Cougar Crew Wish List

     The Crew continues to train 9 times a week, as well as conduct full scale fundraisers 10 weekends throughout the season. We greatly appreciate all of the donations that are made to the team, regardless of size. Sometimes people like to see their money go to something specific. We've had some requests to generate a wish list. Here is a list of specific things that the team could use, but does not have the financial capabilities to purchase at this time. Prices may vary, and the team is always open to purchasing used items in good condition if available. Perhaps you know another parent/alumni or friend that may go together with you for one of the items below. To coordinate making any of the below purchasing please contact our Head Coach Arthur Ericsson at (509) 863-5913. Thank you!

     These units allow our coxswains to communicate with their crew through an amplified speaker system. They also generate stroke rates and have stopwatch features. Sometimes we don't have enough coxboxes for all of the boats on the water. Some of our coxboxes are getting older and less reliable. These units are used every day throughout the entire practice and race.

Ergs needed for months of crucial land training. New or used.

     The safety of our crews relies on the launches to work reliably. The existing outboard may be getting close to its 9th life.

     The team could use 3, 6, 9, or even 12 sets of the Atlanta series boat slings, as well as 3 sets of the Thieman Tees ground slings.

     4 bags needed, with each bag holding 2 riggers. Protects expensive carbon fiber wing riggers during travel.

     Order in sets of 8. Stroke after stroke oarlocks get worn and lose their shape. Here is a chance to replace them and keep each stroke high quality.

     Have an extra 7/16 wrench (or 1/2 inch) sitting in your toolbox. Bring it to any race and donate it to the team.

     Small boats make better rowers. The team does not have any competitive pairs. The team would like two heavyweight pairs and two lightweight pairs so that they will be able to do pieces side by side against each other. These boats are fun to row and will help rowers fine tune their technical skills. Haivng four pairs will allow the coaches to run a pairs matrix so that an entire 8 can do time trials with each partner rowing the opposite side. Results will yeild a true comparison of each rower's boat moving skills. This will also give WSU Men's Crew the chance to be competitive at conference and national championships in this event.

Whether you buy one boat, or multiple boats, you get to choose a name for the shell in your honor.

     The team pays for annual service tuneups on both of its outboard motors. This service is done in Lewiston, Idaho. However, we have never been able to get the outboard motor on the wakeless launch properly tuned up because we cannot transport the entire boat to the marina for service. The coaches must painstakingly remove the outboard, throttle and cables, as well as disconnect the steering and electrical, in order to bring that assembly in for service. But without the completely assembled launch and motor for the marina to work on, we often find that once we reassemble it, further unknown adjustments or electrical issues surface and hinder or hault its use. A pontoon boat would put an end to these costly frustrations, as well as allow the team to transport this coaching launch to Tri-Cities for their spring break training or anywhere else.

     2008 was the last year that club teams were allowed to compete in the IRA National Championships. So a new American Collegiate Rowing Association was formed to host a club national championship. WSU entered a varsity lightweight four with cox in May of 2008. However, it is always an additional financial burden for our rowers to enter into an extra race. They pay for every race that they go to by fundraising as much as they do. In addition, those that compete in San Diego Crew Classic must pay additional money to cover all of its costs. The team also asks each rower/coxswain to pay some money to fly to our WIRA Confernce Championships. ACRA's should be our grand finale for the year but with no money left, the students in our most competitive crew(s) will have to pay for the entire trip. This expense is sometimes not possible for their budget and if one member can't go it may sink the whole trip. There is no doubt that they will have trained extremely hard. If a crew is deemed to be competitive enough than it is only right that they represent Washington State at the national level. Any dollar amount will help and be distributed equally among the crew attending. Donations will help cover airfare, lodging, boat rental/trailering, rental cars and entry fees.