The Oak Ridge Rowing Association uses the Melton Lake Rowing Venue on the East end of Oak Ridge. Tennessee. Regattas began at this location when the University of Tennessee Rowing Club held the 1978 Dogwood Regatta on the site followed that same year with Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championship(SIRA). The Melton Lake Venue has continued to host regattas for the over 30 years and is known as one of the best rowing venues in the United States. The venue has been the site for a number of major championships including the U. S. Nationals, Women’s Nationals, Master’s Nationals, and the Pan American Trials. Oak Ridge hosted the USRowing Nationals in 1997 and 2000, one of only three sites to host the national championship regatta in the last 15 years. There are only a few venues in the United States that USRowing feels are good enough for a National Championship, and Oak Ridge is one of those sites. The quality of the course, a track record of quality events in Oak Ridge, and a willingness on the part of the community to support such events are prime reasons for staging this prestigious regatta in Oak Ridge.
Melton Hill Lake is known as one of the best rowing venues in the United States, is fed by the Clinch River. as part of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) waterway system. Melton Hill Lake is the only tributary in the TVA system to have a dam and lock that allows TVA to regulate flows during competitions to less than .06 meters per second. The venue, which is protected by hills on each side, which limits wind problems, also features a shelter edembayment with multiple docks for easy launching during events. The 2000-meter rowing course provides 7 straight lanes fully buoyed . The quality of the course, a track record of quality events and a willingness on the part of the community to support such events are prime reasons for staging many prestigious regattas in Oak Ridge.The course also offers an excellent opportunity for spring training. Many colleges and high school teams take advantage of the mild spring climate. What makes rowing in Oak Ridge so special? Well, it’s the 2000-meter rowing course provides an idyllic straight rowing course that can be fully buoyed for 7 lanes. The lake, which is fed by the Clinch River, is part of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) waterway system and TVA regulates flows during competitions to less than .06 meters per second. The water comes from the bottom of Norris Lake and is very cold most of the year. While the water is very cold in the winter, it is unusual to see more than a skim of ice lasting more than a day or two.The prevailing good weather, excellent water conditions and the nearly unlimited rowing water make Melton Hill Lake the ideal rowing venue for learning and training. The course is protected by hills on each side, which limits wind problems, and the river permits training to be conducted 10 miles in the upstream direction and 24 miles downstream from the marina.The venue also features a permanently measured course and is marked for split timing which is important to coaches and racing enthusiasts. The marina facility also provides added value to the venue offering secured storage and a sheltered in bayment with multiple docks for easy launching during races or the very popular spring training season.
The course also offers an excellent opportunity for spring training. Many colleges and high school teams take advantage of the mild spring climate. What makes rowing in Oak Ridge so special? The 2000-meter rowing course provides an idyllic straight rowing course that can be fully buoyed for 7 lanes. The lake, which is fed by the Clinch River, is part of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) waterway system and TVA regulates flows during competitions to less than .06 meters per second. The water comes from the bottom of Norris Lake and is very cold most of the year. While the water is very cold in the winter, it is unusual to see more than a skim of ice lasting more than a day or two.
The prevailing good weather, excellent water conditions and the nearly unlimited rowing water make Melton Hill Lake the ideal rowing venue for learning and training. The course is protected by hills on each side, which limits wind problems, and the river permits training to be conducted 10 miles in the upstream direction and 24 miles downstream from the marina. The venue also features a permanently measured course and is marked for split timing which is important to coaches and racing enthusiasts.
In addition to the above, for the last 30 years Oak Ridge has been the home course for the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships, the site for the LEXUS Mid-Central Sprints, and host for the Juniors Scholastic Regatta. The U. S. Women’s Olympic Rowing and the Swiss National teams trained on Melton Hill Lake prior to competing in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, GA. The U. S. Women produced a silver medal list in the women’s lightweight doubles. Xeno Muller, with the Swiss National Team won the men’s heavyweight single world championship in St. Catharine’s, Canada last year and the Olympic gold medal in 1996. The Swiss Team has trained in Oak Ridge three times.
The ORRA uses the Melton Lake Rowing Venue on the East end of Oak Ridge. Tennessee. Regattas began at this location when the University of Tennessee Rowing Club held the 1978 Dogwood Regatta on the site followed that same year with Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championship (SIRA). The Melton Lake Venue has continued to host regattas for the over 30 years and is known as one of the best rowing venues in the United States. The venue has been the site for a number of major championships including the U. S. Nationals, Women’s Nationals, Master’s Nationals, and the Pan American Trials. Oak Ridge hosted the USRowing Nationals in 1997 and 2000, one of only three sites to host the national championship regatta in the last 15 years. There are only a few venues in the United States that USRowing feels are good enough for a National Championship, and Oak Ridge is one of those sites. The quality of the course, a track record of quality events in Oak Ridge, and a willingness on the part of the community to support such events are prime reasons for staging this prestigious regatta in Oak Ridge.
In addition to the above, for the last 30 years Oak Ridge has been the home course for the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships, the site for the LEXUS Mid-Central Sprints, and host for the Juniors Scholastic Regatta. The U. S. Women’s Olympic Rowing and the Swiss National teams trained on Melton Hill Lake prior to competing in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, GA. The U. S. Women produced a silver medalist in the women’s lightweight doubles. Xeno Muller, with the Swiss National Team won the men’s heavyweight single world championship in St. Catharine’s, Canada last year and the Olympic gold medal in 1996. The Swiss Team has trained in Oak Ridge three times.
CLUB REGATTAS
REGIONAL REGATTAS / EVENTS
CONFERENCE REGATTAS / EVENTS
NATIONAL REGATTAS / EVENTS
INTERNATIONAL REGATTAS / EVENTS
