Team Tryouts: Preparation for US Beach Sprint Trials
NLR Team: As you might know we have a huge list of athletes requesting to make the team. Because we have limited resources and because Ben and Marc are sponsoring the team we cannot accept everyone and then reduce the quality. Also because in the team questionnaire you stated that you wanted to be even more competitive this 2024 we decided that we are taking 36 athletes every year in the team. These 36 athletes are going to be selected based on 24 athletes at Beach Sprint Tryouts (that is the initial tryout in June) and 12 additional athletes based on Endurance team selection after beach sprint trials because some athletes are only interested in Beach sprint or/and Endurance racing. As such, if you are not interested in Beach Sprint trials or do not make the first cut, there is a second opportunity for Endurance focused athletes or a second chance (this format TDB depending on number of athletes and it could be selection through invitation, remote application or another in-person tryout). These 36 total are the athletes who will receive the sponsored coaching benefits, all athletes who do not make the team will be able to train as development athletes at regular, non sponsored, coaching fees.
Upcoming Beach Sprint focused Tryouts will be selection procedures testing ONLY. There will be no coaching and no training at the tryouts, so all athletes must come prepared to perform, race, be tested and earn team positions! Potentially the day before tryouts start there will be an open slot for training for those who wish to come early.
Tryout date and location. 186 Onset Ave, Onset, MA 02558
Format:
Arrival on Thursday to the location (looking for places where we can set better tryouts and perfect conditions to test the team, we currently have two options).
Friday: running tests (timed sprints on the beach), processional racing styles races and straight line races to test both the raw straight line speed and speed with some turns in C1x. Multiple pieces will be performed by all athletes through the day to help neutralize conditions, show consistency, etc, We will rank and cut slower athletes, with 24 moving on to Saturday.
NOTE: the 24 athletes who move on to Saturday have earned a spot on the NLR team for 2024! Additional testing and cuts will be made to form the fastest combos. Athletes in this group of 24 may choose to continue testing for team boats or to drop out of team boat trials at this point if they are focusing on the single.
Saturday: Test in 1x in head to head races on beach sprint course (not single elimination style so all athletes run the same number of races) including entry timing and then test in C2x based on singles races. Additional cuts will be made with 12 athletes continuing to Sunday
Sunday: Focus on discovering A and B double and quad teams. C2x head to head races in beach sprint format and C4x races (quad racing will all be straight line speed tests to find the fastest combos without coxswain turning skill influence).
Monday: Coxswains tests in C4x boats in the A and B boats. These tests will be timed testing around the turns. Multiple races will be held to determine coxswain consistency and to mitigate rower fatigue factors
