Rowing on the River

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Navesink River Rowing offers lessons for all ages and all levels
By Meghan Loder
RED BANK – The Navesink River Rowing (NRR) offers area residents another chance to get on the water.
Located at the end of Maple Avenue, the club offers rowing lessons for all ages and levels and a competitive racing team.
After being smashed by Super Storm Sandy, the club is back on solid ground. NRR lost five boats and odds and ends of equipment but two years later it is back to normal.
“We are pretty much back to where we were,” said Susan Meltsner, operations manager. “Sandy washed away some of the shore line. Last summer we were functioning, we just look nicer now.” The rowing season is under way – it started May 1 and will end Nov. 1 – at the club.
The sport has seen a huge increase in popularity in recent years with schools such as Christian Brothers Academy (CBA), Ranney School and Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School offering competitive teams. But with only three schools offering the sport, Navesink River Rowing fills in the gap and offers a racing team for high school students who do not have the opportunity at their own school.
NRR Spring Competitive Crew is made up of two teams: a travel team that trains for and competes in out-of-town regattas and a development team focused on building power and technique so they can travel to regattas in the future. Participants from all over Monmouth County and beyond participate on this team.
While it is very competitive the team does not have tryouts. Anyone who meets the basic eligibility requirements is considered for the team.
But rowing is not just for the young and competitive. In fact, there is a sizable population who rows at NRR who are older – with some in their 70s.
“It is a great form of exercise that is pretty low impact; you’re not going to ruin your knees,” Meltsner said. “Something about rowing that is appealing, is that it is relaxing at the same time that it is challenging. People come back to the sport much later after they’re done running their kids around.”
Navesink River Rowing is not your traditional boat club atmosphere. “Were more like a fitness club,” Meltsner said.  “It’s a nonprofit organization and every member is required to pitch in.” Members are required to perform 10 hours of service to help NRR operate.
NRR also tries to reach out to the community with its special program called Reach Out and Roar (ROAR). The program is a donation-funded “rowership” program that provides rowing experiences for free or at a minimal charge to local boys and girls who would otherwise be unable to participate.
“A lot of these kids live in Red Bank. The resource is right here and they don’t have an opportunity to do anything on it and this program gives them the opportunity.” Meltsner said. The program “broadens their horizons and allows them to mix with kids from all different areas and taps into this resource that they are a part of.”
The Navesink River Rowing Club offers an opportunity for participants of all ages to experience the river and learn how to row.
“It is a friendly atmosphere where the members are united in their love of rowing,” Meltsner said. “We have people who are super-competitive to others who are just interested in tooling around. We like to provide an opportunity for anyone at any level.”
Additional information about Navesink River Rowing is available by www.navesinkriverrowing.org or at 732-758-6266.