Team bringing Satch to Dallas to invest in performance of rowers

By Shaelyn Stone

Olympic gold medalist (2016) and three-time world rowing champion Will Satch is headed to Dallas this month as the featured guest of a rowing clinic for the youth athletes of White Rock Rowing. His arrival on Monday, Aug. 19 also marks the beginning of a free two-week trial, where any Dallas student in middle school or high school can sign up to try the fastest growing sport in Texas.

On the heels of the Olympics, and in celebration of the US Men’s rowing team breaking an 86-year gold medal draught, White Rock Rowing is bringing Satch to Dallas to invest in the performance of rowers and elevate the visibility of the sport locally.

“During the Olympics, it’s been wonderful to see people watch sports that they’ve never watched before in their life, like rowing. Now, the local rowing community is thinking, ‘How do we keep that momentum going?’ Let’s keep talking about rowing and inviting more and more people to try it. For adults, it’s one of the best cross-training workouts you could possibly do. For youth, it’s an excellent way to build lifelong friendships and open collegiate scholarship doors,” Sue Ellen Chambers, board president of White Rock Boathouse, Inc., said.

White Rock Rowing, which won national youth championships in 2014 and 2021, plans to host Satch’s guest clinic at White Rock Boathouse, the biggest boathouse in the central U.S. From Aug. 19-29, Satch will be a featured staple of all workouts on land and practices on the water for youth.

Since most school districts do not offer rowing as an extracurricular activity, White Rock Rowing is allowing any student to try the sport for free in a two-week trial that begins on Aug. 19 with Satch. 

Satch brings more than two decades of rowing expertise, and he looks forward to sharing his stories and advice with the youth athletes.

“This is an exciting time for Dallas! The level of mentorship and coaching that Satch brings as a world champion and gold medalist is unmatched. White Rock Rowing is honored to provide our city’s youth exceptional tools and experiences that contribute to their future success in sport and in life. That’s what we’re here to do,” Chambers added. Any Dallas area youth can sign up for the free two-week trial with White Rock Rowing and Olympian Will Satch by visiting whiterockrowing.org. White Rock Rowing is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that partners with the City of Dallas Parks and Recreation Department.