About the Program

"There is no doubt in my mind that Craftsbury was the difference between winning and losing. This place is definitely magical to us." - Peter Graves, 2009 SBTC participant, bow, US Senior men's 2x 2009, winner Champ 2x HOCR 2009.

The Craftsbury Small Boat Training Center is a program designed to be a bridge from collegiate rowing to the US National Team, with a focus on smaller boats. The program offers coaching, boats and some support for races such as: U23 World Trials, Senior Nationals, Senior Team World Trials, World Championships (U23 and Senior) and Canadian Henley. Depending on length of stay, participants may be able to offset the costs of room/board with part-time work at the Center. Participants will be expected to participate in one or more projects that contribute to Craftsbury's mission [ed - linked to the mission please]. The schedule and length of the program are flexible to meet athletes' needs. Athletes will be accepted through an application process.

The mission of the Craftsbury Outdoor Center is:

1. to support and promote participation and excellence in lifelong sports with a special focus on rowing and Nordic skiing;
2. to use and teach sustainable practices; and
3. to protect and manage the surrounding land, lake and trails.
    

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SBTC FAQ

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Who will be the coach?

Larry Gluckman will be coaching this group. Larry is a former Olympic rower and has coached numerous Olympic crews. He has coached the Varsity Men's programs at Princeton, Dartmouth, and most recently Trinity College.

What types of rowing experiences must I have?

Athletes must have been part of a competitive school or club program and have the capacity to train twice a day. A familiarity with and understanding of small boat rowing (1x, 2x, 2-) is important, but not a limiting factor.

What are the goals of the program?

To develop proficiencies in small boat rowing, improve rowing fitness, strength and power and where appropriate, provide racing preparation and experience. One competitive manifestation of these goals is to prepare scullers or crews for U-23 and Senior World Trials.

What is the structure of the program?

There will be 10-12 water workouts per week with supplemental land work for flexibility, strength and power development. There will be systematic evaluations and appraisals of the athlete's progress. There will be periodic videotaping and review. When appropriate, racing opportunities will be provided.

What is the end of summer take away for the athlete?

A review of the athletes' pre camp goals will take place plus a final evaluation of the athlete's fitness and rowing proficiencies in the three small boats. There will be a race review for those athletes who do compete. Leaving Craftsbury, the athlete will have a clear understanding of where they are and what needs to be accomplished to move to the next level.

What is the cost of the program, and how much of it can be offset by work for the Center?

The exact cost of the program, and the portion that can be offset by work, will depend on several factors including:

• length of stay - the longer you stay, the more likely you will be able to become involved in projects for the Center
• availability to work - depending on the volume of training and schedule of races, athletes may have more or less time to work
   

We would expect that an athlete whose schedule allows could offset a good chunk of the cost of the program with15 hours of work per week.

All room and board privileges are contingent on the upkeep and cleaning of your housing facility and completing all job assignments in a timely fashion.

If you would like more details, please contact smallboats@craftsbury.com or larryg@craftsbury.com and include info on your desired length of stay, anticipated races, and estimated hours you would be willing to work.

What will the work opportunities be like?

Work may include any of the following:

• Various projects related to helping Craftsbury become more sustainable. These could include analysis of current heating/power systems, improved management of property, production of local food on property.
• Projects that support the Craftsbury sculling program in general: helping coach local juniors and masters, helping campers get on and off the water; maintaining the fleet, babysitting for children of rowing coaches and campers.
• Meeting needs of the Outdoor Center such as caretaking of facilities, improving trails to ensure early skiing, etc.
• Other Projects tbd. Participants will be encouraged to generate ideas for projects.

What kind of boats does the program have? Can I bring my own boat?

SBTC has a small fleet of pair/doubles, a quad, several singles and access to additional singles and other small boats when they are not in use for the Sculling Camp. You are also welcome to bring your own boat; you can discuss this with Larry after your admission to the program.

Do I have to be in college? Is there a minimum age requirement?

The program is geared primarily toward U23 and Senior men and women, whether currently in college or not. There is some flexibility: for example, we will consider applications from serious Juniors who will be U23 in the next season.

When are applications due?

SBTC will consider applications on a rolling basis. You may apply at any time. In general we will try to make decisions within 2 weeks, but this may not always be possible, especially during the winter. Sometimes, this schedule will be expedited, as in cases where athletes are cut from camps and wish to immediately start training in a small boat for Trials.

How many athletes can the program serve?

This, too, is flexible and will depend on the composition of the group at any given time. Larry will have discretion to admit a larger or smaller number of athletes as is appropriate at that point, depending on competition schedule, ratio of sweep rowers to scullers, availability of boats and water time.

Is there a minimum length of stay suggested? Maximum?

In order to really make good progress, we suggest a minimum stay of two weeks. The maximum stay will largely be determined by weather, and how much you like Nordic skiing for cross-training. We have several athletes staying with us into the winter and continue to explore ways to make this work year round.

How much regatta support will be provided? What expenses will I need to cover?

SBTC will provide coaching, boat transport, entry fees, competition uniforms and athlete transport to the extent that there is room in the van pulling the trailer. Athletes will be responsible for their own housing and meal costs while on the road.

Other than trou, what should I bring to the SBTC?

The athlete must bring to SBTC:

• Heart Rate Monitor and belt - ideally a Suunto brand unit.
• Stroke or Speed Coach with harness, plastic holder and pick up magnet - impeller is optional
• Small tool bag containing an adjustable wrench, 7/16 wrench, regular and Phillips head screw and 5 meter metric tape.
• Running shoes, hat for rowing, workout gear
• Log book for recording workouts and personal performance data.
• A set of slings if you bring your own shell.
• Mountain bike if you do not have a vehicle

What is the water like? What is Craftsbury like? Is there any social life?

Rowing will take place on Big Hosmer Pond, which is a narrow, sheltered lake around 3000 meters long. Mornings are generally flat water; afternoons can offer more breezy conditions. The Craftsbury Outdoor Center is a very busy place in the summer, with Sculling camps running all summer long, with the exception of a few weekends. There are also a number of competitive Nordic skiers training at the Center, including the Green Racing Project, which is a parallel program to SBTC.