The Washington Rowing School was founded in 2006 by Cindy Cole. Cindy currently leads the instruction at the school along with her team of experienced rowing coaches.
What makes this a unique place to learn to row or learn to scull?
* Weekend Learn to Scull classes – earn your sculling certification in one weekend!
* High quality and stable boats
* Small classes — with only 3-6 students per beginner sculling class, these are virtually private lessons
* Highly experienced instructors
* Pleasant rowing space:
– sheltered, flat, calm water (little wind)
– little boat traffic of any kind
* Launching from a comfortable county park setting:
– ample, free parking
– picnic tables
– convenient to miles of uninterrupted trails of the Anacostia Tributary Trail System for hiking and biking
All lessons launch from Bladensburg Waterfront Park which is convenient to Kenilworth Avenue, Route 1, and the Baltimore-Washington Parkway.
Cindy Cole, Founder and Lead Instructor
Cindy has been active in rowing for over 45 years as both a competitor and as a coach. She has been a Private Sculling Coach at the Potomac Boat Club in Washington, DC since 2000.
Prior coaching positions include Program Director and Coach of the Masters Women’s Sweep Program from 1994-1999 at the Potomac Boat Club where she led a crew of 30 athletes to championships at local, regional and national competitions. (Head of the Charles: women’s masters 8- 1st place 1995, 1997; Head of the Schuylkill: women’s masters 8s- 1st places 1995-1999; Head of the Potomac: women’s club 8- 1st place 1999, women’s masters 8- 1st place 1995-1999.) From 1985-1989 she was Program Director and Coach of the Open Women’s Sweep Program where she started and developed the program to include 50 experienced and novice athletes. The team earned awards and recognition at local, regional and national competitions. (Head of the Charles: Women’s Club 8+ 1st place 1987, Women’s Masters 8+ 1st place 1995 and 1997, 2nd1998). She has also coached juniors for Walter Johnson Crew, Montgomery Blair Crew, and Churchill Crew.
Cindy’s personal rowing experience started at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where she was a member of the Varsity crew program for four years. Since then she has competed in the lightweight and open women’s sweep and sculling divisions plus masters sculling divisions where she continues to earn awards at local, regional and national competitions.
Cynthia holds a management science degree from MIT as well as a Masters degree in Nutrition from the University of Maryland. She was President of the Potomac Boat Club, Washington, DC from 1995-2002 and on the Board of Governors from 1992-2004.