We are an all-volunteer, non-profit community of adult rowers — persistent rowers who have spent 30 years developing a vibrant rowing club in the unlikely setting of Arizona’s Sonoran Desert. From 1991 until 1997 when Tempe Town Lake was created by damming a portion of the Salt River, our founders rowed by trailering boats to neighborhood lakes and distant reservoirs. We welcome adult rowers of all levels, novice to advanced as well as adaptive, whether recreational or competitive. Rio supports and works closely with Arizona’s junior and city-operated rowing programs. We are a self-sustaining organization that keeps operations afloat through memberships, sales of classes and clinics, and donations. Rio is especially grateful to many individuals and to the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority and the AmerisourceBergen Foundation for their generous support, and to Ability360 for their partnership.
Our Mission
We empower adult rowers to discover the joys of rowing and advance their skills in a welcoming team environment.