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Welcome & Information

Session

Zoe Oduntan, Mr. David Stubbs

Presenters:

Date:

4 September 2025

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Longtails Rowing Club is Bermuda’s first youth-focused sculling program, offering middle and high school students a new and exciting sporting opportunity. With the island’s calm waters and year-round outdoor conditions, rowing has the potential to thrive as both a recreational and competitive sport.

By bringing together parents, schools, and volunteer coaches, Longtails aims to build a supportive community that helps young athletes develop skills, confidence, and teamwork—while creating a sustainable foundation to enjoy and excel in the sport.

Longtails Rowing Club

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Zoe Oduntan

Mr. David Stubbs

Tonight’s Presenters

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    • Welcome
    • Introduction to Longtails Rowing Club
      • Our Mission
      • Benefits of Rowing
      • Community Benefits
      • Volunteering
    • It takes a Community!

Agenda

    • Existing Infrastructure
    • Bermuda Rowing Association
    • Upcoming Schedule
    • What to Expect from Training
    • Call for Volunteer/Paid Coaches
    • Collaboration in the Works

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I would like to welcome everyone to the first Longtails Rowing Club meeting.

Hi, my name is Zoe Oduntan, and my love for rowing led me to dream of

creating a youth rowing club in Bermuda where other youths can discover

the joy of rowing and, if they wish, compete at higher levels.

However, we wouldn’t be here without David Stubbs and my mom, who

have generously volunteered so much of their time to help set things up.

Thank you to both of them, and to everyone who has signed up.

Welcome

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Our mission is to inspire a passion for rowing in Bermuda’s youth, while building work confidence,

teamwork, and skills that last a lifetime.

We want to see rowing become a sport

embraced by young people across the island.

To establish proper facilities that host local regattas and give our rowers the chance

to compete in college and on the international stage.

Our Mission

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Newbie friendly

Rain or Shine

Skill-Share

Workshop

Team Sport

Easy to pick up and beginner-friendly for all fitness levels.

Low-impact, full-body workout — gentle on joints while engaging about 90% of your muscles.

All-weather training — when the water isn’t an option, erging and strength workouts keep you strong and race-ready.

Develop elite skills while surrounded by the breathtaking, year-round beauty of Bermuda’s waters.

A true team sport with options to row in doubles, quads, or eights.

Benefits of Rowing

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    • Rowing is truly a community sport — one that thrives when people come together to support it. Like any sport, developing as a rower takes time, guidance, and consistent practice, and having a supportive team around makes the journey even more rewarding.
    • With this club, the goal is to create opportunities for young rowers to grow, learn, and, if they choose, work toward rowing competitively — whether that’s at the college level, representing Bermuda, or even their home countries.

Community Benefits

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It Takes a Community!

A strong and vibrant youth rowing team truly depends on the support of the community. Many adult volunteers will be needed, and there are a variety of ways to get involved.

For example, learning to scull so we can add weekday sessions and help rowers progress to the developmental squad level.

Another important roles will be launch drivers, we’ll need you every session — Mr. Stubbs will share more details about this.

Additional help with organizing events and supporting fundraising efforts will also make a big difference.

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Inspriation time!

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Coach Stubbs’ slides start here

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Existing Infrastructure

    • Overview of BRA’s role in Bermuda
    • Collaboration with Longtails Rowing Club
    • Potential for representation at island games / regattas

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Bermuda Rowing Association

    • Weekly schedule & structure
    • Skill development stages (beginner → competitive)
    • Water safety emphasis

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What to expect from training

    • Emphasis on discipline, teamwork, resilience, punctuality
    • Fitness development
    • Technical rowing skills
    • Pathways to competition

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Upcoming Schedule

    • Learn to Row- 2 sessions- September 8 to 21
    • Move on to Development Squad in October- twice weekly schedule
    • Development Squad- 2 sessions- September 8 to 21 + erg training
    • Continue development program in October, three times a week schedule
    • Online coaching available at an extra cost

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Call for Volunteer Coaches/

Paid Coaches plan

    • Critical need for adult volunteers
    • Specific needs: Launch Drivers and safety monitors
    • SCAR Training & certification offered for volunteers
    • Long-term plan to hire paid coach

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Collaboration in the Works

    • British Rowing
    • Training week in Vermont?
    • Easter/2026 camp
    • Summer/2026 camp

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Q&A

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Thank You

Questions?

Email us:

longtailsrowingclub@gmail.com