A Thriving Community of Rowers
The Coeur d’Alene Rowing Association, a non-profit community organization founded in the mid-1980s, fosters a lifelong passion for rowing in a safe and enjoyable environment. From humble beginnings with retired Pocock 8’s and spruce oars, the club has grown into a vibrant community on Fernan Lake, providing opportunities for rowers of all ages and skill levels to participate in local, regional, and national regattas. With a rich history the club welcomes members and offers learn-to-row classes, embodying the spirit of camaraderie and cooperation that culminates in an active rowing season each year.
Coeur d’Alene Rowing Association:
Passion, Perseverance, and Community Spirit
The Coeur d’Alene Rowing Association traces its roots back to the mid-1980s when it emerged as a community rowing program at North Idaho College. Founded by dedicated faculty members, including English professor Jim MacLeod, the club’s early days featured Rod Mott as the inaugural coach for the student division and Peter Wagstaff guiding the masters. The idea of rowing on Lake Coeur d’Alene had its first spark in the early twentieth century, with stake racing gaining popularity.
Amidst fledgling beginnings, the club took pride in its minimal equipment, boasting three venerable Pocock 8’s retired from WSU and 8 or 10 spruce oars. Despite being in the minority at regattas, the spirited members, led by figures like Chuck Moseley, persevered with enthusiasm and camaraderie, maintaining and upgrading their equipment.
In the early 1990s, the club relocated to the shores of the Spokane River, securing access to smoother and safer waters through the generosity of a church camp and later a service organization. By the late 1990s, the club, now independent of North Idaho College, evolved into The Coeur d’Alene Rowing Association. Recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) corporation and affiliated with US Rowing, this phase marked a period of growth and recognition, largely attributed to the tireless efforts of Rob Neate.
In 2000, the club found an ideal home at Fernan Lake, entering into agreements with Kootenai County for riparian land and obtaining a dock permit from the Department of Lands. Members rallied to fix and reconfigure the space to optimize the rowing experience, demonstrating the community’s commitment to the sport.
True to its mission of providing rowing opportunities for all, the club welcomes rowers from North Idaho College and local high schools, offering learn-to-row classes with the support of USRowing. Boasting a membership approaching 90, the club actively participates in local, regional, and national regattas, proudly hosting its own regatta on home waters annually. Notably, the club’s original wooden Pocock boats have found a unique second calling, adorning upscale restaurants in Washington and Idaho, perhaps inspiring the birth of Idaho’s second rowing club.