RegattaCentral

History

Long Beach Junior Crew (LBJC) exists thanks to the Long Beach Rowing Association (LBRA), an organization established in 1932 by local businessmen to promote the sport of rowing for community recreation and fitness and to offer a competitive sport in the greater Long Beach region. LBRA purchased several of the shells left by the 1932 Olympic crews, which were then used by the junior rowers.At that time,local high school rowers were coached by Peter Archer (1904-2001), who produced many junior rowers, several of whom went on to row with the great California crews of that era.In 1967 the Marine Stadium, which was the venue for the 1932 Olympics, was modified and a new boathouse was built and dedicated as "The Pete Archer Rowing Center"in honor of his contributions to the sport of rowing in Long Beach.

Long Beach's Marine Stadium today provides 2000 meters of straight water (the standard distance for national and international rowing), surrounded with unlimited sheltered water, providing an ideal venue for training and racing.Keeping up with the growing national sport of rowing, LBRA began a campaign in 1997 to expand and double the existing boathouse, which today accommodates an additional equipment bay for boats and rowing shells, a weight-training room, kitchen and meeting area,offices and separate women's restroom, shower, and locker facilities.Coupled with the newly expanded facility,dedicated in 2007, and perfect weather and water conditions, Long Beach has and will continue to attract young adults to the sport of rowing and all the positive aspects it contains.

After the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, Steve and Debbie Nowinski re-launched the Junior Rowing program in1987 with the help of a $150,000 grant from the Amateur Athletic Foundation; LBJC is the only local club funded by AAF still in existence.Ongoing support from LBRA, junior parents and various foundations and corporations has sustained the club, which currently boasts approximately 100 young men and women coming from Southern Los Angeles and North Orange County schools.

Listed below are some of the recent LBJC Youth rower accomplishments:

National Championships

2007 USRowing Youth National Champions Women's 8+
2008 USRowing Youth National Champions Women's 4x
2008 USRowing Youth National Champions Women's 2x
2008 USRowing Youth Nationals 2^nd Place Women's Lightweight 4+ 
2008 USRowing Youth Nationals 5^th Place Men's Lightweight 2x
2008 USRowing Youth Nationals 11^th Place Men's 4x
2009 USRowing Youth Nationals 2^nd Place Women's Lightweight 8+
2009 USRowing Youth Nationals 5^th Place Women's Lightweight 4+
2009 USRowing Youth Nationals 4^th Place Women's 2x
2009 USRowing Youth National Champion Women's Lightweight 2x
2009 USRowing Youth Nationals 2^nd Place Men's Lightweight 4+
2009 USRowing Youth Nationals 12^th Place Men's 4x
2009 USRowing Youth Nationals 3^rd Place Men's Lightweight 2x

World Championship

2008 FISA Junior World Champions Women's 8+
2008 USRowing Junior World Trials 2nd Place Women's 2x
2009 FISA Junior World Champions Women's 8+
2009 FISA Junior Worlds 1^st Place "E" Final Men's 2x