To all the varsity boys

I am strongly considering changing the plans for the varsity boys this Feb break. Because it is such a small group of male rowers planning to go to South Carolina, I am not sure the goals of the trip will be accomplished. (This trip is designed to bring the group together, provide a unifying shared experience, and teach some solid technique). That being said, I have an alternative plan (I am still taking suggestions here). My thought is that no guys will go to South Carolina... Instead, you will remain at home over break and commit to practicing at the site at least once a day, and doing something else for the other practice... It will be up to you to design the practice (I have heard suggestions for running up Buck Mountain, and for skiing down west mountain, and for rock climbing indoors, and for playing snow soccer.) Caela will be around to help out with practice at home. If for some reason her class schedule conflicts, we can try to find a parent or Jim Tucci to help out. Anyway, the money saved by not going on the trip can be invested in some of these team activities.... This will help to accomplish the shared experience part of the goal. What will also help is the following. During the middle two weekends in March I will try to arrange short overnight trips to go just a little bit south and row. Hopefully we will be able to borrow some equipment then we will just have to drive about 3 hours south early Sat morning, stay in a cheap hotel Sat night and drive home Sunday night. The whole trip will cost like $30 or less. We can make 2 trips, on one the second weekend of March and one on the third weekend of March. We can split up the group such that the top 8-16 erg scores go on one trip and the bottom 8-16 go on the other trip. Or we can just bring everyone on both trips if we can make it work. Or we can make one trip a rowing trip, and one trip a hiking trip. Even if we can't find a place to borrow boats, we can van top a sectional 8 or 2 fours or 2 doubles, etc... This way we have a guys weekend or two and you guys have a week to take over your own practice schedule and we can accomplish the goals that we would have accomplished with the South Carolina trip. Anyway, I will be listening to feedback on this issue Monday (we have to decide soon so I can finalize SC arrangements and vans for the trips etc...) If anyone would like to bring up suggestions via e-mail or at practice monday, you are welcome to do so.