Happy Holidays from the BCA Board of Directors

Dear Beach Crew Alumni and Friends of Long Beach State Rowing:

As the 2014 years draws to a close I wanted to write to let you know that the rowing program at Long Beach State is now on the threshold of returning to the quality and success of earlier days. This is in no small part thanks to your contributions, interest and participation in your Beach Crew Alumni Association. With your support we have enjoyed a number of significant accomplishments this year, and we expect next year to be even better!

Thanks to the efforts of several members of the BCA Board, we were able to obtain from the University priority registration for our athletes. Needless to say, this has become a key to successful recruiting for a new generation of rowers now coming into the team.

Our recent fund raising event allowed us to raise sufficient funds to purchase a high quality used eight for the women’s team, and to transfer another quality eight from the women’s team to the men’s team. Moreover, your generosity exceeded the $12,000 required for the boat purchase, allowing additional funds to help the team bring other racing shells up to top competitive condition. We have also been able to allocate funds for scholarships, the BCA Newsletter, and a team strength and conditioning program guided by the CSULB Kinesiology Department. The team also gained access to the Bickerstaff Athlete Advising Center to enhance their academic needs.

Over the summer, our members completed a 5-year, $50,000 project to upgrade the chase boat fleet for the coaching staff. It proved to be a desperately needed aspect for our team that has not only improved their daily operations, but has substantially improved our image around the Alamitos Bay community.

Just last month the BCA sponsored a new major racing event, The Naples Island Collegiate Rowing Challenge (“NICRC”), held November 1 and 2. Using a “head” race format of 4200 meters around Naples Island and to the end of Marine Stadium, this event was a major success! Nine colleges from as far away as Arizona State University entered men’s and women’s varsity and novice eights and fours for a great two days of racing. Teams from the northwest have expressed interest and will be attending next year. Special thanks to all of the alumni who served on the organizing committee. Many thanks to the Long Beach Rowing Association and the City of Long Beach for their help and support in establishing this event, as well as to the many sponsors who contributed to make this initial regatta so successful. In coming years this regatta will become the highlight of the fall race season for most of the west coast crew teams.

With community support for LBSU Rowing on the upswing, how long has it been since you have been to a LBSU Rowing event? Look for the BCA Newsletter in January for the team’s racing schedule and save some dates to come out to cheer for your team! And while you are at the races look for the BCA Alumni group to personally reconnect with your crewmates and friends from your days in the boats.

If you have not updated your membership for this coming year, please consider that there is still time for a tax deductible donation to the BCA. Your support is making a huge difference in building a quality rowing program at LBSU! You can still send your $25 membership fee and any other contribution via http://beachcrew.org/alumni/donate

Best wishes for the Holidays and Into the New Year!

Go Beach!