ADAPTIVE ROWING / SCULLING PROGRAM

Visually Impaired athletes Click Here

BIAC has a growing adaptive program for those athletes looking to begin adaptive or para rowing. We offer individual coaching for adaptive athletes by Coach Chuck Bonnici, as well as Everybody Rows (Erows) classes on Wednesday and Friday mornings.

• eRows Classes: These are technical sculling classes with a bit of cardio. Members row at their own pace and are given individual coaching attention. A participant describes the sessions as "...specific to each person's needs," to "find a solution to that specific problem." Sighted athletes called "rabbits" row with visually-impaired rowers and the coach-to-athlete ratio ensures everyone gets individual attention. To learn more about eRows or sign up for a session, email Coach Kerry. If you're not an adaptive athlete and would like to join eRows, click here to learn more.

• For more information on our adaptive program, including adaptive paddling, or if you are interested in learning to row, contact our Adaptive Director Chuck Bonnici. New adaptive rowers normally join the adaptive erg class and/or have three private lessons and then are ready to join the team.
• Comprehensive information about Adaptive Rowing is available on the USRowing website.

Adaptive athletes qualify for free membership.

Become a Member

Adaptive Erg Class

In 2021, USRowing in partnership with the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation’s Quality of Life Grant, selected BIAC as one of five clubs in the USA to participate. The goal of the grant was to increase the number of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) who row for exercise, recreation, and competition across the United States.

BIAC kicked off our program with open house events to introduce potential new rowers to our adaptive coaches and the boathouse; those that participated were able to work 1-on-1 with a coach on an erg and learn how to adapt it to their individual abilities. We now have a weekly adaptive erg class on Saturdays 11am-12pm. To sign up or learn more about the program, please contactCoach Kerry.

Freedom Rows

Rowing for Disabled Veterans

BIAC is part of Freedom Rows, a program that provides grant funding to organizations to increase and expand the quantity and quality of adaptive sport activities disabled veterans and members of the armed forces have to participate in physical activity within their home communities, as well as more advanced Paralympic and adaptive sport programs at the regional and national levels.

Local outreach includes working with the Palo Alto VA, The Riekes Center, and going to events such as the Valor Games.

Paralympic Team

BIAC members Russell Gernaat and Laura Goodkind worked with Coach Alice in PR2 Mixed 2X. They placed 8th at the 2019 World Championship and have qualified for the Tokyo Paralympics!