Learn To Row (LTR), three little words that for many are life enhancing, in terms of both physical and mental well-being. Rowing utilises 85% of your muscles, gives you a great cardio workout and helps improve your flexibility, balance and concentration. 

We coach LTR in a group environment but within that tailored to your personal rate of development. Our LTR graduates include people who’ve gone on to compete and win at the World Masters Championships and others who simply want to exercise while reconnecting with nature in a tranquil outdoor environment. Our coaching takes place at Marlow Rowing Club, on a beautiful non-tidal stretch of the river Thames. We have a fleet of modern boats ranging from safe and stable beginner’s boats to lightweight racing shells. 

Our coaching team brings 200 years of rowing and 100 years of coaching experience. The team includes former Olympians and world and national champions who share a deep understanding of and passion for the sport. 

If you learn to row at Marlow you’ll be in good company. Five-times Olympic champion Sir Steve Redgrave and a host of other Olympians and world class rowers took their first strokes here. 

We coach for the long term. One of our active scullers turned 90 last year and has been sculling since 1946. Is that possible in any other sport? 

Our LTR program has two main elements:

• A basic 6 week / 15-hour course that, subject to you achieving a safe minimum threshold, allows you to join the club and a squad. For some that will be a recreational squad with mostly exercise based goals. For others it will involve joining a development group with competitive potential and a training program.
• For those who wish to row recreationally the follow up aim will be to help you to achieve a level of independence in crew or single sculling boats. For those who wish and have the ability to race we will prepare you to race during the winter season. Some 2021 LTS graduates have completed half a dozen races including 3 or 4 on the Tideway (the Boat Race course). This is something most thought was beyond them when they signed up for LTS. 

Alongside our basic sculling course we run a parallel Learn to Cox course aimed at those who want to compete and win but who don’t have the time or desire to train to a high level of fitness. Closer to a jockey than a chilling passenger coxes manage and drive the crew and in the process learn life skills (motivation, decision making, communication and information prioritisation) that can bring benefits outside the boat. 

If what you’ve read appeals to you, get in touch here. We look forward to welcoming you to our fantastic club and our amazing sport.