Next weekend, over 6,000 athletes will descend on Chattanooga for the largest head race in the South, the Head of the Hooch. The Head of the Hooch is one of the most competitive and important head races in the country, drawing thousands of rowers to Chattanooga each year to battle over a challenging 3.1-mile course on the Tennessee River. From national champions to completely untested lineups, crews from across the country will compete in one of the most competitive and thrilling races of the season.
Founders Rowing Club (FRC)
Founders Rowing Club enters Chattanooga as the clear favourites. In early 2025, FRC has enjoyed an outstanding season, highlighted by two national championships—one in the second quad and another in the U17 quad. Additionally, their varsity quad placed third, and their third quad, competing in the second varsity category, also placed third. Their strong performances have continued into the fall head race season, including a 9th-place finish at the Head of the Charles, ahead of every other crew entered at the Hooch. Founders currently has three women’s quads entered (with another pending approval), and their depth, featuring four quads that medaled at Youth National Rowing Championships last year, suggests that they are the strongest team in the field.
Y Quad Cities
Y Quad Cities is a fascinating crew to watch heading into the Head of the Hooch. Despite a frustrating 19th-place finish at last year’s event, they rebounded in the spring with a seventh-place finish in the second quad and eighth in the varsity quad at the Youth National Rowing Championships. Having not raced a quad at the Head of the Charles, Y Quad Cities enters the Head of the Hooch as a relatively unknown and untested crew. With clear upward momentum, I would not be surprised to see a strong showing from Y Quad Cities in Chattanooga this weekend.
North Palm Beach
Well-acquainted with the Hooch, North Palm Beach returns to the course with Bow 1, looking to defend its title. After securing an emphatic victory last year with a margin of over 18 seconds, the crew carried that momentum into the spring with strong performances, highlighted by fourth-place finishes in both the varsity quad and U17 double, as well as a sixth-place finish in the women’s single. While they may lack some of the eye-catching national titles of other top programmes, North Palm Beach has proven itself a formidable and consistent contender. Though they may enter as underdogs, don’t be surprised if North Palm Beach defends its title once again this weekend.
Elizabeth City Rowing Club
Elizabeth City Rowing Club enters the Head of the Hooch as a young but up-and-coming crew. After placing second in the U19 quad and winning the U17 quad at last year’s Hooch, they carried that momentum into the summer, finishing an impressive second in the U17 quad at the Youth National Rowing Championships. Although they’ve consistently trailed Founders, Elizabeth City has firmly established itself as a serious contender. After another year of experience and growing momentum, Elizabeth City Rowing Club has all the pieces in place for a strong performance next weekend.
Tristar Rowing
Tristar enters the Head of the Hooch looking to rebound from a disappointing 2025 season. After a strong fourth-place finish at last year’s Hooch, the crew struggled at the Youth National Rowing Championships, falling to 26th. This fall, they placed 36th in the women’s quad at the Head of the Charles—about a minute and 15 seconds behind fellow Hooch competitor Founders Rowing Club. While Tristar has the potential for a solid showing this weekend, they’ll line up as clear underdogs against a deep field.
Prediction
I believe the depth and talent of Founders Rowing Club make them the clear favourites this weekend. Behind them, a tight battle for second is expected to unfold between the young and ambitious Elizabeth City crew and the consistent, experienced North Palm Beach lineup.
