Lake Merritt Rowing Club Boathouse

LMRC changed my life. I started taking lessons about a month and a half ago, with absolutely no expectations or previous experience on rowing. A coworker suggested their intro to sweep two week intensive class, and always being up for a new, active challenge I dove in without hesitation. I’ve had the privilege to learn from Stewart and Pam, and both create a strong sense of community around the sport. I’m committed to continuing to grow as a team member and always enjoy the challenges of being on the water as a relatively inexperienced rower. You can find me smiling on the lake every Saturday from now on!

I learned to row at LMRC’s Learn to Row Day three years ago and have been rowing regularly ever since, first with the Intermediates and more recently with the Men’s team. It’s far more affordable than other East Bay Rowing Clubs (the dues are $ 360 year vs. $ 1000 or more at East Bay Rowing, Artemis, etc.), it’s a diverse group of people of all ages and fitness levels. Connie Wehenmeyer runs a very tight ship with the Intermediates, and while the Men’s team (which practices at the same time as the Intermediates, Mondays and Wednesdays after work and Saturday mornings) is still looking for a full-​time, permanent coach, the more experienced rowers and scullers chip in to put together a good practice even when the coach can’t be there. Come to the free annual Learn to Row Day, or take the beginner class and see what rowing’s all about!

Just got my first rowing blister, a badge of honor for sure. I took the class and am now working with the Intermediate team, kicking ass. Plus its right next to a dock bar. Per-​fect.

Like others, I’d watched the speed and grace of the sculls and the obvious fitness of the rowers on Lake Merritt and elsewhere. After many years of just thinking it looked like fun, I took the beginning class early this Spring. What a lummox I was (and still am a good but of the time in the boat) –good thing that Meg, Brian, and Al are and have been great instructors and coaches. This is all good – open Club atmosphere, all nice people, easy access to equipment in great condition, and while the Lake’s waters are not pristine, if you are simply rowing (v s falling into as I did once), its a beautiful place to be. I am increasingly confident and thrilled that I finally got it together and joined. Thanks LMRC!

If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to sit in one of those lonnngggg sleek boats that I always thought were the exclusive domain of 6’5″ tall Cambridge and Oxford students, LMRC is the place to go. First off, forget that «only for preppies» image that I had for rowers. Club members come in all shapes, sizes, ages, and degrees of fitness. This is Oakland, after all! After years of splashing around in every human-​powered vessel I could think of (outriggers, kayaks, canoes, sailboats) I had a bug to learn more about rowing. Maybe it was that Kaiser ad of the woman rowing (turns out she is/​was a club member), but as I get older rowing seemed like a way to get a good workout without pounding pavement or spending hours a day in a bike saddle.
Long story long, Stewart and the folks at LMRC made it fun and easy to dip an oar. I took the last Beginning Sweep class of 2008, and have rowed pretty much without interruption since. It is everything I’d hoped for– challenging, a great workout, meditative, collaborative and most of all fun. I’ve been rowing with the Intermediate crew since finishing my beginning class, and really enjoy the diversity and camaraderie of the group. Along with the sweat, sore muscles and blisters that come from our workouts, there are some really transcendent moments, like gliding past Lake Merritt’s necklace of lights on a dark winter night practice, or those moments when all eight rowers are working like one and the boat feels like it is flying over the water.
Recently, I took the beginning sculling class to learn to row single shells. It was like learning to ride a bike all over again, with the same wobbly start, then the thrill of skimming over the water as I gained confidence. There is always a club member willing to help a newbie like me learn to row more confidently and efficiently– and the subtleties of the sport leave plenty to learn.
I left off one star only because Lake Merritt and environs are still undergoing refurbishment. When the club moves back to its elegant headquarters at the head of the lake, it will be a five-​star experience! Be sure to sign up early if you’re interested in taking a class, since they fill up quickly.

Emily and Jackie from my work took this class the last session. Emily convinced me to try it out this time around. You have to pass a basic swim test and get that signed off before you can start the second day of class (swim 75 feet, tread water for 5 minutes, and swim under water for a distance of 20 feet) all of the forms you need are on the website. They send you a detailed confirmation e-​mail with all of information you might need. Check out the FAQs if you are unsure, like I was, if you could possibly do this. I started with the group Beginning Sweep Rowing lessons for $ 160. 3 weekends 9:30AM to noon both Saturday and Sunday. Today was our second day and we were out on the water. It was so magnificent!
Stuart, the instructor, said that the next class will be a night class for those who can’t do the weekend thing. I think it starts July 21^st. The dates are not on the website yet but if you e-​mail the instructor to get on the list, I am sure they will let you know when registration begins. Mary is in charge of all of the registration and her husband Dennis runs the intermediate crew.
They are currently running the class out of the blue boathouse next to Fairlyand but hope to move back to the now being renovated old boat house on the other side next to the Cameron-​Stanford house and across the street from the Scottish Rite temple.
Give it a whirl!

If by five stars you mean RATS, dead *as well as alive*, then YES. The boathouse deserves five stars :) GO LAKE MERRITT (you know I love you guys)!