TRRA Safety Spotlight: June 2026

Dear TRRA Community,

Summer season is here and with it, the TRRA Safety Committee would like to share some updates and reminders for all rowers and paddlers in our TRRA Community:

From the TRRA Safety Committee:

Who we are: As a committee established by the TRRA Board of Directors, we have a chair appointed by the Board, a Board liaison (in the event the chair is not a Board member), and representatives from each masters team, the adaptive team, the paddling teams and a collegiate representative. 

What we do: we meet quarterly to review all incident reports with the goal of spotting trends to head off future problems; work with the ED to ensure that safety rules, protocols and matrices are followed as well as updated as needed; and make recommendations to the TRRA board for changes to the safety procedures and documents. We welcome feedback from the TRRA community!

NEW SAFETY RULES IN EFFECT:

At the end of last season, the TRRA Board approved some changes to the certification process for those wishing to row without a safety launch, including logbook scullers and crew leaders.

Changes of note:

• LEVEL 0 Sculling Certification: There’s a new Level 0 certification for those who need to gain additional skills before being certified to row on their own. This allows new scullers the chance to get some experience in rowing shells bowed by level 3 scullers who are certified as crew leaders (island laps only).

• Bow/Crew Leader: Bow/Crew leader certification for 2x/-,4x/- will now be done using the same format and form as the sculling certifications. As before, you must be crew leader- certified to bow a multi-person shell and the crew leader must be the bow rower. While the coach performing the certifications can recommend a rower as a crew leader, the Executive Director must approve each application. 

• Sculling Certification Recertification: For all levels of certification for rowers and crew leaders, the new requirement is for recertifications to occur every 5 years beginning at age 55 (using a rower’s USRowing age as of December 31st of each year). This will be implemented on a go-forward basis, so it applies to those turning 55, 60, 65, etc. in 2026. If a rower is initially certified within 12 months of the next 5-year interval, they may wait until the beginning of the next 5-year period to re-certify. (You can check your certification date on the club roster on iCrew. If you have been certified and the date is missing, please email admin@threeriversrowing.org with that information and if you need to re-certify, make sure you get the new form).

• Re-certification Compliance: We will rely on our members to take responsibility for their own safety by re-certifying. However, if anyone is found to be overdue, they will be considered to be in violation of the safety protocols and will be unable to row without a safety launch until they are re-certified.

• Resources: Full information for certification and recertification can be found on the TRRA website. 

• Weather Awareness: The weather in the summer brings with it a full slate of new hazards to be aware of. Quickly forming thunderstorms, localized wind gusts, extreme heat and humidity are just some of the hazards we can face during our summer months here in Pittsburgh. Here are a few weather resources and reminders to help keep everyone safe this summer on the water:

1. Hydrate!  Make sure you have a water bottle with you for all training sessions.

2. Sun Protection:  Sunscreen, hat, sunshirts, cooling towels.

3. Weather App: Be sure to check the weather before launching. This includes radar, hourly forecasts, wind and river conditions. TRRA recommends all water users download the WeatherBug app and set your station to Pittsburgh, PA, PNC Park to get the most accurate weather information for our area. WeatherBug also includes a lightning detection map, and shows how far away the last lightning strike was in the last 30 minutes.

These are just a few important updates and if you would like more information on any of these topics, please review our Safety Protocols & Procedures or re-watch our 2026 Spring Safety Meeting video. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out at any time!

Thank you,

Matt