How We’re Doing Things Differently

What sets us apart from existing US clubs

There are many racing programs for amateur athletes at rowing clubs around the United States. A handful (about five) currently pay for a coach to run a high-performance program, where post-collegiate athletes can train with hopes of winning the US Trials and making the national team. We believe that TRC HP brings something new and different to the table.

The Goals: Results at Worlds, not just at Trials

We are starting TRC HP in 2021 with athletes that have already performed well within the US and reached the international stage, but have not yet seen success at that level.

The existing clubs do a good job of getting athletes to Worlds, but we do not see regular successful results once they get there. There have been one-off successes, sure, but this does not point to a system in which athletes can go from “good” to “great”.

In our experience, one reason for this is that the more successful countries train more than the US clubs do, and on a higher level. As anyone who has been a part of a team sport knows, team culture is the biggest factor in future success. We have found a group that is willing and able make training the priority in their lives.

Our Own Budget

TRC HP is its own non-profit organization, separate from Texas Rowing Center and the Juniors and Masters racing teams. This means that, unlike existing clubs, all of the money we fundraise goes directly to the budget of the HP group and sustaining the organization.

In the end, we hope to pay for equipment, travel, racing, training camps, and — looking to the future — even a food and housing stipend for athletes (see more below).

Outside Fundraising and Sponsorships

At existing clubs, money for high performance teams, coaching, and racing comes from club dues, individual benefactors, or personal fundraising campaigns (e.g. GoFundMe).

At TRC HP, we aim to raise a large part of our budget from organizational partnerships (read: sponsors). Because we are not running a GoFundMe last minute, we have the opportunity to build lasting relationships with people and companies that are interested in supporting athletes at the highest level.

This fundraising model has not been utilized in rowing (recently, at least), but we see it as the path forward with the greatest opportunity for us.

TRC HP Long Term: A Training Center for Small Boats

Long term, we are building towards a model that looks like an Olympic Training Center: one location that draws all of the top talent in the country, a full coaching staff, and stipends to help athletes afford food and housing.

We certainly won’t be able to get there in one year, but just like going to the Olympics, the size of the challenge isn’t going to stop us now.

TRC HP exists because Texas Rowing Center, the athletes, and the coach desired something that doesn’t yet exist in the US: an unbridled opportunity to see how good we can be.