The Program

The Connecticut River Training Center is designed to for aspiring women’s U23 national team athletes, where athletes can gain valuable racing and training experience in boat classes outside of the 8+ and 4+. Ultimately, the mission for this training center is to place athletes on the U23 national team.

Camp Location: Smith College Rowing Boathouse

Camp Dates: June 15th 2026 - August 9th 2026 (8 weeks)

Practice Schedule: (estimated, final schedule will created to accommodate work and internships of participants)

AM: 6-8:00

PM: 5-6:30

Primary sessions will be in the morning, with several additional afternoon sessions each week.

Race Schedule:

U23 Trials (Mercer, NJ): July 3rd-5th

Canadian Henley (St. Catharines, ON): August 2nd - 9th


Program Cost: $2950

This fee covers coaching, equipment and facility rental, 776 gear kit, race entry fees, and lodging during regattas.

Housing in the Hadley area, transportation to practice and regattas and meals are not covered.

The Coaches

Smiling man with a beard and wavy hair, wearing a navy jacket over a gray T-shirt, standing outdoors near a rack of colorful kayaks.

Graham Marks

Head Coach

Graham has spent the last decade coaching at the Division III level and has coached multiple IRA, NESCAC and NEWMAC championship winning crews. He is currently an assistant coach at Smith College. In addition to his collegiate coaching, Graham has coached the Craftsbury Green Racing Project and has coached crews that the U23 World Championships in 2023 and 2024, including the gold medal winning Men’s Lightweight 2- at the 2023 U23 World Championships. 

Assistant Coach

TBD