Come Be
Our Guest

Rio welcomes rowers from other clubs to enjoy rowing year-round from our boatyard on beautiful Tempe Town Lake.

Photo by Kama Tulkibayeva on Unsplash

Ready To
Guest Row?

Guest rowing using Rio boats and equipment is available to rowers who have rowed a single for at least six months.  As a guest, you may row when Rio classes are in session, typically in a single shell. Respect your skill level, especially at night, in cold weather or in rough water, as we may not be able to provide immediate assistance in an emergency.

Requirements

  • Be 18 years of age or older
  • At least 48 hours before your visit, email our Guest Rowing Coordinator with these documents —
    • A letter from your home club coach attesting to your proficiency to row a single. See example
    • Float test Safety Verification

Watch for an email from Rio’s Guest Rowing Coordinator to schedule your row.

Things to know

  • Launch is from a beach (no dock), so wear water shoes or sandals.
  • Row in counter-clockwise direction heading west from the launch beach.
  • Faster rowers take the shoreline. Slower rowers stay toward the center of the lake.
  • Distances:
    From West Dam to East Dam is roughly 3,000 meters.
    From the Mill Avenue Bridge to Rural Road Bridge is approximately 1,300 meters.
  • There are five bridges on the lake and three free-standing pillars on the east end.
  • Be familiar with the traffic pattern on the lake