OKC Riversport Introduces Youth To The Sport Of Rowing

When the OKC Riversport complex was established in 2006, it was anticipated that it would have a huge impact and it has even with our youth.

“River Sport hosts a wide variety of programs for kids across the metro area,” said Mike Knopp, executive director of OKC Riversport.

The program is introducing kids in high school and now junior high to the sport of rowing.

“We have different programs, but we have well over five hundred kids rowing from Oklahoma City,” said Knopp.

But this program is also about bringing different cultures together and creating a team.

“We have kids from the northeast side, the southeast side, all over the suburbs,” said Knopp.

SOT: Jaya (Youth Rowing Team)

“It’s fun to be on the water, it’s cool just going around, you meet good friends,” said Jaya, with the youth rowing team.

“I think I just fell in love with the idea of being able to feel more free, and whenever I am on the boat I can just think about God’s creations and stuff like that,” said youth rowing team member Dakota.

The program is having an impact on the kids.

“Parents would come out and they would tell us, sometimes in tears, about how much this has changed their child’s life. It’s given them this boost of confidence that maybe they didn’t have before,” said Knopp.

“Kids realize that they have one of the finest venues in the country really in the world to get involved in the sport of rowing,” said Knopp.

Even for kids rowing is a tough sport, but working through the pain has proven to be beneficial.

“You know we’ve had over fourteen million dollars in college scholarships awarded to kids that have gotten involved in rowing in Oklahoma City,” said Knopp.

There are some pretty exciting competitions coming up, for a list of all the activities at Riversport and also to book parties and events visit www.riversportokc.org