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Princeton National Rowing Association (PNRA)

The mission of the Princeton National Rowing Association is to create a world class venue where rowers of all ages and talent levels can benefit from the sport of rowing. Through PNRA’s facilities and Mercer Lake, we will offer the best to our nation's elite and Olympic athletes, provide opportunities for area youth to excel in the sport of rowing and expand rowing in Mercer County through community based programs.

Description:
The objective of the PNRA is to uniquely combine youth and masters programs with elite rowing and international racing, allowing athletes of all skill levels and ages to train, improve and achieve together. PNRA oversees the Finn M.W. Caspersen Training Center, a facility which houses 4 high school rowing programs and the US National & Olympic Rowing Team athletes which train here. PNRA hosts events and regattas such as Summer Rowing Camps-Learn to Row & Pre-Collegiate Camps for high school athletes. This facility also hosts National Team & Olympic Trials events along with international regattas. All of these activities require operational support.

History:
The PNRA grew out of the success of two inter-national, world-class regattas which were held on Lake Mercer in 2001 & 2002. Building on the excitement and support from the community around the international athletes who came to compete, the steering committee from the regattas, organized itself to become the Princeton National Rowing Association (PNRA), a 501c3 organization. PNRA organized a boathouse to be constructed at Lake Mercer which provided a permanent home for the high school rowing programs of the Hun School, Peddie & Lawrenceville Schools. In the spring of 2002, the PNRA founded the Mercer Junior Rowing Club (MJRC), a public high school rowing program for the students of Mercer County.
In addition, boat bays were constructed for the US National team, which also trains at the facility and makes its home in Mercer County.
In the 2004 Olympic Games, the US Men's 8 won an Olympic Gold medal and the US Women's 8 won an Olympic Silver medal. Athletes from both crews trained at the facilities at Mercer Lake.
Mercer Lake has been the site of four United States Olympic Rowing Team Trials (1988, 1992, 2004 & 2008).

Contact people:

Kris Grudt, Executive Director, (phone), (email) Sean McCourt, Program Director, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (609) 799-9001

Address:

1 South Post Road, Suite 1 Princeton Junction, NJ 08550 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.rowpnra.org

Directions:

Route 1 South to Quaker Bridge Road East. Follow for 2 miles to Village Road (first set of lights, just over railroad tracks). Make left on Village Road. Follow past Mercer Oaks Golf course, to South Post Road (first set. . . (more)

Last updated on April 14, 2010