About LBJC

 

shieldLBJC

 

Long Beach Junior Crew located at The Pete Archer Rowing Center

Long Beach Junior Crew (LBJC) exists thanks to the vision and dedication of its founders, Steve and Debbie Nowinski. Junior rowing in Long Beach has a long history beginning with 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.

Today, Long Beach’s Marine Stadium provides 2,000 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 size of the existing boathouse, which today accommodates an additional equipment bay for rowing shells, a weight-training room, kitchen, 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 men and women 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 in 1986 with the help of a $150,000 grant from the Amateur Athletic Foundation; LBJC is the only local club funded by the AAF still in existence. Ongoing support from junior parents and various foundations, corporations and private donors has sustained the club, which currently boasts over 100 young men and women coming from Southern Los Angeles and North Orange County schools.

LBJC provides participants with a positive after-school activity in a safe and productive environment. LBJC rowers include students who attend schools that are located in low-income areas with “at-risk” youth; providing adequate funding for scholarships to low-income families continues to be a fundraising priority. Summer rowing camps are also offered.

LBJC produces champions. In 1998 the women’s varsity quadruple sculls won their first National Championship. That win was repeated in 1999 and subsequent women’s teams won National championships in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 in the eight, quadruple and double sculls. Team members have participated successfully in statewide, national and international regattas. Since 2008, LBJC has sent 6 rowers to represent the United States in International competition. Three of these rowers became world champions. These successes have brought interest from college coaches, who in turn have offered academic preference or scholarships or both to select rowers.

Rowing is the fastest growing NCAA sport and LBJC has seen a tremendous increase in the number of young rowers. Today LBJC is a thriving non-profit dedicated to continuing the great tradition of outstanding junior rowing in Long Beach.


LOCATION AND MAILING INFORMATION

Training Address: Pete Archer Rowing Center, 5750 Boathouse Lane, Long Beach, CA 90803

USPS Mailing Address: LBJC, 5318 East Second Street, PMB 366, Long Beach, CA 90803

UPS Delivery: LBJC c/o Pete Archer Rowing Center, 5750 Boathouse Lane, Long Beach, CA 90803


 

LBJC BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2016 – 2017

President

Keith Johnson johnson.dk@hotmail.com

Chairman of the Board

Dee Johnson

Secretary

Filip Reinis

Chief Financial Officer

Georgy Haitz

Directors

Carol Sykora

Bill Snead

Kara Cruz

Kerry Dalton

Long Beach Junior Crew

Location: The Pete Archer Rowing Center 5750 Boathouse Lane, Long Beach, CA 90803

Mailing Address: 5318 East Second Street, PMB 366, Long Beach, CA 90803

Website: www.longbeachjuniorcrew.org

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