Beach Crew Buzz — November 2025
Beach Crew Spotlight
On behalf of the coaching staff, we want to thank all the alumni who joined us for the alumni race and luncheon. Despite the day’s rain and wind, spirits remained high. The alumni race pressed on through the downpour, with three alumni crews putting up impressive competition against the CSULB varsity men and women.
This November edition features highlights from our fall racing season at the Head of the American, Head of the Battleship, and the Pancake Regatta. We also included details on our final fall race and the upcoming spring racing schedule. We hope to see many alumni at our local regattas in Long Beach and Newport Beach this spring.
We would also like to extend our appreciation to those who donated toward the purchase of a women’s eight racing shell. Our Boatmaster, John O’Donnell, has begun researching options to secure a high-quality boat for our varsity women.
Thank you for reading and for your continued support of the program — Go Beach!
Fall and Spring 2025 Racing Schedule
LBRA Christmas Regatta
Date: December 7
Location: Marine Stadium, Long Beach
Details: Sprint Race — 850m
Beach Crew vs. UCSB Duel
Date: February 7
Location: Lake Cachuma
Gruenberg Cup (USC, SDSU, CSULB)
Date: February 21
Location: San Pedro
Cal Challenge
Date: February 28
Location: Newport Beach
Berg Cup (Women Only)
Date: March 14
Location: Newport Beach
Newport Regatta (Men Only)
Date: March 15
Location: Newport Beach
San Diego Crew Classic
Date: March 28
Location: San Diego
SDSU vs. Beach Crew Duel
Date: April 11
Location: TBD
UCI vs. Beach Crew Duel
Date: April 12
Location: TBD
Western Intercollegiate Rowing Champ
Date: April 23–26
Location: Lake Natoma
American National Championship Regatta
Date: May 14–17
Location: Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Details: Select CSULB teams only
Regatta Recap: Head of the American
October 25
The varsity teams traveled to Sacramento for one of the largest fall regattas on the West Coast. This year’s event featured 57 universities, clubs, and high school programs, with more than 500 total entries. CSULB delivered strong performances across the board.
The varsity women’s double captured first place, and the varsity men placed 10th in the men’s four event, competing against a strong field of Division I programs.
Regatta Recap: Head of the Battleship
November 2
On November 2, Beach Crew traveled to the historic Head of the Battleship Regatta, featuring teams from across Southern California, from San Diego up to Santa Barbara. The women’s team and novice men especially stood out with exceptional racing.
The varsity women earned an impressive third-place finish among tough competitors such as UC Irvine, Orange Coast College, and San Diego State. Their teamwork and determination on the water reflected the effort they have invested throughout the fall season.
The novice women followed with a strong second-place finish, demonstrating their potential and bright future within the program.
The novice men also delivered a standout performance, with two eights finishing 2nd and 3rd. These results highlight the depth of talent within the novice squad and set a promising foundation for seasons ahead.
Regatta Recap: Pancake Regatta
November 15
On November 15, athletes faced challenging weather conditions — rain, wind, and rough water — at the Pancake Regatta held at Marine Stadium. Despite the elements, CSULB rose to the occasion, delivering strong races at an event that featured crews from ten universities across California.
A Day of Triumph
Known for its festive and community-driven atmosphere, the Pancake Regatta once again brought excitement for both novice and varsity athletes. The day opened with a 350m alumni sprint race, where the varsity men and women raced against two alumni men’s crews and one alumni women’s crew. The alumni boats proved extremely competitive and set a high bar for the day.
Immediately following the sprint, both varsity squads lined up for the head race — just as the storm intensified. Even under worsening conditions, CSULB maintained strong performances throughout the event, showcasing resilience and teamwork.
