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), several of whom went on to row with the great California crews of the 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 by sheltered water and provides and 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 and today accomodates and additional equipment bay for rowing shells and equipment, 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 1997) and near perfect water and weather 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 progam in 1987 with the help of a $150,000 grant from the Amateur Athletic Foundation.  LBJC is the only local club that received funding from the AAF which is still in existence and continues to provide participants with a positive after-school activity in a safe and productive environment.  LBJC received non-profit 501(c)(3) status in 1996 and has been sustained by the countless volunteer hours provided by the parents of junior rowers as well as the generous support of LBRA and various foundations and organizations.  LBJC currently has over 105 young men and women coming from Southern Los Angeles County and North Orange County schools to participate in the fall and spring rowing seasons and also offers summer rowing camps for beginners and conditioning camps for returning rowers.