HomeRacing Committee

The Racing Committee

The Racing Committee manages the equipment and resources that allow PBC athletes to be successful at the highest levels of competition in our sport in all categories, including elite, open, juniors, club and masters categories, and at local, national and international regattas.

Responsible for the prioritization of race entries for the club in general, the committee also coordinates the equipment and resources that support the competitive pursuits of senior members who are unaffiliated with a specific program.

Rowing clinics and workshops are offered at various times throughout the year to all members, and the committee also helps facilitate private lessons for those who desire more individualized attention when preparing for competition.

The programs – the High Performance Program, the Men’s Sweep Team, Women's Sweep Team, and Potomac Scullers – are described briefly below and in more detail on each team’s sponsored page. PBC encourages any experienced rower who is interested in joining one of these teams to contact the team directly for more information.

If you’re unsure who to contact or where you might fit best, please contact the Potomac Boat Club Racing Committee.

Members of the PBC Racing Committee

Chair, Racing Committee (RC): Carol Dinion
RC Board Liaison: Lena Wang
RC Equipment Manager: Tolsun Waddle
RC Trailer Coordinator: Phil Hoxie and Lena Wang
High Performance Program (HPP) Head Coach: Judith Vogel
Men’s Sweep Head Coach: Ken Quail
Women's Sweep Head Coach: Tolsun Waddle
Potomac Scullers Head Coach: Graham Miller
Washington-Liberty HS Men’s Head Coach: Derek Parsons
Washington-Liberty HS Women’s Head Coach: Dane Underwood
WeCanRow DC Program Liaison: Doris Parker

We look forward to seeing you on the race course!

High Performance Program

The High Performance Program is run year-around, with openings for qualified athletes in open and lightweight categories, who are committed to achieving elite rowing goals. The program is particularly focused to developing athletes to represent the U.S. at the Pan Am Games, FISA World Championships and Olympic Games. The program started in 1998 and in its 20+ year history has produced ____ Olympians, _____ World Championship Medals, and _____ National Team qualifications.

Coaches for this program, and the U23 and Juniors programs, are Head Coach Judith Vogel and Assistant Coach Matt Madigan. The program offers limited financial support and a job network to qualified participants.

Men's Sweep Team

Similar to its ongoing success in sculling, Potomac Boat Club also has a decorated 140-year-plus history in men’s sweep competition. The current program trains experienced male sweep rowers over the age 21 to perform at the highest levels in open, club, and masters events.

Practice is scheduled on weekday mornings throughout the spring, summer, and fall. During the winter, land training includes ergs, circuits, stairs, and weights.

The team competes at major regattas throughout the summer and fall, including USRowing Club Nationals, Masters Nationals, Masters Worlds, Canadian Henley, the Head of the Charles Regatta, and the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta, as well as many others.

In 2011 and 2013, the team earned the Men’s Overall Point Trophy at the U.S. Masters Championship Regatta. In 2010, the PBC Men’s Club Eight made it to the semi-finals of the Thames Challenge Cup at the Henley Royal Regatta. In 2007 and 2012, the team made it to the quarter finals.

Current Men’s Sweep Coach: Ken Quail

Women's Sweep Program

PBC Women’s Sweep was revived in June 2018 by the concerted effort of female senior members who wanted to create an opportunity for women in the DMV area to row and train competitively. In just under two years, the roster has grown from just a few senior members who could fill a couple of small boats, to practices where we can field two eights and often another straight four.

The team practices at 5:15AM Monday through Friday, with occasional Saturday practices and scrimmages. In the off-season, we continue to train on land Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, with about the same early schedule.

If you would like to try out, send captain Carly an email at pbcwomensweep@gmail.com. We hold tryouts during the month prior to the start of each season; for Winter, tryouts will begin in November, and for Spring, tryouts will begin in February.

Results:

2019 Head of the Charles - 1st place in Women's Club 8+
2019 San Diego Crew Classic – 1st place in the Masters Club Champ Thalia Kelly Considine Cup, 3rd in the Open Carley Copley Cup (behind Stanford and Washington, beating Stanford lightweights and Cal)

2018 Club Nationals – 4th in the Senior/Elite Women’s 8+ Grand Finals (behind two Dev Camp boats and Vesper)

2018 Head of the Charles – Club Special Medal 1st place, 3rd overall (behind Dartmouth and Yale) in the Club 8+, 9th overall in the Club 4+ RACE VIDEO

2018 Head of the Schuylkill – Silver in the Championship 4+, Silver in the Championship 8+, both behind Penn

Follow our progress on Instagram as well here.

Potomac Scullers

Potomac Boat Club has a competitive program for both open and masters scullers. This program started in 2014 and has grown to include rowers between the ages of 21 to 60+. Athletes compete in local, national, and international regattas.

Practices are weekday mornings throughout the spring, summer, and fall. Winter training includes ergs, circuits, stairs, and weights.

Sculling Coach: Graham Miller
Sculling Assistant Coach: Suzanne Elliot