your healthcare provider and be sure to use a supplement that offers no more than 100% of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA).

Jill Castle, MS, RDN is a registered dietitian, childhood nutritionist, and youth sports nutrition expert. She is the author of Eat Like a Champion: Performance Nutrition for Your Young Athlete. Learn more about Jill at www.JillCastle.com and check out her free list of 70 Awesome Pre-Workout Snacks for Kids here.

Thank you!!!

Thu, 11 Feb 2016 16:12:55 GMT

Thank you to our amazing members who donated $865 in less than 24 hours to allow SORA to purchased a 2nd "nearly new" erg from Erg Sprints this weekend. While the rowers don't always love the ergs, they are vital to our training.

Thank you again!
Robert McClory
SORA President

Article from US Rowing - Should Growing Rowers Eat a 4th Meal?

Tue, 02 Feb 2016 17:41:37 GMT

Should Growing Rowers Snack or Eat a 4th Meal?

by Jill Castle, MS, RDN | Feb 01, 2016

Rowing is a high calorie burning sport. In fact, along with swimming and running, rowing torches significant calories compared to most youth sports. In the adolescent growth spurt, the need for calories to assure normal growth and cover the energy needs for rowing may be quite high.

Young rowers may find it difficult to eat enough calories in the day, especially in light of school schedules before practice. Inadequate calories may lead to lackluster performance, fatigue, and even weight loss.

Healthy snacks are certainly one strategy to help the rower achieve sufficient calories to meet his nutritional needs for growth and sport. However, a snack may not be enough.

This is where a 4th meal can help. For some rowers, the switch to a meal mentality rather than a snack mindset may the ticket to proper fueling before exercise.

A 4th meal is generally higher in calories due to larger portions, and the inclusion of more food groups compared to a typical snack. A 4th meal is best eaten when there’s plenty of time (an hour or more) before exercise to allow for digestion.

Here’s a snapshot of a snack compared to a 4th meal:

Snack Approach: a bowlful of popcorn, two granola bars, or a handful of nuts and dried fruit

A 4th Meal Approach: leftover pasta with marinara sauce, a deli sandwich, or a loaded baked potato

Experiment with a 4th meal to see if it does a better job at fueling the rower adequately for an intense workout, especially if “snacks” are less nutritious, growing in size, or frequency, or if the rower is complaining about frequent hunger.

Try some of the following 4th meal ideas:

Leftovers: If you have dinner leftovers, pull them out the next day and reheat them for a hearty 4th meal. Some suggestions:

Pasta with meatballs and sauce;
Rice with beef or chicken, and vegetables:
Casserole such as lasagna, and fruit:
Pad Thai or Lo mein.

Breakfast foods: Eggs, waffles and oatmeal are a fast and easy option as a 4th meal. Try these:

Scrambled eggs in a tortilla with cheese and salsa:
Egg sandwich with ham and cheese on an English muffin:
Sautee eggs into leftover rice and chopped vegetables for a rice dish:
Waffles layered with peanut butter, banana and a drizzle of honey; milk:
Oatmeal topped with nuts, dried fruit, and milk:

Sandwiches: When time is tight, pack a sandwich and rotate different types to keep it interesting.

Panini with mozzarella, pesto, tomato, and fruit:
Grilled cheese and tomato sandwich:
PBJ sandwich and a banana:
Deli sub including lean meat, cheese, and veggies:

Stews and hearty soups: Especially when the chill sets in, a soup can take the edge off of the cold, and fill up a hungry belly. Here are some good options:

Chili (beef or vegetarian variety) with cornbread or other type of bread:
Beef stew with bread or crackers:
Vegetable barley soup and peanut butter toast:
Lentil soup and bread:

Baked potatoes: Zap these in the microwave and stuff them with lots of nutritious goodies:

Southwestern-style: Load it with cheese, salsa, guacamole and/or sour cream:
Veggie-style: Top a potato with broccoli and cheese:
Pizza-style: Crust not necessary! Add pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, and chopped turkey pepperoni:

Remember, a 4th meal may do a better job at fueling a workout and improve the rower’s overall diet, while also warding off excessive hunger.

Jill Castle, MS, RDN is a registered dietitian, childhood nutritionist, and youth sports nutrition expert. She is the author of Eat Like a Champion: Performance Nutrition for Your Young Athlete. Learn more about Jill at www.JillCastle.com.

Citrus Sprints Wrap Up!

Mon, 25 Jan 2016 18:17:36 GMT

Edit: The problem with thanking people is omitting someone you meant to thank. So a BIG thanks to Chris Hutchingon for driving our boats to and from the regatta. Without this, we would have been swimming instead of rowing. Not something I suspect we'd have wanted to do in 32 degree weather :)

Pictures from Citrus Sprints can be found here: http://www.robertmcclory.com/p708254563

Please note that ALL SORA pictures I take eventually make their way to http://www.robertmcclory.com/soracrew

What a great (but very chilly) day of racing at the Citrus Sprints in Inverness. The first thing many of us got to see when we arrived was the amazingly beautiful tents provided by the Lemos family and Dunkin' Donuts of Moss Park. Inside one of those tents, Tina, our new hospitality coordinator set up a great spread of food and hot/cold drinks that kept our rowers going all day. Thanks Tina and crew!!!

After braving a morning of VERY cold weather, it was onto the water and victory for many of our boats.

Our Middle School team had an amazing day with open water wins in two of their 3 gold medal winning performances.

It was also a great moment for our Women's 4+ A boat who won (fairly easily) the last race their coxswain, Madi Deweese, will be able to participate in for awhile since she has corrective hip surgery scheduled on February 9th,. This will be her 2nd such surgery in a few months (both hips needed the same surgery) so all prayers and well wishing should be sent her way as she hopes to make a full recovery and return in time for States.

Thanks to our coaches who made the trip for their great work all day and to the coaches who couldn't make it for the training that lead to some impressive results on the water.

Lastly, thank you to all our parents who made the adjustment to their schedules and brought their rowers to Inverness. It turned out to be a great day of racing and even warmed up by the end.

Here is a roundup of our medal count from the day (based on memory as final results are not posted yet...please forgive any errors or omissions. This info will be updated if necessary):

GOLD:

Women's Varsity 4+ A
Women's Novice 8+
Middle School 8+ A
Middle School 4+ A
Middle School 4+ B

SILVER:

Women's Varsity 1x
Women's Varsity 2x B (flight 1)

BRONZE:

Men's Varsity 4+
Men's Ltwt Varsity 4+ A
Women's Varsity 2x A (flight 2)
Men's Varsity 2x
Men's Varsity 8+
Women's Varsity 4x
Middle School 8+ B

Citrus Sprints moving to Sunday!!!

Thu, 21 Jan 2016 01:39:07 GMT

Due to high wind forecast, the hosts of Citrus Sprints has decided to move their regatta to Sunday. Our planner is still valid, just for Sunday instead of Saturday. Any changes to the plan will be discussed at our Kickoff Dinner on Thursday and posted to the event page.

Please let us know if your rower can attend the race on Sunday here.

IMPORTANT Citrus Sprint News!!!

Wed, 20 Jan 2016 14:33:41 GMT

Can your rower race on Sunday if they move the regatta? Please click here to indicate yes/no.

Overnight we got word that ROCCS, the team hosting Citrus Sprints this weekend, was very concerned about a high wind forecast for Saturday (15-25mph). This wind forecast would make rowing unsafe for all aged/abilities.

Because they want to see fair and safe racing, they have already implemented logistics to Sunday IF the weather forecast does not improve by tomorrow.

This adjustment to the race schedule and willingness to move to Sunday is very uncommon (we've never seen it happen in Florida), but greatly appreciated. Normally, if weather interrupts a regatta, the regatta is simply canceled and not rescheduled.

Although we will not know until TOMORROW (Thursday) if the regatta will be moved to Sunday, for planning and logistics purposes, we need to know TODAY if your rower will be able to make it Sunday (this also includes rowers who were unable to race on Saturday).

A new event page/registration has been set up and we need ALL rowers, High School and Middle School to register thus indicating they can row on Sunday. Your response to racing Sunday will not change whether the race is on Saturday or Sunday, it will affect SORA's decision on whether we can make the race on Sunday. Coaches will be following up with rowers today at practice.

Can your rower race on Sunday if they move the regatta? Please click here to indicate yes/no.

We have to make a decision as a team very quickly on this so please make every effort to let us know your availability now.

Below is the full communication from the regatta hosts. Again, we are extremely thankful that they are even considering offering a Sunday regatta instead of just canceling racing all together.

Good Evening,

We at ROCCS have been watching the Saturday Regatta weather forecast very closely. The winds are forecast at 15 - 25 mph all day. These are unsafe winds for rowing.

We will wait until approximately 7:00 PM on Wednesday to determine whether the wind forecast substantially changes. If it does not, and if the winds remain unsafe for rowing, we will move the Regatta to Sunday, Jan. 24. Sunday's weather is forecast to be ideal for rowers of all ages. We have already received permission from the City of Inverness to hold the Regatta on Sunday, if required.

If the change is required, we hope that there remains enough interest from all teams and entrants to continue with the event. (Perhaps even more scholastic rowers can participate since the day will no longer conflict with the state-wide SAT testing!) We have worked very hard to ensure that the day is fantastic, and we apologize that the weather is not cooperating. However, safety is of utmost concern for all rowers. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. An update will be sent Wednesday evening.

Thank you,
Robert McClory
SORA President

Letter from the President

Sat, 02 Jan 2016 15:43:44 GMT

Letter from the President - January 1st, 2016

Hello to the extended SORA family. I’m Robert McClory and I think most if not all of you know me. I am now acting President of SORA and want to give you an idea of where we’ve been, where we are and where I see us going as a club.

First, I'd like to thank outgoing board members, President Scott Deweese and Vice President Justin Lednar, for their years of service and dedication to the cause of making SORA great for our members. Without them, we'd not be where we are today.

Where we’ve been…

The past several months have been tough from a “business” standpoint. Rather than concentrate on the “fun stuff”, we have been forced to implement several measures to tighten up how we do things internally so we can keep our 501c3 status and at some point pass an IRS audit if it comes to that. This is not necessary for the general membership to know/be concerned with but I wanted to share that so you understand what the previous board lead by Scott Deweese has been focused on most of the year starting last Summer. Hopefully the trailing edge of that effort is here and we can move forward to things that are more “membership facing” like better planning, communication, etc but first we had to shore up the core of SORA so it was around for the long haul.

Where we are…

The efforts of the previous board, a few of whom are still active board members (in the same or different positions), have left SORA as a much more efficient organization in nearly every way from finance to communication. As president, I will try to make sure those changes remain in place as well as putting the finishing touches on ongoing projects. Then I want to turn my attention to making sure your experience, and your rower’s experience is as good as it can be. After all, this is an organization that exists solely to provide our kids and members the opportunity to participate in this amazing sport. It’s not rocket science and it should be fun so my goal is to guide SORA in directions that supports that idea.

Where we’re going…

I really want to see us grow as an organization but also grow the participation of each member in the club. We are dependant largely on volunteer efforts by the membership to get certain things done, from the board on down. The only “staff” we have is our coaches, the most important being Katie Lednar, our head coach and director of our program who shoulders a lot of the burden but not nearly all of it. Everyone else is a volunteer. I believe with effective communication of our needs and what can be done to help, most people are happy to pitch in now and then, especially if it means their kids are going to have a better experience at SORA. Together we can create an environment where our rowers can thrive in their training and produce results in competition.

To that end, I want to ask each of you to be as open as you can in communicating with me any concerns, questions, or comments you may have. I admit that if it has to do with coaching or “on the water” issues, I’ll simply defer to your kid’s coach but I can help make sure those things are heard by the right people.

I look forward to the rest of the season and serving as your President.

Thanks for your time!

Robert McClory
SORA President

Important Practice Info for 12/13-12/17

Sun, 13 Dec 2015 18:27:17 GMT

This week is Orange County Park's Light Up the Wild at Moss Park! We encourage all members to see this incredible driving light tour at Moss Park ($5/car)

However, due to the popularity of this event, please be prepared for increased traffic this week.

ARRIVE AT THE PARK BY 5:30 PM

Light Up the Wild begins at 6:30 p.m. Gates will close for this event at 6 p.m. ALL MEMBERS need to be in the park by 5:30 p.m. in order to avoid (hopefully) being in the line for Light Up the Wild.

HS ROWERS without rides in the park WILL BE DRIVEN TO SPRING OF LIFE CHURCH

If you are not able to get in the park BEFORE the gates close or BEFORE the line starts, parent volunteers or coaches will drive your rower to the Spring of Life Methodist Church (417 and Moss Park Rd) at the conclusion of practice (est arrival 6:30).

Please make sure you and your rower have their phones to communicate if they will be brought to the church

Please be signed up on Text alert at http://www.soracrew.com/texts

If you are available to be a parent driver for church dropoff, please let coach Katie know at the end of practice on whichever day you can drive.

MS ROWERS PLEASE BE ON TIME!!!

If you are late to practice this week (5:30), you will most likely get stuck in Light of the Wild Traffic.

If at all possible, we encourage all parents dropping off middle school rowers to stay in the park.

If you are returning at the conclusion of practice, parents please CLEARLY COMMUNICATE that you are picking up your rower (we encourage a right blinker and to have your rowing pass visible) while you are making your way to the park and through the gate. Please understand this is a stressful week for all park employees and be patient!

YOUR PARK PASS DOES NOT INCLUDE ACCESS TO LIGHT UP THE WILD.

We strongly encourage all members to experience this event. HOWEVER, your park pass DOES NOT include entry to Light up the Wild. The cost is $5 per car and you must enter through the line (you can not take a left to start your tour).

Members leaving the park who wish to see Light up the Wild:

Leave Moss Park
When safe, make a U Turn and join the line for Light up the Wild
Pay your $5 at the gate house
ENJOY!

Thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation through this week.

Elections are complete! Meet your new board.

Thu, 10 Dec 2015 16:59:30 GMT

Thank you to those who turned out to participate in our annual board elections last night. It ended up being a "yes/no" vote on the 5 candidates who will step into or remain to make up the board starting January 1st.

President: Robert McClory (Moved from Secretary)
1st VP: Nikki Slater (Moved from 2nd VP)
2nd VP: Catherine Williams (Moved from Treasurer)
Treasurer: Ron Yelland (New)
Secretary: Louis Estrada (New)

Stepping away from the board after years of service are Scott Deweese, President and Justin Lednar, 1st VP. Thanks to both of these guys who did a lot to shape what SORA is today.

I will be sending an email to all members outlining my goals as President and the direction I see SORA going (or continuing to go) in once my terms starts in January.

Robert McClory
Secretary/Future Prez

SORA Annual Membership Meeting and Board of Directors Election

Tue, 01 Dec 2015 01:55:57 GMT

As the 2015 calendar year comes to an end, we would like to thank all of the friends and families of our rowers who volunteered to make this year such a great success. There are many rowing clubs in this state with larger memberships and much better funding, but none of them hosted three competitive regattas and provided as many programs to our community as we have. We accomplished all of this because of you. I would like to offer a special thanks to Katie and Justin Lednar for their continued commitment to the success of SORA and in particular for their contributions to our very unique adaptive rowing program for the physically disabled. I would like to thank our coaches for training our young athletes to be good rowers and even better human beings. Finally, I would like to thank the kids who love this sport and come to Moss Park eager to learn and train. They are the reason I volunteered to become a board member over 2 years ago and they are what make SORA the great community organization that it is today.

The work of SORA will continue on in 2016 and we will need your help. Please join us at the Annual Meeting of the Membership to be held at 6:30pm on Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at the North Shore at Lake Hart HOA - 9339 North Shore Golf Club Blvd, Orlando, FL 32832. This is the same location that we held the informational meeting in August. We will be addressing some open business items and holding the annual general election for the Board of Directors for the 2016 calendar year.

If you would like to be on the slate and considered for the board of directors, please send an email to support@soracrew.com No later than Friday, 12/4/2015 to express your interest. In addition, please review, complete and submit the attached form to support@soracrew.com by Monday, December 7^th.

SORA Board of Directors Nomination Form 2016.docx

- Scott Deweese, SORA President

Great Job (and pics)

Sun, 22 Nov 2015 14:39:52 GMT

Link to Giblet Pictures: http://www.robertmcclory.com/2015-giblet

As always, feel free to download and do with them what you'd like!

Congrats to ALL SORA rowers for your great performances on the water and your help making this one of the best Giblet's ever. A special congrats to our Varsity Girls 4x (1st Place), Mixed Varsity 4x (1st Place), Middle School 4x (1st place) and Boys Lightweight 8 (2nd place). We also had a number of great finishes just outside the medals. Great job everyone!!!

Giblet Reminders

Sun, 15 Nov 2015 17:16:05 GMT

We are just under 1 week away from the Head of the Giblet Regatta! This is the largest event hosted by SORA each year and we NEED your help to make it a success.

Please read this email in it's entirety as it contains important information.

The SORA REGATTA PLANNER will be published Monday afternoon.

ALL VOLUNTEER positions are posted online. All members are asked to sign up for at least one shift. Our largest needs at this time for volunteers areParking Lot and On-the-water buoy spotters. No experience necessary for either position. We will teach you everything you need to know!https://soracrew.wildapricot.org/event-2006351/Registration

FRIDAY (11/20) we will be on-site at Turkey Lake. HS practice will be at Turkey Lake. Parents, if you are carpooling and able to help, please sign up so we know you will be there and are able to help! https://soracrew.wildapricot.org/event-2077742/Registration

SUNDAY (11/22) we will unload AT MOSS PARK from the Head of the Giblet Regatta. This includes unloading the rowing shells (ROWERS ARE NEEDED!) and unloading Giblet-related items to the SORA hospitality and erg sheds. Please register for the clean-up day so we know to expect you https://soracrew.wildapricot.org/event-2077746/Registration

MIDDLE SCHOOL rowers are asked to register as racing. This will allow MS coaches to better set lineups and limit last-minute changes

https://soracrew.wildapricot.org/event-2091955/Registration

HEAD OF THE GIBLET VENDOR spaces are still available. We are up to 35 teams, 300+ entries, 900+ competitors and expecting 3000+ in total attendance. If you know someone who should be a vendor at the Head of the Giblet, please share the Vendor Link with them: https://soracrew.wildapricot.org/event-2091955/Registration

Thank you in advance for helping to make this years' Head of the Giblet Regatta a success!

Hooch is a wrap!

Tue, 10 Nov 2015 13:03:20 GMT

The 2015 Head of the Hooch was this past weekend and we had 20+ of our high school rowers attend this huge regatta in Chattanooga, TN.

Pictures from this year's Hooch can be found at: http://www.robertmcclory.com/p349619652

The weather was dreary for most of Friday and Saturday but cleared a bit on Sunday while turning very cold (at least for our Florida blood). That said, the water was amazing and some great racing happened. This is a great chance for our team to bond and grow together and a lot of that happened over the course of the 3.5 days spent traveling and racing.

The next regatta on the SORA calendar is the Head of the Giblet which is our home/hosted regatta. Much more info to come this week on volunteer opportunities and more.

General SORA News

Mon, 19 Oct 2015 17:17:00 GMT

- We've gotten our first two regattas done and we've had some success and have identified areas for improvement. Congrats to our Novices and first year Middle School rowers who completed their their first races!

- The next regatta on the calendar is our annual travel event for high school, Head of the Hooch in Chattanooga, TN. This is a 3 day event with travel and one the kids look forward to. Registration is required and is now live on the events page. A full itinerary with hotel info, etc. will follow very soon.

- Thank you to our parent hospitality volunteers for feeding our kids. If you were not there for the very end, they all said a big thank you!!!

- November is Giblet month when we prepare to host our regatta at Turkey Lake. For our new families, this is an "all hands on deck" event where we rely on our membership to put on this great event. If you've been to either or both of the last two races, you see all that goes into making them run... well that's all on us for Giblet. Sign ups will be posted as soon as we have all the details and work is divided up so everyone can both help and get a chance to watch their rower.

Two Firsts for 2015-2016 next week!

Thu, 01 Oct 2015 14:45:15 GMT

First up will be the beginning of our inaugural Monday/Wednesday Middle School session. With the explosion of interest in our program, we've had to add days to fit all the 6th-8th graders.

Next is our first regatta of the year, the aptly named First Coast Regatta in Jacksonville on October 10th. This one is for returning high school rowers but the next one on October 17th is for most of our youth/middle school rowers.

The details/planner info was emailed to all HS rowers for First Coast but you can also find that info by clicking on the event on our front page.

All programs now in session!

Wed, 09 Sep 2015 13:30:24 GMT

We've now welcomed all rowers for the season with Middle School starting last night and High School rowing starting last week.

This week is "open house" for Middle School with all registered and potential rowers invited to attend Wednesday and Thursday before our regular schedule starts next week.

Middle School Monday/Wednesday Session

Sun, 30 Aug 2015 21:21:36 GMT

Currently there is a waiting list for our middle school program.

New/returning rowers can sign up for the waiting list in two different ways;

1) Sign up for Mon/Wed and as soon we we get enough rowers we will begin that session.

2) Sign up for Tues/Thurs and wait for a spot in this session to open up.

Due to the overwhelming growth last season and anticipated return of most of our middle school rowers we decided to add a 2nd middle school session on Monday/Wednesday. As we anticipated, Tuesday/Thursday filled quickly and we are now trying to fill Monday/Wednesday.

Currently we don't have enough rowers on Mon/Wed to begin practice. If we get enough we will begin that session next Wednesday, September 9th. If we don't get enough, we will add those rowers to the waiting list for Tuesday/Thursday.

We appreciate all the interest in our middle school program this year and hope to accommodate all who want to row with SORA.

So if you want to row, please register for Monday/Wednesday now. Those registering for this session will not be charged for their registration/dues until the session is confirmed.

Practice Schedules

Wed, 26 Aug 2015 15:58:58 GMT

Practice Time Schedule

High School Team:

Start date:

Monday, August 31, 2015

Practice days:

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday (Aug 31 to Dec 17)

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday (Jan 4 to May 25)

Practice time:

3:45pm – 6:15pm (setup begins at 3:30pm)

Middle School Team:

Start date:

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Practice days:

Tuesday and Thursday (Sept 8 to Dec 17 and Jan 5 to May 26)

Monday and Wednesday (Sept 9 to Dec 16 and Jan 4 to May 25)

PLEASE NOTE: These are 2 different sessions. Tues/Thurs are not interchangeable with Mon/Wed.

Practice time:

5:30pm – 7:30pm

Masters Team:

Start date:

Currently practicing

Practice days:

Tuesday and Thursday

Practice time:

8:30am – 10:30am OR 6:00pm – 7:45pm

Wounded Warriors Row!

Mon, 24 Aug 2015 15:13:05 GMT

A big thanks to all the Wounded Warriors and volunteers who came together to make our event great! This was truly a community supported event with middle school rowers, high school rowers, parents and coaches all coming together to benefit those who served our country. A special thanks to members of UCF's Women's team who showed up and were amazingly helpful.

It was a great time, new friends were made and we look forward to having future events benefiting this great organization.

Welcome to the new soracrew.com!

Tue, 04 Aug 2015 14:20:01 GMT

All new for the 2015-2016 season, soracrew.com is your one-stop-shop for all SORA news, events and information.

This site was designed with one thing in mind; to improve the overall experience for all SORA members and make it easy for prospective rowers to get information.

Highlights include:

All new built-in invoicing and billing system to simplify and automate the SORA billing process. Now every transaction will have a receipt and will be searchable within a rower's account.
Facebook page integration. All posts to the SORA Facebook Page will appear on our front page so those without Facebook or who don't have time to visit the SORA page can get any news and info posted there.
Regatta/Event sign up all in one place. Any SORA related event that requires signing up, including travel regattas, volunteering and pre-regatta dinners will be done directly on soracrew.com.