AMP Rowing and Purcerverance Sculling Camp, Elberton,GA,USA
February 22- March 1, 2025
March 1 - March 8, 2025
$1950CAD
AMP Rowing - Sculling Camps Notes to Campers: September, 2024
Dear AMP Rowing - Sculling Camps Participants: Thank you for your interest in AMP Sculling Camps. We will be running two camps at our Elberton, Georgia location- February 22 to March 1, 2025 and March 1 to March 8, 2025. The confirmed coaches to date will include Peter Cookson, Peter Somerwil, Lynda Dundas, and Mike Purcer. We are pleased to confirm that Michelle Darvill, Olympic medal winning coach will be joining us for the camp.
We are proud to be hosting our 27th annual camp in Elberton and suffice to say, it is one of our favourite locations. Please find below some notes that will help in preparation for the camp. Registration for our 2025 camps for each week of the camp and will be limited to 24 participants on a first come, first served basis.
Our focus is to make you a better technical sculler. Over our 27 years of doing this, we have developed a comprehensive weekly plan to help you improve in all aspects of your sculling stroke. With 3 on water daily sessions and additional "classroom" sessions, you will leave the week not only a better technical sculler, but with a greater appreciation and understanding of the sculling stroke. At the bottom of this page is an example of what to expect on Day One of the camp.
1. Arrival: You should plan to arrive at Richard B. Russell State Park, located near Elberton, Georgia, by 16h00 on the day before your camp starts. You can check into your accommodation in the park at 16h00. If you are planning to arrive by air into Atlanta International Airport and are interested in sharing rental car use with other participants, please let us know your Flight Number and arrival time. We will try to connect participants interested in travelling together to help share costs.
2. Directions to Richard B Russell State Park: From Atlanta: Take I85 North towards South Carolina. Exit off of I85 at Exit 173, located just before the South Carolina border. Take Highway 77 south towards Hartwell and continue through Hartwell towards Elberton. As you approach Elberton, you will see signs for Richard b Russell State Park. The park entrance is 9 miles northeast of Elberton on Ruckersville Road. For further information, check the Parks website http://www.gastateparks.org/info/richbruss/ Phone: (706) 213-2045.
3. After entering the park, proceed on the main park road until you see a sign for the cottage road on the left. Follow the sign and when you arrive at the cabins, proceed to cabin #__ , which is where the coaches will issue keys to your cabin at 4:00 pm or later.
4. Daily Details: The first row will be at 08h00 on the first Sunday of the camp. A typical day will consist of 3 rows: at 08h00, 11h30, and 16h00 (with the 16h00 technical row optional). Daily discussions will take place on rowing technique, rigging, training, racing and other topics. Coaches will be videoing athletes to provide visual feedback. Purcerverance Boat Speed Curve Analysis is included to provide feedback on rigging efficiency and technique.
5. Accommodation is in the lovely well-appointed cabins located within Richard B Russell State Park. Each cabin holds a maximum of 4 participants in the two bedrooms, both with ensuite bathrooms. There are ample cooking facilities and a dining area that can seat 8. Each cabin is located on the waters’ edge, in quiet, forested scenery. Linens and towels are supplied, although you may wish to bring an extra towel as with three rows a day, the cabin supply may run out. Laundry facilities are also available at the park. If you have another participant you would like to room with for the week, please indicate in the additional information form.
Single supplement for the week is $900 CAD.
6. Breakfast: Each morning, after the 1st row of the day, a light continental breakfast will be served. The breakfast will be followed by a short discussion on sculling technique and/or video presentation. Make sure you are changed out of your rowing clothes and are clean prior to coming to breakfast – hygiene is important to keep everyone healthy for the week.
7. Other Meals: For lunch and dinner, each participant is on their own. However, in most cases, cabin occupants pool together to offer meals. There is a large supermarket in Elberton, which is located approximately 12 miles (20 km) from the park.
8. Climate and Clothing: It can still be reasonably chilly in Elberton in February. Typical morning temperatures can dip to 35 to 40 degrees F (2 to 5 degrees C). Typical afternoon temperatures range from 50 to 70 degrees F (10 to 20C). We suggest you bring a range of clothing for cold weather and warmer afternoon rows. Three to five sets of rowing clothing are usually sufficient. You may also consider bringing rowing pogies for your hands for the early morning rows and a jacket suitable for rowing in on damp mornings. On sunny days, the sun can be strong, so be sure to bring sunblock and a hat.
9. The Rowing: The lake is part of the Savannah River system and extends for over 20 miles. There is a buoyed 2000m rowing course on the lake, which is surrounded by pine forest. Typically, we can get in three rows a day, and even in inclement weather, we can find sheltered locations on the lake. Typically, practices take place in singles. However, if you plan to row a pair be sure to register with your partner.
10. Equipment: Singles or pairs are provided. You are welcome to bring your own boat, and if you choose, coaches will analyze your rigging setup and assist with any adjustments if needed.
11. Getting ready for the camp: We suggest you prepare your hands for the week by doing as much erging as you can in the next few weeks. Fitness will help you get through the week. While we don’t set goals in terms of the number of km’s you will row during the week, it can be a very exhausting week if you are not prepared for it.
12. Hygiene: One of the biggest challenges many of our participants encounter during the week is the state of their hands following many sessions on the water. We recommend doing lots of ergometer (or on water work!) in the weeks leading up to the camp to toughen the skin on your hands. During the camp, we recommend a daily soaking of your hands in a warm saline solution. We have also found that applying pure Vitamin E (not cream!) to your hands following a saline bath helps harden and cure the blistering that can sometimes occur.
13. Daily focus: Each day, we provide a group focus and provide exercises and instruction on how to work on that particular part of the stroke. It is important you bring a note book along to record some of the coaching tips provided to you for future reference.
14. Coaching: we are fortunate at AMP Rowing - Sculling Camps to have one of the best coach to participant ratios of any sculling camp. We always guarantee a ratio of no greater than 5 participants to coach. That way, we ensure that every participant gets the correct and suitable amount of attention. Most of our coaches have all rowed and coached at the international level. This year, we are proud to announce the following coaching staff:
Peter Cookson: Founder of AMP Rowing Sculling Camps and former High Performance Director for Rowing Canada. Has previously coached in Canada, Great Britain, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Peter Somerwil: Long time Head Coach at Brock University, Canada and founder of Brock Rowing Camps. Peter has rowed extensively as a member of the Canadian National Team, including a gold medal at the world championships.
Mike Purcer: Long time coach and founder of Purcerverance, a consulting company that provides rigging and biomechanical feedback.
Michelle Darvill: Partner in AMP Rowing; coach of a number of Olympic medal winning crews in both sweep and sculling events; successful coach at U23 and Senior level; mentor to many younger female coaches.
Lynda Dundas: is a Certified Coach and Master's athlete with over 30 years of experience. A recently retired Physiotherapist, Lynda brings a wealth of experience to the camp.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at the email or telephone numbers below.
We look forward to seeing you soon!!
Yours truly, Peter, Peter and Mike
Mike Purcer: purcerverance@gmail.com; Cell: 905-932-1778
Peter Cookson: pcookson@amprowing.com; Cell: 647-203-0301
Peter Somerwil: petersomerwil@hotmail.com; Cell: 905-327-2797
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