Go to the Lake Merritt organizing committee's Official Convention site.

USRowing Convention Highlights
The Oakland local organizing committee and USRowing would like to invite all rowing enthusiasts to Oakland, Calif. for three-days of lectures, hands-on clinics and round table discussions. The local organizing committee has worked very hard to ensure a strong convention program and a great opportunity to sample the best food and entertainment the bay area provides.

Similar to last year, the 1998 convention will focus on providing basic level I coaching education. However, this will be the first time those coaches wanting to receive their level I coaching education certificate may qualify at the convention. (Four coaching observations are needed to complete the level I certification.) By attending clinics marked with an asterisk, those coaches seeking certification will fulfill the requirements of attending a Level I clinic. In addition, coaches may also fulfill the requirements for CPR, first aid and boating safety while in Oakland. This is a once-a-year opportunity to meet all the requirements needed to possess a Level I coaching certificate. For additional information, please contact Willie Black at 317-237-5672.

Thursday’s featured speaker will be University of California – Berkeley head coach, Steve Gladstone. Gladstone will be discussing race preparation. Thursday evening at Yoshi’s should not be missed. For $15.00 you can hear one of the best jazz pianist around (see extra activities).

Stanford University women’s basketball coach Tara VanDerveer will speak on the topic of coaching philosophy and leadership on Friday evening at 5:30 p.m. Beginning her 19th season as a collegiate coach this fall, VanDerveer has served seven coaching assignments with USA Basketball while leading her Stanford Cardinal to five final four appearances and two national crowns (1989-90 and 1991-92). She has been named National Coach of the Year three times and Northern California Women’s Intercollegiate Coach of the Year five times.

Sunndee Blende will be giving two presentations on nutrition. In a presentation Friday tailored to coaches, Blende will speak on nutritional issues for crews during workouts and in connection with racing. On Saturday, a program tailored to junior competitors will be given.

Concept II will be providing two forty-minute group indoor rowing workouts on both Friday and Saturday. Twenty spots will be available for this instructor-led class. Interested participants will be able to sign up at the Concept II booth. In addition, Concept II will be selling the ergs used at the convention for $100 off the regular price. If interested, please contact Concept II at 1-800-245-5676 before Nov. 25. Ergometers must be picked up at the end of the event.

Craig Lambert, author of Mind over Water: Lessons on Life from the Art of Rowing, will be on hand Friday and Saturday to discuss and sign his newest book. The book takes readers on a spiritual journey via the boat. Through a personal narrative of self discovery, Lambert shows how the lessons rowing teaches are essential for all of us. A staff writer and editor at Harvard Magazine, Lambert has also written for Sports Illustrated and Town & Country. He trains and races in single sculls on the Charles River in Boston, Mass.

Berkeley artist, Dennis Pugliese will give two presentations regarding the artistic dimension of rowing. One will focus on two and three-dimensional representations of rowing, using some of his oil paintings and constructs as points of departure. The second would focus on a modern dance that Dennis choreographed for a single sculler.

Back by popular demand, Ethan Reeve, Ohio University strength coach, will again provide two in-depth seminars on strength training. Reeve, who worked with the National Team women in Chattanooga, will present on Friday and Saturday. Another convention favorite, Mike Davenport, 1996 Olympic boatman and Washington College head coach, will conduct two rigging seminars. In addition, Davenport will conduct an hour long seminar entitled "Price We Pay" dealing with the effects of coaching on coaches.

Highlighting Saturday’s schedule will be the seventh annual USRowing Sports Medicine Symposium. We are still confirming additional topics and speakers. Topics will include:

"Update on Drugs and Sports" – Frederick C. Hagerman, Ph.d.
"Nutrition Update for Rowers" – Margorie Hagerman, M.S.
"Perspectives on Knee Problems in Rowers" – Jo A. Hannafin, Ph.d., M.D.
"Rib Cage and Lower Back Stress and Strain on the Rowing Ergometer" – Timothy M. Hosea, M.D.
"Treatment of Rowing Related Shoulder Pain" – Warren G. Harding, III, M.D.
"Positive and Negative Efforts of Creatine Use in Athletes" – Robin Meiggs, M.S.
"Treatment of Chronic and Severe Dehydration" – Kristine Karlson, M.D.

Saturday will also provide a unique opportunity for high school rowers, their parents, as well as all convention registrants to listen to the most well known and respected woman in the amateur athletic movement – Anita DeFrantz. Her presentation will kick off the junior program for the convention. Following her speech, there will be a panel discussion on getting into college. Panel members will include, athletic directors, coaches and counselors. Other points of interest will include weight training, nutrition, and race preparation. The college fair will close out the convention at 3:00 p.m. Over twenty-five collegiate programs will be on-site to provide information about their program and rowing opportunities. (Please note that NCAA rules will be enforced during the convention and the college fair.)

Thursday, December 3, 1998
8:30 a.m.	Vendor area Opens Teaching Sweep Technique* Teaching Sculling Technique*
10:00 a.m.	Coaching Novices - College* Coaching Novices - Junior*
11:30 a.m.	Rigging* - Mike Davenport CRCA Meeting (Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association)
12:50 p.m.	NCAA Meeting – Led by Donna Noonan
1:30 p.m.	Athlete Selection
3:00 p.m.	Race Preparation* - Steve Gladstone
4:30 p.m.	Open Water Rowing - Sherwin Smith
5:30 p.m.	Coaching Philosophy and Leadership – Tara VanDerveer* CPR* (Separate registration)
8:00 p.m.	LOC Yoshi's Jazz Nitespot - Jack London Square
Friday, December 4, 1998
6:30 a.m.	Concept II Group Indoor Rowing workout
7:00 a.m.	Breakfast Round Table
7:15 a.m.	Concept II Group Indoor Rowing workout
8:30 a.m.	Vendor area opens Teaching Sculling Technique* Teaching Sweep Technique*
10:00 a.m.	Coaching Novices - Junior* Coaching Novices - College* Marketing Your Team Community Rowing
11:30 a.m.	Race Strategy for Juniors
1:30 p.m.	Weight Training* - Ethan Reeve Rules of Racing for Coxswains, Rowers & Coaches* Launch Trouble Shooting NCAA Follow-Up (if needed)
3:00 p.m.	Basic Training Methodology*
4:30 p.m.	National Team Coach - Panel Discussion
5:30 p.m.	First Aid* (Separate Registration)
6:00 p.m.	LOC Reception – Max’s Diner and Bar (no-host, free to 3-day registrants)
Saturday, December 5, 1998
6:30 a.m.	Concept II – Group Indoor Rowing Workout
7:00 a.m.	Breakfast Round Table
7:15 a.m.	Concept II – Group Indoor Rowing Workout
8:30a.m.	Vendor Area opens Coaching Coxswains* Master Women's Rowing Nutrition for Junior Rowers Sports Medicine Symposium
10:00 a.m.	Ethics in Sport - Hellen Carol, Mills Coaching Safety* Sports Medicine Symposium Designing Master Training Programs Athletes of the Year
11:30 a.m.	Anita DeFrantz Basic Physiology* Sports Medicine Symposium
1:30 p.m.	Getting Into College Panel Rigging Part II, Mike Davenport Stretching Sports Medicine Syposium USRowing Judge-Referee Clinic
3:00 p.m.	College Fair Strength Training – Ethan Reeve USRowing Sports Medicine USRowing Web Sites & You
4:30 p.m.	USRowing Annual Meeting Nutrition for Masters
5:30 p.m.	Boat Safety* (separate registration)
6:00 p.m.	USRowing Annual Banquet
* Denotes Level I coaching requirement.

Extra Activities

Thursday, December 3, 1998
Yoshi’s Jazz Nitespot – Jack London Square, Oakland
Please join us for a night of jazz at Yoshi’s. The organizing committee has reserved a limited number of seats for the 8:00 p.m. show. Performing will be Panamanian jazz pianist, Danilo Perez. The last time he and his comp were in town, they tore the roof off with Latin and Caribbean Jazz. Cost is $15.00.

Friday, December 4, 1998
Convention Reception – Max’s Diner and Bar.
This year’s Friday night social will be at Max’s Diner and Bar. It is located at Oakland’s City Center, about one-half block from the Marriott hotel. The event will be free, no-host from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Saturday, December 5, 1998
USRowing Annual Banquet and reception
USRowing is honored to have Anita DeFrantz as our keynote speaker at this year’s annual banquet. Join us as we celebrate our sport and acknowledge the accomplishments and victories of the past season. The cost is $35.00.

Hotel Information
Oakland Marriott City Center
1001 Broadway
Oakland, CA 94607
(510-451-4000
$89.00 + tax

All contents copyright 1997-98 Edward Hewitt, unless otherwise noted.