Beach Crew Buzz — February 2026
On Friday, Alexis Larios took a drone shot of our entire team on the water—seven boats strong!
Beach Crew Spotlight
The month of February marks the start of racing season, and it hit the ground running with scrimmages and regattas across Southern California. Read on to see how our teams fared.
We welcomed 26 novice men and women this winter, bringing Beach Crew to nearly 80 athletes, making us the largest club on campus, according to the CSULB director of clubs. Credit goes to our current athletes, who did a fantastic job recruiting.
Read through to the end for an exciting opportunity to support the team directly. Thank you for reading. Go Beach!
Welcoming Spring Novice Rowers:
Embracing the Journey Together
We're thrilled to welcome our new novice rowers. The novice men are four boats strong; the novice women, three. Every coach and veteran rower is committed to making their experience on the water fulfilling. The journey is just beginning. Welcome aboard!
Novice Men: Four Races, Four Lessons
Lake Cachuma Scrimmage vs. UCSB & Cal Poly SLO
The novice men opened their season at Lake Cachuma against UCSB and Cal Poly SLO. The first eight (1N) won every piece with open water, while the second eight (2N) went head-to-head with UCSB's first novice boat. A strong debut and a special thanks to Mason Hammil's family for providing lunch after racing.
UCLA Scrimmage — Marine Stadium, Feb. 14
It only takes a top program to humble you. UCLA, whose novice men are targeting a national championship this year, per their coach, took three of four pieces against our 1N. The bright spot: Beach Crew won the final piece, and our 2N beat UCLA's second novice in three of four. A reality check with real takeaways.
Gruenberg Cup — Marine Stadium, Feb. 21
The annual Gruenberg Cup against USC and SDSU produced the day's most exciting race. Beach Crew's 1N edged SDSU in a neck-and-neck sprint, winning by four seats. The 2N beat USC with open water in the first 500 meters. As the novice coach put it, the second boat has "fire in the belly."
Cal Challenge — Newport Beach
At the Cal Challenge's Henley-style dual format, each crew raced three times. The 1N drew SDSU, UCI, and USC. Results: a heartbreaking 1.3-second loss to UCI, a convincing win over USC by several lengths, and a two-length victory over SDSU, stretching their margin from the four-seat Gruenberg finish. The close UCI loss now fuels the team's focus heading into the Newport Regatta on Sunday, March 15, where they're determined to settle the score.
Women’s Team Springing Forward
An update from the Women’s Team President
UCSB Regatta — Feb. 9
The women opened their spring season at UC Santa Barbara after a winter spent training including a camp in Idyllwild over break. The varsity women placed third in the 2K, a strong result out of the gate. The team also raced timed pieces with the other crews afterward, building connections across the rowing community while staying sharp on the water.
Gruenberg Cup — Home Course
We were fortunate to host this year's Gruenberg Cup against San Diego State and USC's men. Our women fought hard and finished second in both the 8+ and the 4+. It was early-season racing, and the determination showed. Progress comes from balancing work on the water with power development in the weight room. This regatta was another step forward. Go Beach!
Cal Challenge Cup
The third regatta brought a milestone: spring recruits Ayla Foxworthy and Joanne Chan raced for the first time. Every woman on the roster raced three times throughout the day, pushing through exhaustion to build confidence and toughness. Each race was a chance to grow: physically, mentally, and as a team. We can't wait to keep the momentum rolling.
1st Annual Beach Crew Ergathon — Saturday, April 18
Beach Crew's first fundraiser of the year puts every athlete on the erg. Varsity members will row 14,000 meters; novice men and women, 12,000 meters. Each athlete's goal: raise $450, for an overall target of $25,000.
Why it Matters
Beach Crew receives minimal university funding. Most of our $110,000 budget this year will come from student dues and alumni donations. To put that in context: at our current team size, travel to regattas alone costs a minimum of $40,000 per year. Equipment replacement (without buying anything new) runs $15,000 annually. Those two line items barely scratch the surface.
If we reach our goal, here's what it funds:
A used eight for the men's team. Our current racing fleet averages 22.5 years old.
Travel to championship regattas: WIRA (West Coast Championships), ACRA (National Championships), and the Head of the Charles.
A new set of oars. Half of our current oars are 20 years old.
How to Donate
A separate email with full donation details will go out to all alumni, parents, and community members the week of March 23. You'll have two options: donate to the Ergathon's overall $25,000 goal, or sponsor a specific athlete toward their individual $450 target. Either way, you're helping replace aging equipment or defraying the cost of travel to championship races in April, May, and October.
Volunteers
If interested in volunteering, we need parents or alumni to cook pancakes and serve our athletes on that day. If volunteering, please reach out to Coach Kelly Hurley at Khurley1258@gmail.com or click the button below.
