You are receiving this email because you or your student participated in the spring rowing season with the Stone Bridge Rowing Club. If you no longer wish to receive updates, please unsubscribe below.

Welcome to the Stone Bridge Rowing Club and Team!

Everything a new SBRC parent needs to get started is packed into this Special Novice Edition Newsletter. This email contains useful information on our organization, practice times, expectations, regattas and much more. While this newsletter is aimed at Novice parents, it is also useful for anyone in the SBRC family, and will be posted on our team website with additional resources you can consult anytime.

Novice parents we are thrilled to have your family join the Stone Bridge community. Let’s get ready for a great season on the water!!

Novice Parent Meeting and Parent Information Session —details coming soon!!!

WHERE TO FIND IMPORTANT CREW TEAM INFO:

BAND app- A lot of communication will come through BAND posts! We also have a full calendar that will be updated with activities, including practices, regattas, meetings, and special events.

• It is required that all parents and athletes join Band to keep up-to-date with critical team information

• There are two separate groups: 1) Parent and 2) Athlete only

EMAILS - Communications will be sending out frequent emails with important information. Sometimes the email address can get dropped into a junk folder, so please check.

WEBSITE - www.sbrowing.org

• Everything Stone Bridge Rowing including info on fundraising, our Board of Directors and Committees, Coaches bios, plus Resources for Athletes and Parents

INSTAGRAM @sbhsrowing-Spirit nights, and other information will be posted to the SBRC Instagram page.

BOARD MEETINGS - held monthly on the 1st Thursday of each month at 7pm in Rm 200 at SBHS

• These meetings are open and parents are encouraged to join to stay informed and up-to-date on team activities.

SBRC is a Parent-Run Organization. Each spring the volunteer Board of Directors (President, VP, Treasurer, and Secretary) is elected to be responsible for making decisions on behalf of the team. The Board is responsible for organizational planning, monitoring and managing of financial resources, and supporting the coaches and athletes. There are also a number of committees and associated Coordinators that manage specific needs in order to make the team run smoothly. SBRC would not be what it is today without the dedication of our parent volunteers!

COACHES

Head Coach: John Hillmann

Assistant Coach: Linh Tran

Assistant Coach: Justin Rowan

Assistant Coaches: Chris Mantyla

2025-2026 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PRESIDENT
J. Leurs - president@sbrowing.org

VICE-PRESIDENT
A. Leon - vp@sbrowing.org

TREASURER
L. Field and Angele Dinkgreve - treasurer@sbrowing.org

SECRETARY
Jenn Marshall- secretary@sbrowing.org

COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS

Fundraising
OPEN - fundraising@sbrowing.org

Communications
Jessica Winter - communications@sbrowing.org

Volunteer Coordinator
OPEN - volunteer@sbrowing.org

Spirit Wear & Uniforms
Candace Shea - spiritwear@sbrowing.org

VASRA Representative / LOC
Kathleen Yoshida - vasra@sbrowing.org

Registration
Susan Forster - register@sbrowing.org

Stotesbury Chair
OPEN - travel@sbrowing.org

Nationals Chair
OPEN - travel@sbrowing.org

Hospitality
Mary Noonan- hospitality@sbrowing.org

Trailer Lead
Michael Hans and Jessica Venema - trailer.lead@sbrowing.org

Website Manager
Robert Winter - website@sbrowing.org

Meetings: There are monthly Board Meetings and occasional Parent Meetings throughout the season.. Attendance at Parent Meetings is expected, as these are scheduled to convey vital and necessary information pertaining to your child’s participation in the season’s events. The newsletter, team emails, and BAND posts supplement, but do not replace, the information discussed at meetings.

Where do we practice?

All practices are held at Beaverdam Reservoir, where our boathouse is located. The Reservoir Park Main entrance is located at: Reservoir Park (22211 Water Vista Drive, Ashburn, VA)

Practices: The team will practice M-F, 4:45pm to 6:15pm. Occasional morning practices may occur. Information will be posted on BAND! Coaches will monitor conditions and determine practice activities accordingly. Please note, sometimes they do row in the rain!! 

Drop Off: Punctuality is essential! This is a team sport in every way, and your athlete’s boat cannot practice without them! Plan to drop off your athlete 15 minutes early, if possible, giving them time to prepare their boats to get on the water promptly at the beginning of practice. 

Pick Up: This is a water sport with equipment to maintain and put away each night, and SBRC shares the site with multiple Loudoun County teams. As a result, Coaches do their best to complete practice at the designated time but in the end pick-up times are approximate and practice may run over slightly. No athlete will be left behind alone when practice is over. 

You must park in a designated parking spot for drop off and pick up. This is a strict rule by Bever Dam Reservoir Park.

Carpooling: This is a common arrangement during spring season, with athletes or parents bringing other athletes to practice from school. Contact the Novice Liaisons if you have a need for carpooling assistance. 

Cell phones: Athletes are allowed to have their cell phones at practice, but they should not bring them into the boat. Coxswains may take theirs with them in the boat for emergency purposes only, but rowers should leave them with their belongings.  

Attendance: Practice attendance is mandatory. When an athlete misses practice, the entire team is impacted. Absences can be accommodated when the Head Coach is given advanced notice. The expectation is that families make every reasonable effort to avoid scheduling conflicts with practice. If an athlete must miss a practice, contact the Head Coach via email with a minimum 72 hrs notice, with the exception of illness. Attendance plays a significant role in the selection of lineups. If an athlete misses practices without providing advanced notice, they may be removed from their practice and racing lineups.

REMEMBER:

Rowing is a unique sport because success depends entirely on the team moving as one. Every athlete in the boat must work together with trust, discipline, and respect for each other. Rowing is an extremely physically demanding sport, and because of this shared effort, strong sportsmanship and support for every teammate are essential. Athletes are representing Stone Bridge High School and should do so with respect and integrity. Harassment of any kind is not tolerated.

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” --Helen Keller

TEAM DUES

Total Cost: $1,500 (Dues + Fundraising Commitment)

• Dues: $1000 (All dues by May 1, 2026, can be made in installments)

• Fundraising Commitment: $500 due by May 1, 2026

• The fee covers item such as:

  • Use of rowing equipment and maintenance

  • Uniforms (Cost of uniforms is taken from the fee, new for 2026!)

  • Regatta entry fees

  • Bus for transportation to regattas

  • Hospitality (food for athletes during races)

• Additional expenses:

  • Travel: Costs associated with out-of-town regattas and national championships, if applicable

  • Hospitality Tent Donations: Supplementary support for race-day hospitality

• Note: Stone Bridge Rowing is a self-funded, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and does not receive financial support from the school or Loudoun County Public Schools. The club is run by a board of parent volunteers.

PAYMENT OPTIONS

Check: Make checks payable to “SBRC” and mail to:

• SBRC

• P.O. Box 4041

• Ashburn, VA 20148

• PayPal/Credit Card: Additional fees apply for online payments.

FUNDRAISING 

Rowing in Loudoun County is a Tier 3 sport which means that the sport is 100% funded by the athletes. It is a varsity sport, but receives no support from the school system. Therefore, in addition to paying dues, each athlete is responsible for an additional $500 fundraising requirement.

There are various ways to fundraise, particularly through the Erg-a-thon, sponsorships, and direct donations. The Fundraising Committee will also plan additional fundraising opportunities throughout the year that you can take advantage of. Fundraising runs through May 1st. See below for more details. 

Erg-a-thon, early spring — Athletes get 100% of the amount collected applied to their fundraising total! This is the biggest fundraising event of the Spring season. What’s an Erg-A-Thon? Athletes are divided into teams and each team will erg (use a rowing machine) to complete a marathon. 

Sponsorships — Additional information coming!!

RAISERIGHT

Earn money while you shop at all your favorite retailers! Turn everyday shopping into fundraising dollars for SBRC!  

Rebates are given on eGift cards and physical gift cards purchased. Raise money for your athlete at all your favorite retailers, like Amazon, Target, DSG, Under Armour, Apple Store, Starbucks, Ulta, Home Depot, Lowe’s, GAS CARDS for your teen driver, and MORE! Information for signing up can be located on our website!

STONE BRIDGE ATHLETIC BOOSTER CLUB  

The Stone Bridge Athletic Boosters Club has opportunities in the fall to raise money toward your fundraising requirement and also opportunities to raise money for the team.

An important clarification about working concessions and tickets for Stone Bridge High School sporting events and AYFL: 

AYFL - Ashburn Youth Football League 

Stone Bridge Athletic Boosters Club often gives SBRC the opportunity to earn a percentage of  the profits of their concession stand at AYFL games that have been assigned to SBRC. Each volunteer will get a portion of the earnings toward their personal fundraising commitment.  Parents and athletes can volunteer for this opportunity. These funds will go towards your personal fundraising requirement. 

SBHS Concessions 

Help our Athletic Boosters and give a huge thank you for their generous contributions to the  Rowing Team in the past few years. We ask that each family have one parent support a fall or winter volunteer opportunity. Increased participation will not only help build goodwill with the Boosters but the Team will get a donation for each adult that participates. These funds will go to the team.

Athlete Needs for Practice:

Footwear: The grounds are often muddy, so rain/muck boots or snug-fitting water shoes with traction are preferred. Otherwise, Crocs, old shoes/sneakers will work, although they will be a mess.  Waterproof socks over regular socks (with boots) can also help keep their feet dry. We don’t advise wearing white socks because they will get dirty and stained from the red clay. 

Eyewear: The sun reflects off the water and can be blinding, so sunglasses are recommended. They can also end up lost in the water, so take expensive glasses at your own risk! 

Trou (spandex rowing shorts): No super-short or loose-fitting shorts, to avoid discomfort and  getting caught in the seat mechanism. Mid-thigh length is best, and can be found at any store that sells athletic wear. JLAthletics sells shorts designed for rowing in various solids and patterns. You can also find them on Amazon.

Layer, Layer, Layer: It can be COLD in spring, and it’s usually 10℉ colder on the river than it is in Ashburn. Athletes can wear a base layer designed for cold weather activities under more form fitting activewear. Top layers can be bulkier as long as they allow freedom of movement without catching the oars. 

Dry Layer: Because this is a water sport, athletes will get wet. It is a good idea to have a dry set of clothing, especially socks, to change into following practice. 

Fuel: Don’t forget the healthy snacks! In order to be adequately fueled for the physically demanding practices, athletes should bring an appropriate snack – not a treat – and plenty of water. 

Bug spray and Sunscreen: Bugs are always around once the weather warms up; bug spray is your friend. It can’t be stressed enough — sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen! Rowing with a sunburn stinks.

REGATTAS - Athlete Information  

The team travels together to the regatta on a bus. Details on when to arrive to get on the bus will be provided the week of the regatta. 

The Day Before: There may be a brief practice, but athletes will be primarily de-rigging boats and loading the trailer with everything needed for the race. Athletes need to stay hydrated and eat and sleep well the days before racing.  

Suggested pre-event meals can be found on the USADA True Sport Nutrition Guide website.

What to wear: Everyone must be dressed in their unis! Dress in layers as it could be cold/rainy at the regatta and better to have more clothing than less. Boat Jackets are highly encouraged.

Arrival/Departure Times: Regatta details will be sent out mid-week before the regatta. Historically, the bus has departed SBHS at 6am but please pay close attention to directions from the Coaches as departure times may vary depending on the race schedule.

It is absolutely critical that athletes are ON TIME and dressed IN THEIR UNIFORM. One late person jeopardizes the entire boat or the entire team!

At times parents have other obligations, but athletes should plan on remaining at the regatta until all SBHS boats have competed, all equipment is properly loaded, and coaches give the ‘all  clear’ for departure. After regattas, the athletes ride the bus back to unload the boat trailer and re-rig the boats so they are ready to row for the next practice.

Athlete pickup varies depending on race schedule. Please pay attention to directions from coaches as to the time the bus is leaving from each regatta. If your athlete must leave early, you must contact the Head Coach in writing to make arrangements and are responsible for their transportation. 

What Your Athlete Needs to Bring to Regattas:  

• Water, water, water!  

• A nutritious lunch. Hospitality will provide snacks and recovery drinks to supplement their needs, but each athlete needs to bring the bulk of their food for the day.

• Bug Spray and SUNSCREEN!

• Layers of clothing based on the forecasted weather for the day.

• Boat house jacket. Boat house jackets are specifically designed for rowing. They are water proof, insulated, and have an additionally flap that can be rolled down for athletes to sit on to stay dry.

• Portable/tree hammock or foldable camp chairs. The athletes create a hammock village in the trees by the team’s base location. There is a fair amount of downtime, having a place to rest is important.

REGATTA - Parent/Spectator Information  

**Important note: Regattas only cancel for high winds, lightening, or water levels. We do race in the RAIN. Please bring rain gear! **

Regattas are now CASH ONLY for concessions and t-shirts, no credit cards. They are discouraging payments such as Zelle as wireless connectivity is spotty.

Spectator Parking: Most of our regattas are at Sandy Run Regional Park and there is a charge for shuttle service from the offsite parking lot ($10 dollars each way-total $20). Please bring cash as this is the only form of payment accepted for shuttles. Because of the distance from the  

park, you should plan for 90 minutes of extra travel time before your athlete’s race time. The offsite parking location will vary. In the past, the parking locations have included South County High School the Occoquan Old Bridge and Rt 123 Commuter Lot.

**Prior to each regatta, SBRC Communications will send an email and post to BAND confirming which parking lot will be used for that race.

Race Viewing: The best viewing spot for races is the Grandstand (picture above) which is concrete stadium seating situated at the finish line of the race course.  While there is a cover over some of the seats, it isn’t fully rain proof. Remember rain gear!

Grandstand Trail (map below): It’s a 15- to 20-minute hike along the trail between parking shuttle drop-off (Parking Lot C) and the Grandstand. The path is wooded and relatively cool, but hilly and at times rocky. Allow for a minimum of 45 minutes to get from the offsite parking to the trail, not counting waiting in line to get on to the buses. Those with difficulty hiking should consider the Grandstand Van. 

Grandstand Van: 

VASRA runs vans to shuttle people from Parking Lot C to the grandstand, for a small fee. The fare is cash only, and in the past was $5 each way. 

Things to Do Between Races: Socialize with SBRC parents! Enjoy watching other team’s boat race, and cheer for all the SBRC races. The concession stand by the grandstand also sells a different Regatta t-shirt each race (cost typically between $30 and $40, this may vary, so bring extra cash). There is a separate concessions and t-shirt purchase booth in the athlete only section.

• Except for service animals, pets are NOT allowed at Sandy Run Park.

What to Bring as a Spectator:

• Plenty of water for yourself and snacks!

• Highly encourage bringing binoculars, especially if you want to see the boats through the whole race. Our boats start far away, but the grandstands are near the finish line.

• Sunscreen and bug spray.

• Clothing layers (the temperature is generally cooler by the water, but it can also get very hot).

• The walk down to the grandstands is hilly, bring appropriate shoes! (Sneakers or hiking boots are highly recommended.)

• Toilet paper!! I know this sounds odd, but there are actual bathrooms near the grandstands, but they are notorious for running out of toilet paper.

• Cow bells and other noise makers. That’s right, unlike other sports, our athletes need to hear us from the water. We encourage ALL THE NOISE to root them on!

Miscellaneous Info: 

• Cell service is TERRIBLE at Sandy Run, so don’t plan on relying on it while at the regatta. Suggest printing out Heat Sheets.

• Coaches are VERY busy on race days, so please save questions for another time or ask other parents. 

• Do not expect to see your athlete outside of racing on the water. They are busy preparing for their race and are located in a different area from the spectators. 

• Parents are not allowed to enter the team area under any circumstances. VASRA is very strict about this, it is a safety issue, and the team will be sanctioned if the rule is not followed. Athletes are supervised by coaches at all times. 

Map of Sandy Run Park

(10450 Van Thompson Rd, Fairfax Station, VA 22039

VASRA Volunteering  

The Virginia Scholastic Rowing Association (VASRA) organizes and runs the local regattas in which SBRC competes. Assistance from all member high schools is required to keep races flowing smoothly. All SBRC families are required to fulfill at least one VASRA service shift over the year to help the team meet our obligation to local racing. Our signup genius for 2026 can be found in BAND.

The following is an explanation of the available jobs: 

Course Set-up Land: Prepare the Sandy Run facility for spring regattas; activities include such things as cleaning and re-arranging equipment in the storage shed, checking cables and buoys, etc. May involve some heavy lifting, and please wear old clothes and gloves. 

Course Set-up Water: Prepare the race course for spring regattas, by installing anchors, buoy lines, and spreader cables, and positioning the tower and platform near the starting line. Please wear layered and waterproof clothing, a hat and gloves, and you bring a change of clothing in case you get very wet. 

Concessions: Boathouse or the grandstands, in either food service or sales of VASRA/regatta t-shirts. Morning shift prepares food, etc. and afternoon shift cleans up, etc. 

DockMaster Assistant: Make sure that all crews are checked in and launched at the correct times and landed safely.  May be assigned to the launch dock, recovery dock, or the coaches' dock. Wear comfortable shoes and layered clothing. 

Launch Drivers: You must complete SBRC launch training to sign up.  

• Dam Driver: Patrols the area near the dam to prevent rowers/shells from venturing too close 

• Shuttle Driver: Transports officials/coaches/workers up and down the race course. 

• Referee Driver: Requires at least one year of regatta launch experience; not suitable for novice drivers. 

• Safety Driver: Keep an eye on the course, and keep powerboats, sailboats, kayaks, canoes, large pieces of debris or logs, etc. out of the way of a race. 

Stakeboat Holder: Stakeboat holders lie on a plank over the water to hold shells in place until the starting horn. Finish Line Timer Helper: Work with race officials at the finish line shed to help determine shell timing and placement, ensuring the official race times are accurate. 

Flagholder: Stands outside the finish line shed with a large orange flag, and follows the instructions of the Finish Line Judge to indicate 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places, etc., as boats cross the finish line. 

Weigh-in Assistant: Helps the regatta director or referees/judges weigh lightweight teams, and ensures wristbands are provided to lightweights. 

Awards Assistant: Works with the HQ Coordinator to obtain race results, organize award ribbons for presentation to teams, and to record the distribution of awards. 

Cross-Over Marshal: Ensure that pedestrians walking from the boathouse and parking lots to the grandstands stay on the pedestrian path, and do not cross under the dividing rope to walk on the roadway reserved for shuttles. Bring a  folding chair, water bottle & snacks, and a book — cell reception is spottier in the woods than the Grandstands. Launch Master: Responsible for all motor craft on race day, oversees set-up and is accountable to the regatta director  prior, during and after races. 

Course Take Down Helpers: Help put away equipment, fix buoy lines, cables and anchors, or re-position the  starting tower and the starting platform near regatta HQ; this role is clean-up to get the river ready for the next week of  practice. Some heavy lifting might be involved. Land and the water work, so bring appropriate clothing and gloves.

ROWING LINGO  

✦ Bow: The front of the boat. Also, a term for the rower in the number 1 seat in the bow of the boat.  

✦ Coxswain or "Cox": The oar-less crew member who is responsible for steering and race strategy. The coxswain  either sits in the stern or lies in the bow of the boat and faces in the direction of travel. 

✦ Cox Box: An electronic device that gives a readout of various data such as stroke rate and is connected to a  headset and loudspeakers to amplify the coxswain’s voice. “Cox-Box” is a registered trademark of Nielsen  Kellerman. 

✦ Crab or Catch a Crab: A rowing error where the rower is unable to quickly remove or release the oar blade from  the water and the oar blade acts as a brake on the boat until it is removed from the water.  

✦ Crew size: 1, 2, 4, 8; the number of rowers in the crew.  

✦ Engine room: The middle rowers in the boat. In an 8-person shell, these are generally seats 6, 5, 4 and 3. They are generally the biggest and strongest rowers, who provide most of the power to the boat (see “Power House”).  

✦ Ergometer (Erg): An indoor rowing machine.  

✦ Feathering: The act of rotating the oar so the blade is parallel to the surface of the water.  

✦ “Heads” or “Heads Up”: Off the water, a shout to alert others to watch out for a boat being carried.  

✦ Head Race: A time-trial competition that is typically held in the fall, winter, and spring seasons. In this form of  

racing, rowers race against the clock and the crew completing the course in the shortest time in their age, agility, and boat class category is deemed the winner.  

✦ Heavyweight: A rower who weighs more than the limit for lightweight rowing. Often referred to as “Open  Weight.”  

✦ Lightweight: A rower whose weight allows him or her to be eligible to compete in lightweight rowing events.  

✦ Novice: Rowers who are rowing for their first Spring season.  

✦ Port: The left side of the boat when facing the bow. The term also refers to a sweep rower who rows with the oar  on the port side of the boat. This means that the oar blade is placed to the rower's right.  

✦ Power 10: A coxswain call to take 10 strokes that musters all the strength the rower can give. 

✦ Power House: The middle rowers in the boat. In an 8-person shell, these are generally seats 6, 5, 4 and 3. They  are generally the biggest and strongest rowers, who provide most of the power to the boat (see “Engine Room”).  

✦ Regatta: A series of crew races. The number of boats in a race typically varies between two to six, but any  number of boats can start together if the course is wide enough.  

✦ Rigging: All of the equipment used to outfit the boat, including the apparatuses (oars, outriggers, oarlocks,  sliding seats, etc.) attached to a boat that allow the rower to propel the boat through the water. In transport to  and from a race, the boat does not have any apparatuses attached. Therefore, ‘rigging’ the boat is done in preparation for a race and ‘de-rigging’ the boat is done after the race before loading it on the trailer.  

✦ Sculler: A rower who rows with two oars, one in each hand.  

✦ Seat number: A rower's position in the boat counting up from the bow. In an eight, the person closest to the  bow of the boat is 1 or "bow," the next is 2, followed by 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and finally 8 or “stroke."  

✦ Set (the boat): Keeping the balance of the boat steady, centered, and level so it doesn't rock side-to-side.  

✦ Starboard: The right side of the boat when facing the bow. The term also refers to a sweep rower who rows  with the oar on the starboard side of the boat. This means that the oar blade is placed to the rower's left.  

✦ Stern: The back of the boat.  

✦ Stroke: One full motion of the oar to move the boat. The movement consists of the catch, drive, finish, and  recovery. It’s also a term for the rower closest to the stern of the boat, responsible for establishing the crew’s stroke rate and rhythm.  

✦ Stroke Rate: Number of strokes per minute.  

✦ Sweep: A style of rowing in which each rower uses one oar.  

✦ Uni (aka Unisuit): A one-piece rowing uniform that is a specially-designed garment tailored specifically for the sport.  

✦ Wash: The wake from a motorized boat, disliked by rowers as the wash affects the boat stability and can cause water to flood over the gunwales. 

HEAT SHEETS

Heat sheets are how you know when races start and final results. Please be aware that the times can change for various reasons. Always give your self a time buffer! Communications will do their best to send each regatta heat sheet as soon as it is provided, however, you can also find it on the VASRA website (vasra.org). Because of spotty internet service at Sandy Run, recommend printing out heat sheets!

HOW TO READ A HEAT SHEET

This information can also be found on our website under Rowing 101, SBRC Resource Articles.

In this example, Event M-1V8+ refers to Men’s Varsity Eight with a coxswain, and Heat 1 starts at 9:00 AM. Each lane has the name of a competing school.

The W-N-4x event refers to Women’s Novice Quad without a coxswain, and the second heat starts at 9:20 AM.

Abbreviations:

• M: Men’s

• W: Women’s

• N: Novice

• JV: Junior Varsity

• V: Varsity

• +: With coxswain

• x: Sculling (each rower has two oars)

• 1V, 2V, 3V: First, Second, or Third Varsity boats (1V is the top varsity boat)

• Repechage (Rep): A second-chance race for boats that did not qualify directly for finals.

• Final: The race that determines the overall winner of the event.

LET’S HAVE A GREAT SPRING 2026 ROWING SEASON!!!

GO BULLDOGS!

https://SBRowing.org

We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and your donations
are fully tax deductible to the extent allowable by law.
Tax ID: EIN 45-4502845