The San Diego Crew Classic is the premier early season rowing regatta hosted in San Diego California, USA. Now in it’s 52 year, The Crew Classic has grown in events, attendance and prestige allowing crews a platform to show off winter preparations and preview the 2025 2K Sprint season, offering a chance to test boat lineups and strategy months before the ‘big dance’ in Sarasota. For the crews attending, Southern California and San Diego offers a magnificent opportunity to train in warm weather, race top competition and evaluate preparedness for the 2025 season against top contenders and rowing programs nationally recognized.
Yes, it’s Spring, some states still have snow and ice on their docks and weeks away from a race, but for some “The Rowing Season Starts Here – The 2025 San Diego Crew Classic”.
Oakland Strokes
Oakland Strokes return to San Diego after finishing third in the 2024 US National Championships and second in the 2024 Crew Classic. Always strong and competitive, Oakland Strokes will be ready to race their cross Bay Area Rivals Marin Rowing Association in the finals on Sunday. This is a natural rivalry that predates the San Diego Crew Classic as the two programs row and train near each other on San Francisco Bay and The Oakland Estuary.
Marin Rowing Association
Marin Rowing Association placed first in last year’s San Diego Crew Classic and will defend their title on Sunday. A top-tier junior programme, Marin Rowing Association placed fourth at The USA Junior Nationals last May. Their Henley Royal Regatta 2024 campaign seasoned their athletes and coaches for future podium appearances. Famous for running a truly competitive programme, their winning formula is repeated yearly amongst their neighbouring teams, with San Francisco Bay Area clubs like Marin Rowing Association, Oakland Strokes, Redwood Scullers, Los Gatos, NorCal all producing houseshold names in the junior circuit.
Newport Aquatic Center
Our SoCal entrant, Newport Aquatic Center, develops athletes in every boat class and continues to build a deep and accomplished rowing club year after year across the junior men and women eights. Recently winning several races in the less significant President’s Day Regatta, they will be ready for San Diego with confidence. Coach Marcel Stiffey is experienced, having rowed at Orange Coast College and Leander Club and coaching at Oxford, he knows what it takes to make a fast boat. His crews are always competitive.
Prediction
Marin Rowing Association should repeat as champions with Oakland Strokes, Newport Aquatic Center, Newport Seabase and NorCal Crew rounding out the final positions. All of these crews are deep in talent and will qualify for positions in the 2025 USRowing Youth National Championships in Sarasota Florida in June.
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