Get coached up

No matter your age, there are few team experiences quite like rowing, dragon boating and whitewater rafting. Not only do you learn about teamwork, accomplishing goals and camaraderie, but there’s just something about the power of a paddle or oar in your hand to connect you with both the water and your teammates that’s hard to replicate in other sports or disciplines (not to mention it’s good to have something in hand with which to defend yourself from any angry errant geese that cross your path, but maybe that’s just us).

If you like team sports and are looking to try something new, paddlesports may be just what the doctor ordered. RIVERSPORT OKC offers coached teams in rowing, adaptive rowing, canoe/kayak, dragon boating, adaptive kayaking and even whitewater rafting. As they say on their website, they “have teams, leagues and activities for ages 8 to 80.”

Seasons are generally in the early spring culminating in a race at the Stars and Stripes River Festival in late June/early July (this year’s edition will be Saturday, June 26 – see below for more details), and then again toward the end of summer into fall culminating with a Corporate Challenge regatta / OG&E Nightsprints in October. There are also winter indoor rowing leagues for those who really like to punish themselves stay in shape and keep their technique top notch in the off-season on the erg machines.

We know, some of you are thinking something along the lines of, “You know, this sounds like something me and my coworkers may enjoy together.” You’re in luck, you corporate team-building enthusiast, you! RIVERSPORT also hosts corporate rowing leagues for you and your seven like-minded work buddies. There are corporate Dragon Boating and whitewater leagues for various numbered groups as well – check out this page for relevant contact info and more!

If you’re curious as to what the results look like, you can catch racing at this year’s Stars & Stripes River Festival. According to RIVERSPORT’s CMO Elizabeth Laurent, the fest will be held on Saturday, June 26, “with a full day of racing starting at 8 a.m. and Adventures opening at 11 a.m. We’ll have live music in the whitewater center from 4 to 8 p.m. featuring Hypnotic Duo, and the OGE NightSprints will take place that evening on the Oklahoma River. One thing to note; we aren’t having fireworks this year in recognition of the need to still practice social distancing.” So grab your family and friends and head down to the river June 26!