Why RowLA Will Always be Home for Nora Basmajian!

I’ve been rowing with RowLA since 2020, and honestly, I had no idea what I was getting myself into back then. I thought rowing was just... rowing. I didn’t expect it to become such a huge part of my life, or that I’d still be here five years later.

When I first joined, I was intimidated. I wasn’t super athletic, and I definitely didn’t think of myself as someone who would be waking up at 4:30 a.m. to erg. But RowLA has completely changed that. It’s pushed me to my limits in ways I never expected, and it’s taught me that I can go so much further than I think. Even when my mind is screaming at me to stop, rowing has taught me to keep going, to not regret anything and to trust that I’ve got more in the tank.

That doesn’t mean it’s been easy. Technique has always been my biggest struggle... along with my own mindset. I’ve spent hours, days, maybe even weeks obsessing over my recovery, my catch, my feathering. And guess what? It’s still not perfect! But that’s the point. Rowing is one of those sports where you’re constantly chasing improvement. We spend so much time on the water, and even more time off of it, watching video, getting feedback, and trying to put it all together. It’s frustrating, but kind of addicting.

RowLA gave me the kind of confidence that doesn’t just apply on the water. It’s the kind of confidence that shows up in the classroom, in job interviews, in life. I’ve learned to be more disciplined, to communicate better (still working on that one...), and most importantly, to believe in myself even when I’m doubting everything else.

The RowLA community has been one of the most unexpected and important parts of my experience. The coaches start to feel like your second parents—whether they’re encouraging you, giving you a reality check, or hyping you up before a big piece. And the friendships I’ve made through this team? They mean the world to me. I’ve laughed, cried, argued, made up, and had some of the deepest conversations of my life with these girls. They’ve seen me at my best and my absolute worst, and they’ve stuck by me through it all.

I’ll be honest—I’m stubborn. I don’t open up easily, and I always think I’m right (working on that too...). But RowLA created a space where I felt safe to be myself. That’s rare. And that’s what makes this team so special.

Some of the biggest joys I’ve had were just being around the team. These girls became my people. And the racing, racing is on another level. When you’ve trained for months and finally line up at the start line, there’s nothing like it. The adrenaline, the pain, the absolute chaos of it all, it’s horrible and amazing at the same time. And when you actually win? It’s like every ounce of sweat, every 2K, every sore muscle—it all pays off.

One of my favorite regatta memories was when we went to San Diego to race. We had a blast. We raced in a 4 and won the B Final after a super tight sprint. The energy in the boat was crazy, we were dying, but we were all in it together. That feeling sticks with you.

And then there are the funnier moments—like Christmas Regatta. Everyone shows up dressed in holiday gear: Santa hats, jingle bells, elf costumes. It’s ridiculous and festive and totally chaotic. The vibes are always high, and honestly, I look forward to it every year. There’s nothing like rowing next to someone in a full-on reindeer onesie.

If I could go back and give advice to my beginner rower self, I’d say: be patient. You’re going to mess up. A lot. And that’s okay. Don’t compare yourself to the fastest girl on the team. Just keep showing up, learn from your mistakes, and take the wins when you get them—even the little ones.

Now, as I get ready to join a college team, it’s bittersweet. I’m excited for what’s next, but RowLA will always be home. It gave me so much more than just rowing. It gave me confidence, resilience, and people I’ll love forever.

To any girl out there who doesn’t think she can row: try. Seriously. If I can do it, you can too. Just show up, keep showing up, and you’ll be surprised what you’re capable of.

More Than Rowing: How RowLA Shaped Nevaeh’s Rhodes Confidence and Grit

I joined RowLA in 2021, just after Covid hit and the summer before my 9th grade year. My mom asked if I wanted to try out the summer camp for a week. I knew nothing about rowing, but thought I'd give it a try. To my surprise I loved it and knew I wanted to continue my rowing journey.

Being part of RowLA has helped me to become more confident in myself, both on and off the water, by pushing me to try new things and take on more challenges. Whether it was learning to steer the boat with the foot rudder or the courage to take my first AP class, RowLA gave me the confidence to always say yes to new experiences.

Rowing can seem intimidating at first, and definitely very challenging, but once you actually get into your groove, all the basics become muscle memory. Physically, rowing never really gets easier because there's always something to improve, but you become more mentally aware. You start to understand and realize what it takes to become a great rower. For me, the mental part of rowing has been tough for me to learn and overcome, and is still something I am working on.

We usually rowed in larger boats so I found it especially difficult when I started to row in my single. It took time to adjust to the feeling of isolation and being in the boat by myself. But day by day I felt more at ease on the water and as my comfort level grew, so did my progress and that was very rewarding to me.

RowLA became like a second family to me. I've built everlasting friendships and gained sisters throughout my experience. Whether I needed a ride to or from practice or just someone to talk to, the girls and coaches were there for me and always had my back. I've met some of the best people at RowLA and will continue to hold them very close to me for a long time.

While rowing definitely has its challenges, I have also found it brings many joys. I love watching the sunrise in the early mornings with my girls, and seeing the bioluminescence make an appearance every once in a while. I love traveling with my team and making everlasting memories. But most importantly, I love racing with my team and watching us level up with each regatta.

My favorite regatta memory was my first Head of the Charles, when Coach Chelsea took us in the “Big Boy” (our rental car) to downtown Boston, where we watched a movie, ate food, and took some pictures under the bright city lights.

RowLA is special to me because it has become such a big part of my life and has opened up many opportunities for me, like the Craftsbury Sculling Camp with Arshay Cooper.

If I could talk to my beginner rower self, I’d tell her not to limit herself and not to be afraid to just go for it.

My hopes for rowing in college are to get stronger, faster, and to get that 7:20 on the 2k 8.

My advice for any girls who think they might not be able to row: just go for it. Embrace the full experience—because you might surprise yourself by finding out that you are better than you think.

"Nevaeh Rhodes' Transformative Week at Arshay Cooper’s CraftsburyCamp"

This summer, RowLA’s Nevaeh Rhodes was given an amazing opportunity to attend

Arshay Cooper’s Craftsbury Camp in Vermont. The camp is designed for rowers of color and provides a unique opportunity to connect with fellow rowers who share similar identities and experiences. This select group of athletes got to spend the week focusing on technique, speed, leadership skills, mental toughness and much more under the guidance of experienced coaches and peers. One of those coaches was our very own Coach Hicu’s wife, Antonia Emanuella Abreu Motta (Manu), who eagerly volunteered to share her knowledge and expertise as a high performance athlete. Here’s what Nevaeh had to say about her time at the camp, “The week at Arshey Coopers camp was the most amazing experience I could have asked for. The camp allowed me to be vulnerable and connect with others who could relate to me. I loved everything from the group therapy session to playing uno in the common room to swimming in the lake or just getting to row in my single!”

Arshay Cooper and his fund ‘America’s Most Beautiful Thing Inclusion Fund’ (AMBTIF),

are invaluable supporters of RowLA, providing our program with grants and equipment. Similar to our own mission, the AMBTIF program aims to break barriers within the sport of rowing by increasing access for diverse and under-resourced youth to rowing programs across the country and the globe.