Information for Novice Rowers

If you’re aged 14 or over, rowing is a great sport to get fit, make new friends, have fun and potentially compete around New Zealand.

​

Cure Boating Club is one of the oldest rowing clubs in NZ with a proud history of rowing achievements. In recent years the club has had a number of NZ representatives at various age group levels including the NZ elite squad.

​

​

 

The Rowing Season

Rowing is a competitive Summer sport, requiring a full commitment to your team and personal fitness. We have a lot of fun, but we are serious about training and competing. Our goal is to have fast and fit racing crews at both the club and school national championships.

​

Throughout Winter and up to September is the perfect time to visit the Club and learn what rowing is all about. We typically hold one main Open Day in September to align with the start of the Club Season but are happy to arrange a visit at another time if you contact us directly. We then usually allow a few weeks for you to have a go rowing before asking you to become a member.

​

The rowing season begins officially on 1 September with confirmed crews and training in place by October. 

​

The competitive season runs from November to February/March each year.

Water-based sports always require a competent swimming ability, so please bear that in mind.

​

Training Times

Training is initially 1 day per weekend (Sunday mornings 8.30am-11am), increasing to 3-4 times per week in the lead up to regattas (if the crew has potential to do well at the Club and School National championships). Additional training days are generally Tues and Thurs evenings (5.30pm) and Saturday mornings (8.30am). 

​

Training includes time on the water in boats (weather permitting), running and off-the-water circuit exercises including erg’ing (rowing machines).

​

At novice level, every rower is given the opportunity to become as good as they can be. Selection may then occur for attendance and competition at NZ and school championship regattas.

​

Attendance at training sessions is a prerequisite for being selected for crews.

Training continues over School and Christmas holidays.

​

Racing and Regattas

There are several competitive regattas for club rowers held throughout NZ, with racing opportunities across all levels of ability and age-groups. 

​

Every rower is classified into one of five classes (listed in order of increasing ability from lowest to highest); Novice, Intermediate, Club, Senior and Premier. In your first season of rowing you will be termed a ‘novice’ and can be of any age (year 9 or above).

At Novice level, numbers permitting, you will have the opportunity to race in an 8-seater and/or 4-seater boat. Progressing to doubles and singles in the following seasons
as your ability improves.

​

We attend regattas every 3-4 weeks during the race season with the majority of regattas being held on Lake Ruataniwha at the Meridian Rowing Centre in Twizel. Regattas are typically three days away (Fri/Sat/Sun), with National events taking place over a full week.

​

Accommodation is arranged by the club, along with carpooling there and back. Parent volunteers will be required for transport, and as house parents while at regattas.
If this isn’t their thing, they’ll be rostered on for a meal or some baking. 

​

Key Competitive Regatta Dates 2024-25:

• 30 Nov-1 Dec Ashburton Club Regatta - Lake Hood 

• 14-15 Dec Meridian Otago Championship - Ruataniwha 

• 18-19 Jan Meridian Canterbury Championship - Ruataniwha

• 1-2 Feb Meridian South Island Championship - Ruataniwha 

• 18-22 Feb New Zealand National Championship - Ruataniwha 

 

School Rowing 

School-age rowers (subject to numbers) can go on to represent their schools at the South Island and NZ Secondary Schools rowing championships (commonly known as the Maadi Cup regatta). 

​

The club runs rowing programmes in conjunction with Rangiora and Kaiapoi High Schools’.

 

School Regattas:

• 7-9 March 2025: Meridian South Island Secondary School Championships – Lake Ruataniwha, Twizel

• 24-29 March 2025: Aon NZ Secondary Schools Championships – Lake Karāpiro, Cambridge

 

Annual Fees

The annual fee for a competitive rower is approximately $970 incl GST. 

This fee includes coaching, access to the boats*, gym and ergs, along with affiliation fees to Canterbury and New Zealand rowing associations, entry fees and boat haulage for regattas up to and including, the South Island Championships.

Uniform, travel and accommodation costs for regattas are additional to the above fees.

There will be opportunities for squads to fundraise toward costs for regattas.

* Supervision is required for rowers with less than 3 years of experience.

 

For further information on fees and to join the club, please visit:
www.curerowing.co.nz/season-registration

 

 

Your Coach and Main Point of Contact 

 

Armin Svoboda - Club Captain

Phone 027 381 7717, Email: info@curerowing.co.nz
Or message us through our Facebook Page (Cure Boating Club)                                                           

​

​

​