Heading to any of the Great American Head Race Regattas this fall? Tune in to get inspired with legendary Olympic rower & coach Jim Dietz and coach Mark Wilson, co-founders at All American Rowing Camp based in DeLand, Florida

We’re revisiting our annual fall regatta preview a little earlier this year to give you a “heads” up! Every year, longtime coaches Jim Dietz and Mark Wilson return to Ready, Row! USA to reveal secret strategies, tell fun stories, and inspire you to participate in the great Fall Head races across the US.

This year, Dietz & Wilson will focus on these popular regattas:

• Sep 3  Petaluma Half and Full Marathon, CA
• Sep 9  Rock the Occ – Half Marathon
• Sep 10 Chicago River Half and Full Marathon
• Sep 16  CRI Fall Classic Boston, Cuyahoga, Milwaukee, Saskatoon, Albany, Seattle
• Oct 1 Head of the Riverfront, Hartford; WISCO Chase outside of Madison, WI
• OCT 7  Music City, Memphis TN
• OCT 7 Head of the Genesee in Rochester, NY
• OCT 8  Head of the Rock, IL

Prep makes it fun

“We’ll be talking about race format, volunteers, supporters, organizers, coaches, rowers, race prep, and the best way to approach race day,” Wilson said. “You’ve got to consider things like weather, parking, food, launching, race warm-up, race and practice traffic patterns, physical hazards, fog, CFS (current) logs, bridges. Then after racing, you’ve got to know who to thank and where to find the beer.”

Make it about the community

“For organizers, putting on a race can be thought of as a community gathering event,” added Dietz. “It brings focus to a waterfront. The best regattas are when they make it a festival, involve non-rowing groups, music, games for kids, food trucks, and bring in the community at large.”

Our host for this episode is Diane Bevan, a Masters rower at CRI Boston.

Thanks to our supporters & sponsors!

• Burnham Boat Slings
• Resolute Racing & Sykes USA
• GoodInklings Web Design & Management
• Pierce Press Publishing & Podcasting
• Community Rowing, Boston