Reminder: Food drop-off for both girls and boys is tomorrow, May 8, at the DeParde's house from 4:30pm - 7:00pm:
109 Moulter St., Manlius. (You should use 215 Smith St in your GPS). Their home is on a corner of Moulter, and the driveway is on Smith St- straight across from 215.
109 Moulter St., Manlius. (You should use 215 Smith St in your GPS). Their home is on a corner of Moulter, and the driveway is on Smith St- straight across from 215.
Okay, should we bring money for merch and swag? Or should we hide our wallets because our child will want to buy everything? We liked to run and watch the races, does Saratoga Springs have any paths we can see the races from or is it really different from OLP? I guess my only other question is do a lot of kids take the bus back to school? My husband wants to ride the motorcycle but I don't want to have my daughter be the only one on the bus! Idk as a first time rowing parent, what advice do you have? Thanks in advance! Sorry In advance for silly questions!
Hi! There are no silly questions, and these are great ones.
Saratoga typically has excellent merchandise, and I know many athletes (mine included) have purchased numerous items throughout the years during the Saratoga Invite, NYS Championships, and the Head of the Fish in the fall. Beyond the NYS championship swag, USRowing often has their own tent, and Rubini Jewelers offers unique rowing-themed jewelry that you'll spot on coaches and parents (shameless plug for a last-minute Mother's Day gift!). 776BC even made an appearance at a couple of the collegiate events there this spring but no guarantees.
At the main tent, t-shirts typically range from $30-40, with sweatshirts at $50-60. Teams that win their event can purchase a State Champion t-shirt for around $20. It's hard to say no after achieving that accomplishment! The boat usually poses for group pictures with their shirts and medals afterward, and winners typically wear these t-shirts proudly in the Memorial Day parades we march in each year.
As a runner myself, I love running/biking along courses during races. Unfortunately, Saratoga is one of the more challenging spectating venues, especially for following along. There are two main viewing spots:
What Saratoga lacks in viewing options, they make up for with live coverage. Near the merchandise tents and food vendors, you'll find live streaming of the event on a large projection screen with continuous commentary and drone video. It's a perfect spot to pull up a chair, watch the full races, and learn some rowing lingo from the former athletes and coaches who provide the color commentary and meter by meter coverage!
The return bus ride is totally up to your athlete and your family. Personally, I think the kids should ride the bus with their teammates. It helps build a stronger bond, and especially if they do well, there's a lot of chatter and celebration. Having traveled for athletics throughout high school and college, the bus ride is where some of the most memorable team moments happen - spontaneous singalongs, inside jokes, unstructured time that creates lifelong friendships. It can also be where they process their races together, sharing what worked, what didn't, and what they learned. The shared experience of traveling together, especially after the emotional highs and lows of competition, reinforces that rowing is truly a team sport both on and off the water, and I think that those moments away from the water are just as important for team chemistry as the training itself. In addition, usually, but not always, the bus will stop at the first rest stop on the Thruway after Amsterdam. There's a Chick-fil-A and a Burger King there, but for the girls returning on Sunday, Chick-fil-A will be closed. If your athlete is planning on riding the bus home, it'd help to have a few extra dollars for a bite to eat.
Saratoga typically has excellent merchandise, and I know many athletes (mine included) have purchased numerous items throughout the years during the Saratoga Invite, NYS Championships, and the Head of the Fish in the fall. Beyond the NYS championship swag, USRowing often has their own tent, and Rubini Jewelers offers unique rowing-themed jewelry that you'll spot on coaches and parents (shameless plug for a last-minute Mother's Day gift!). 776BC even made an appearance at a couple of the collegiate events there this spring but no guarantees.
At the main tent, t-shirts typically range from $30-40, with sweatshirts at $50-60. Teams that win their event can purchase a State Champion t-shirt for around $20. It's hard to say no after achieving that accomplishment! The boat usually poses for group pictures with their shirts and medals afterward, and winners typically wear these t-shirts proudly in the Memorial Day parades we march in each year.
As a runner myself, I love running/biking along courses during races. Unfortunately, Saratoga is one of the more challenging spectating venues, especially for following along. There are two main viewing spots:
- The bridge spanning Fish Creek (past the finish line), which offers a view of all 10 lanes but is quite far from the finish, making it difficult to see relative positions. We often find ourselves accidentally cheering for the wrong boat! Binoculars are helpful if you have them.
- A peninsula accessible from the trailer parking lot, not far from the bridge. You're slightly closer to the finish and docks but at water level, so you can't see as far down the course.
What Saratoga lacks in viewing options, they make up for with live coverage. Near the merchandise tents and food vendors, you'll find live streaming of the event on a large projection screen with continuous commentary and drone video. It's a perfect spot to pull up a chair, watch the full races, and learn some rowing lingo from the former athletes and coaches who provide the color commentary and meter by meter coverage!
The return bus ride is totally up to your athlete and your family. Personally, I think the kids should ride the bus with their teammates. It helps build a stronger bond, and especially if they do well, there's a lot of chatter and celebration. Having traveled for athletics throughout high school and college, the bus ride is where some of the most memorable team moments happen - spontaneous singalongs, inside jokes, unstructured time that creates lifelong friendships. It can also be where they process their races together, sharing what worked, what didn't, and what they learned. The shared experience of traveling together, especially after the emotional highs and lows of competition, reinforces that rowing is truly a team sport both on and off the water, and I think that those moments away from the water are just as important for team chemistry as the training itself. In addition, usually, but not always, the bus will stop at the first rest stop on the Thruway after Amsterdam. There's a Chick-fil-A and a Burger King there, but for the girls returning on Sunday, Chick-fil-A will be closed. If your athlete is planning on riding the bus home, it'd help to have a few extra dollars for a bite to eat.
Thanks for the info! I figured the running question was a good one because you ran by us at olp! Yes, Lilly loved the bus and said she got to get to know some of the varsity girls better! I just wasn't sure because of Mother's Day! Super duper helpful info! Thanks so much!
So it sounds like it’s unnecessary to bring chairs from home?
Chairs are definitely a personal preference, and I won't talk you out of bringing them. It's still a long day, and with no dry ground to sit, it'll be a long time on your feet. There won't be room in our food tents for chairs, but spectators on the peninsula and in front of the live streaming often bring their own, and there should be enough space for it. The only downside would be having to bring it on the bus from the casino or having to carry it during the long march along route 9P, should you decide to park along the road.
Cell service:
Another important piece of info, cell service is notoriously bad/spotty at the park. If you need to make arrangements with your athlete or another family member, try to make sure you do so prior to arriving.
Another important piece of info, cell service is notoriously bad/spotty at the park. If you need to make arrangements with your athlete or another family member, try to make sure you do so prior to arriving.
I thought I would add this page for folks looking for the streaming links. Either while there or if you can’t come to Saratoga, you can watch the race on line.
https://www.regattacentral.com/regatta/?job_id=9527&org_id=1417
https://www.regattacentral.com/regatta/?job_id=9527&org_id=1417
So a parent asked me about tomorrow! I wasn't sure of the answer either. Do the novice girls do the time trial to see if they qualify for the final? They weren't sure if they were coming because they didn't know if their child would be in the time trial and finals...and I wasn't sure either! I said I would let them know!
Yes, all teams will participate in a time trial with the top 9 moving on to Grand (A) Finals. For the trials, boats will start at a regular interval in bow number order. Final lane assigments are based off the boat's time in the trials.
Most races only have 1 A Final event. The Varsity 4+ has an A, B, and C final.
Full, detailed schedule and live timing can be found here: https://regatta.time-team.nl/nyshsc/2025/draw/races.php
Most races only have 1 A Final event. The Varsity 4+ has an A, B, and C final.
Full, detailed schedule and live timing can be found here: https://regatta.time-team.nl/nyshsc/2025/draw/races.php
Thanks for all of your help!!!!
