This story originally ran on VeloCityOKC.com.
RowFest is set to make waves in Oklahoma City this summer by combining two of USRowing's largest national championships. Hosted from July 12-21 at RIVERSPORT in the Boathouse District, RowFest is projected to generate over $2.5 million in economic impact for the local community.
"We're excited about this first-of-its-kind national event, which we anticipate will generate at least $2.5 million in economic impact for our community," said Zac Craig, president of Visit Oklahoma City. "We’re proud to welcome athletes and fans to OKC."
RowFest 2024 is the first time USRowing has brought together the Youth National Championships and Masters National Championships in one event. Over the course of the week, rowers will compete for national titles in categories such as youth, U23, open, and masters across 2,000-meter and 1,000-meter distances.
"We want rowers from across the country to have a great experience here, and to do that, we need volunteers who can showcase our Oklahoma hospitality," said Noah Ramos, Volunteer Coordinator for RIVERSPORT. "This is a unique opportunity to be part of a dynamic sporting event while making a meaningful contribution to our community."
Starting the week off will be RowFest Kick-off, the 2024 USRowing RowFest National Championships opening ceremony, at 6 p.m. The event will begin with inspirational comments from guest speakers and will feature an array of vendors. Other available activities will be rock climbing, zip-lining, white-water rafting, and a free rock concert by the 77th Army Band. After an evening full of activity, the night will wind down with a showing of “Boys in the Boat” on the jumbotron across the river.
The races begin Saturday, starting with Under 23 and Open National Championships, which continue into Sunday. Starting Sunday and concluding on Tuesday will be the Youth and Under 17 National Championships.
Wednesday will be a rest day for competitors, with multiple workshop sessions full of guest speakers spanning throughout the afternoon. The first session, Introduction to Trailer Driving, will provide participants with the skill and knowledge to transport rowing boats on trailers. Foundations of Rigging will cover the proper skill and knowledge of rigging a rowing shell, and Advanced Rigging will enhance that skill and knowledge.
Throughout the week, when races are not scheduled, RowFest will feature a wide array of workshops. Some of these opportunities include Learn to Row, Indoor Rowing Coaching Course, and Learning and Development sessions. Other activities during the week include a Float and Watch movie night; 500-meter night sprints with fireworks, food trucks, and a DJ; Boathouse Brilliance, a celebration of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color rowing community members, at 6:30 p.m. on Monday; the USRowing College Fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday with an ice cream social to follow; a masters beer garden; Oarboard Community Rowing; and a masters opening night and social.
With nine long days full of racing and bustling with activity, RowFest 2024 is sure to be an engaging experience for the community to share with rowing enthusiasts across the nation.
For the event to run smoothly, RowFest 2024 is in need of 50-75 volunteers per day for a variety of activities. To volunteer for a week full of excitement, visit GivePulse or contact Noah Ramos at nramos@riversportokc.
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