By Bob Labbe
Quote:
“Rowing is a lifetime sport and our club has an opportunity to establish family unity and longtime relationships. Rowing creates a unique connection with others, especially those who are expected to converge into the area as part of the BRAC realignment.”
- JADA LEO, FOUNDING MEMBER AND COACH

The Tennessee River, which meanders through much of North Alabama, provides a serene setting with its flowing waters, many calm and foggy mornings and lush vegetation along its banks for a unique aerobic activity provided by the Rocket City Rowing Club.
Known by its nearly 100 members as the RC2, the club provides opportunities for novice and experienced rowers with superb junior and adult rowing programs. The RC2 rows on the Tennessee River out of the UAH Boathouse, which is located near Ditto Landing at the Whitesburg Marina on Hobbs Island Road, and is open to all who like the challenge of rowing.
The RC2 officially began in 1996. The club evolved from the rowing team and the alumni of the University
of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) that has grown into a nationally recognized rowing program. Today, the members range in age 10 to 70. Annual fees are $240 for adults and $360 for juniors. Membership includes the use of the rowing equipment, practice time with coaches and lessons from well-qualified instructors.
Rowing features continuous motion that physically works the entire body. There is no jarring motion, which makes rowing a very joint friendly activity. Once the
rower begins the rowing motion and concentrates on the rhythmic motion of the stroke, a calming mental relaxation overcomes the rower taking them away from the troubles of everyday life.

The first ever RC2 Rowing Camp is scheduled for this summer with some of the top rowers in the club available assist novice rowers through the steps needed to be a
confident rower. Many of the expected camp participants will be young adults who have caught onto the sport of
rowing looking for a great way to exercise in a placid natural setting.
The RC2 is currently fundraising in an attempt to build a new world class boathouse allowing for expected growth in the club, because of the BRAC realignment, thousands of people will be moving into the area. Many are accustomed to rowing in their current hometowns, particularly those expected to arrive in North Alabama from The Washington D.C. area. The high demand sport will soon have a new home on the natural venue of the Tennessee River.
Construction on the new home base for the RC2 will begin this fall with expected completion date of early 2007. The world class facility will have four bays of storage, allowing for storage of numerous boats and additional equipment belonging to the RC2. With the expected barrage of rowing enthusiasts filtering into the area, the RC2 has asked for and received much needed financial assistance from
Madison County. Fundraising efforts are expected to hit the target goal of $150,000.
The junior program of the RC2 draws young rowers from area schools with longtime rower and former RC2 President Jada Leo heading up the coaching of the juniors. The adult program is made of mostly those adults closely associated with the youngsters in the junior program. The adults have an opportunity to participate right alongside, and sometimes in the same boat, as their child in their recreational activity.
The RC2 also participates in scholarship programs for qualified students. Teams from the RC2 compete in
nationally sanctioned competitions with many of the
rowers gaining exposure for colleges and universities in their attempts at college funding efforts.
Forrest Sanders is the current President while Bill Nourse is vice president of the RC2.

Contact at the RC2 at www.rocketcityrowing.com