RegattaCentral

Mission

To develop youth and adults of all social and economic backgrounds through the sport of rowing by providing experienced and knowledgeable instruction, a variety of skill-enhancing programs, and world-class facilities.

Vision

IRC is a leading rowing organization with facilities to meet national and international competition standards and programs to meet the aspirations and needs of both competitive and recreational rowers. IRC has the membership, programming, partnerships, financing and facilities to ensure that rowers achieve their goals.

History

IRC is very fortunate to row in Eagle Creek Park, the 4th largest city park in the nation.  The park consists of 3,900 acres of wooded terrain and meadows, and 1,300 acres of water.  There is a fee for entering the park, rowers and parents are not exempt.  The park fee will be collected even if you are just coming to pick up your child from practice.  The park offers season passes at the Gatehouse.

The Indianapolis Rowing Center was founded in the early 1980s when the City of Indianapolis was actively promoting amateur sports as an economic development strategy. The first rowing event was held in conjunction with the 1982 National Sports Festival and was followed in 1983 with Indianapolis’ first National Championship Regatta. These initial events were held at the south end of Eagle Creek Reservoir (the finish line was located where Rick’s Café Boatyard is now). The success of these events led to the founding of the Rowing Center and the plan to develop a world-class rowing course at Eagle Creek.

In 1984 Indianapolis made the commitment to build a rowing course in the north pool of the reservoir and to bid for the World Rowing Championships. The development of the rowing course was fast tracked when Indianapolis was unexpectedly awarded the 1987 Pan American Games after it was determined that Cuba was unable to host the games. The success of the Pan American Games regatta led to Indianapolis being awarded the 1994 World Rowing Championships, the first (and so far only) time that the event was held in the United States.

The rowing course remains one of the country’s premiere venues. The Eagle Creek course has held more than a dozen USRowing National Championships (including the most recent 2011 Club National Championships), numerous Olympic, Pan Am and National Team trial regattas as well as NCAA National Championships and regional collegiate, junior and masters events.  For the third year in a row, IRC is hosting the Big Ten Women's Rowing Championships in May 2013.  IRC was also just recently awarded the 2013 and 2014 NCAA Women's Rowing Championships.

The purpose of the Indianapolis Rowing Center is to be a community rowing program with opportunities for all ages. The junior (youth ages 12-18) program is open to any middle school/high school student in the Indianapolis area. We offer Learn to Row programs for people of all ages. Our Adult Programs include Adult Rowing and Masters Rowing.  The Adult Rowing Program is for those looking to row recreationally or for Learn to Row graduates who want to continue building on their skills from the Learn to Row class.  The Masters Rowing Program is for adults looking to compete in rowing races (regattas) and practice in a competitive environment with other new and experienced adults. Other groups currently rowing out of the Indianapolis boathouse include Butler University, Culver Alumni and teams from Indianapolis Public Schools (Crispus Attucks and Shortridge).