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About

The Sport of Rowing

Fun , Fitness & the Ultimate Water Experience

Why Row?

Whether you’re looking for a high-intensity workout, a peaceful escape on the water, or the camaraderie of a crew, rowing delivers.

Total-Body Fitness

Engages 85% of your muscles, building strength, endurance, and flexibility.

For All Ages & Levels

Whether you're a beginner or an experienced athlete, rowing is accessible to all.

Low-Impact, High Reward

A full-body workout that’s easy on the joints.

Mind & Body Connection

The rhythmic motion promotes focus, mindfulness, and stress relief.

Teamwork & Community

Build lasting connections while working in sync with your crew.

Ready to Try Rowing?

No experience? No problem! Start with our Learn to Row program, which is designed for beginners of all ages and fitness levels. Expert coaches will guide you through each step, helping you gain confidence and skill on the water.

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Our CLUB Philosophy

PROMOTION

We believe in promoting a safe environment for our athletes, coaches, officials, support teams and spectators. We believe in treating every person with respect and dignity in an inclusive space.

PREVENTION

We protect our athletes, coaches, officials and support teams through policies and protocols, risk identification and management, education, training, resources and communication

RESPONSE

We are committed to operating within the national Safe Sport reporting and resolution framework in a timely manner that is compassionate, fair and transparent.

Meet Our Coaching Team

Hannah Smith

ERC Club Manager & Coach

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Tim Fleming

ERC Seniors & Masters Coach

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Lauren Thoman

ERC Sport & Rec Coach

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Scott Brown

ERC Juniors Coach

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Mia Lastovka

Assistant Sport Coach

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Sophie Leitch

Learn to Row Coach

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Carson Roberts

Learn to Row Coach

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Walter Martindale

Coach Emeritus

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Selah Zelyck

Assistant Coach

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Why Train with Our Coaches?

    
  • Certified and experienced professionals
  • Proven track record of developing rowers at all levels
  • Supportive and motivating coaching style
  • Committed to fostering a love for rowing

Ready to Row with Us?

Join our community and train with some of the best coaches in the sport! Whether you’re a beginner or a experienced competitor, our coaches are all here to help you feel confident on the water!
Register today!

We respectfully acknowledge that we are on Treaty 6 territory, the traditional lands of the Cree, Dene, Blackfoot, Iroquois, Ojibway/ Saulteaux/ Anishinaabe, Inuit, and Nakota Sioux, as well as home to the Métis Settlements and Métis Nation of Alberta (Regions 2, 3, and 4) within the Northwest Métis Homeland.

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We respectfully acknowledge that we are on Treaty 6 territory, the traditional lands of the Cree, Dene, Blackfoot, Iroquois, Ojibway/ Saulteaux/ Anishinaabe, Inuit, and Nakota Sioux, as well as home to the Métis Settlements and Métis Nation of Alberta (Regions 2, 3, and 4) within the Northwest Métis Homeland.

Hannah Smith

Club Manager & Coach

As the Club Manager and a Coach at ERC, Hannah oversees day-to-day club operations and programming, ensuring the best experience for everyone who comes to the ERC. Hannah is a process-oriented coach with two years of rowing coaching experience, an RCA-LTR certification, and is currently completing her RCA-Coach training alongside a BKin in Sport Performance and Injury Management (2025). She focusses on the steps athletes take rather than just the outcome, believing that process-based goals create a more motivated mindset. Hannah has contributed to a welcoming environment at the ERCm and she’s excited to continue introducing more people to the sport of rowing.

Tim Fleming

ERC Senior Program Coach

Tim works with athletes competing on the Senior Team, whether they are new to rowing or experienced. With over 10 years of coaching experience — starting in Edmonton in the fall of 2005 — he has worked with athletes at both the club and national levels. Tim takes a developmental and performance-focused approach, fostering a positive team environment where athletes push themselves and each other. A former crew mate who began his Masters at the University of Alberta first asked Tim to assist with coaching, and since then, working with athletes and building camaraderie with fellow coaches and administrators has kept him engaged over many years.

Lauren Thoman

ERC Sport Coach

Lauren oversees and coaches all non-competitive 18+ athletes, creating a program that is welcoming to new members and challenging for those wanting a taste of competition. Now in her second year of coaching, Lauren takes a holistic approach that blends positivity, purpose, and progress. She supports athletes at every stage, celebrating small wins while chasing big goals. Lauren became a coach to help others unlock their full potential, share my love of the outdoors, and experience the drive and transformation that make coaching so rewarding.

Scott Brown

ERC Juniors Coach

Scott oversees and coaches all levels of junior rowers, from novices to those competing at National Championships. With five years of coaching experience in Vancouver and Edmonton, he is an RCA-LTR Coach, RCA-Coach, and currently completing a BKin in Sport Performance. Scott pushes his athletes to achieve goals they once thought unattainable, using rowing as a vehicle to teach the life lessons he was taught through sport. The rowing community relies on members giving back, and Scott strive to exemplify the coaches and role models who inspired him as a junior. Scott creates a positive environment where athletes grow both on and off the water.

Mia Lastovka

Sport Coach Assistant

As a Sport Coach Assistant, Mia collaborates with other coaches to provide technical advice and guide Sport members through workouts. She is an empowerment-based coach, certified with RCA-LTR and currently completing RCA-Coach training. Now in her fourth year of coaching at ERC, her number one priority is making rowing enjoyable for all ERC members. Mia strives to foster a lifelong passion for athleticism in those she coaches, while sharing her love of rowing and technical instruction. Coming from a background where results-driven athletics often left her feeling discouraged, it’s Mia’s goal to create a space where success is defined individually, and every athlete can thrive in a way that is meaningful to them.

Sophie Leitch

Learn to Row Coach

As an LTR coach with three years of experience and RCA-LTR certification, Sophie welcomes new athletes to the sport and supports the development of their on-water and dry-land skills. Her coaching is athlete-driven, with a priority on showing as many people as possible that sport at any level can be incredibly impactful — helping individuals connect with themselves, build healthy habits, and find community. Rowing gave Sophie a sense of strength and belonging after serious health struggles, and she believe the boathouse can be a transformative space for everyone, no matter their goals.

Carson Roberts

Learn to Row Coach

As a Learn to Row Coach, Carson introduces new athletes to the sport of rowing and helps them develop and grow their skills, both on and off the water. He holds an RCA-LTR certification and has three years of rowing coaching experience. Carson believes rowing is a sport for everyone and aspires to bring out the best in each of his athletes while building a lasting commitment to the sport. He is built for competition, and rowing certainly feeds that drive — but it’s also a vibrant and enjoyable community that Carson excited to share with as many new athletes as possible.

Walter Martindale

Coach Emeritus

At the 2024 Annual General Meeting of the Edmonton Rowing Club, Walter Martindale was bestowed with the title Coach Emeritus.  

Walter started his rowing career at the University of British Columbia where he also earned a  Masters of Physical Education. Shortly after, he commenced his coaching career  which took him across Canada including the Calgary Rowing Club, UBC and as the Elite Coach for the Saskatchewan Rowing Association. He coached many winning crews to Henley, the Canadian Championships and Canada Summer Games.  

From 1997 to 2000, Walter coached in New Zealand providing coaching development, evaluation also with assisting with selection of the NZ Junior and Senior National Teams. Iin 2000, Walter returned to Canada as the Provincial Development Coach for Alberta Rowing before returning to New Zealand for another 4 year stint with the National team and Director of Rowing with St. Andrew’s College in Christchurch.    

In 2018, Walter returned to Alberta as the Head Coach of the Edmonton Rowing Club as well as providing coaching to the  University of Alberta Rowing Team.   

As Coach Emeritus, he will continue to be involved with the ERC, helping mentor athletes and coaches. The ERC honors and congratulates the long career of Walter Martindale and the legacy that will not be forgotten.  

Selah Zelyck

Casual Summer Assistant Coach

Selah assists program coaches in running Learn to Row, Intro to Rowing, and Summer Camps, along with supporting standard ERC programming as needed in collaboration with other staff. She holds an RCA-LTR Coach certification and has one year of coaching experience. Selah aims to foster an enjoyable and long-term connection for her athletes. Training as a junior athlete at ERC over the past few years, Selah was inspired by an incredible group of coaches and staff, and she’s excited to share the unique rowing experience that has become such a big part of her life.

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