Allies with oars
promoting inclusion and accessibility for all rowers, regardless of gender identity.
Since 2022, Steady State Network has aligned with Allies with Oars to promote inclusion and accessibility for all rowers, regardless of gender identity. We do this by pulling together competitive lineups for major regattas including USRowing Masters Nationals and Head of the Charles.
In 2024, our latest Allies with Oars team has begun training for Race Around the Rock, an 88k coastal relay race in August around Salt Spring Island in British Columbia, Canada.
The Allies with Oars initiative is part of our larger mission to disrupt and expand the narrative about rowing culture. USRowing awarded Steady State Network the 2024 Anita DeFrantz Award which recognizes an individual or organization achieving measurable success in expanding diversity opportunities in rowing.
With your support as an advertiser or Patron, we can offer truly equitable access to the Race Around the Rock and other regattas, regardless of financial ability.
MAKING WAVES.
GETTING NOTICED.
In 2022, we pulled together our first Allies with Oars crew to row the Director’s Challenge Mixed8+ at the Head Of The Charles Regatta. It was comprised of gay, queer, trans, and straight ally athletes.
The Allies with Oars mission caught the attention of VICE News, and a production crew followed us in Boston to film a segment for Queer Sports. Click play above to watch the segment, which is part of a longer episode about queer athletes and the power of activism.
Since then, we’ve boated Allies with Oars crews at the 2023 USRowing Masters Nationals, 2023 Head of the Charles, and are making plans for racing in 2024.
Learn about gender inclusion policy & implementation
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Dr. Mary O'Connor
Fighting to Save Women’s Rowing
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Coach Ann Strayer
On Inclusion and Self-Worth in Rowing
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Coach Kevin Harris
on the Importance of Embracing Diversity
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Challenging the Binary
Making a New Lane in Rowing
upcoming racing opportunities
Race Around the Rock
August 25, 2024
Salt Spring Island
British Columbia, Canada
The application period is now closed and our crews have been selected. Stay tuned for additional racing opportunities in 2024.
THE RACE
Race Around The Rock, hosted by Salt Spring Island Rowing Club, is an 88km relay race around Salt Spring Island in British Columbia, and is appropriate for coastal rowing/open-water shells for any/all participants (19+/U19) in the 4x+, 4+ and 2x.
Steady State Network is preparing to boat two coastal mixed 4x+ relay crews, each consisting of 6 rowers and at least two coxswains. There are eight way points (safety checks / relay points) and we are considering a strategy that includes two stops for crew changes. All rowers will row between 44k and 63k (to be determined).
MISSION: ALLIES WITH OARS
Since 2022, Steady State Network has raced under the our banner of Allies with Oars with a mission to promote inclusion and accessibility for all rowers, regardless of gender identity. Allies with Oars crews are comprised of trans, gay, queer, and straight ally athletes and all members of the Race Around the Rock team must willfully support this mission.
ENDURANCE TRAINING
Race Around the Rock is an 88k endurance race. We have established a partnership with Live2Row Studios to lead an erg-based endurance training program for our team. Block 1 of training is set to run March 9 – May 4, with two more subsequent training blocks through August. Members must be able to commit to this training plan in addition to any training you might already have on your schedule with your local rowing club. We aim to train virtually together once a week with a few additional sessions scheduled each week. We will confirm this training schedule soon.
ROUGH SCHEDULE
Application period: January 27 – February 10
Invitations to join team sent: February 17
Team member confirmation of commitment and deposit due: February 24
Live2Row endurance training: March 9 – August (TBD)
Coastal intro/training: TBD – West coast and East coast location opportunities
Arrive Salt Sprint Island: August 23
Coastal boat fitting and practice: August 24
Race Around the Rock: August 25
TO RACE WITH US:
As a member of the Steady State Network Allies with Oars crew, you agree to act as a representative of SSN and actively, and willfully support our mission of inclusion.
Please fill out and submit the expression of interest form below.
We are seeking sponsors to help ease the financial burden of this event, but be prepared to help cover the cost of race fees, boat rental, housing, and race-day nutrition. Team members will be responsible for their own transportation to and from British Columbia, and all meals.
The application period closed February 10, 2024. Our Race Around the Rock team has been selected. If you are interested in being an alternate, submit the form below for consideration.