Burton Beach Rowing Club is dedicated to developing athletes of all ages with character, integrity, and grace. Our primary goal is to encourage community engagement, inspire passion, and foster a drive for excellence both on and off the water. Our team is athlete centered to provide an experience where hard work and positive attitudes are celebrated. We promote physical and mental well-being, leadership skills and camaraderie in a competitive yet fun environment.

Our Story

In January 2018, BBRC formed to fulfill the need for a highly competitive Junior rowing program on Vashon Island, Washington. Within a few weeks the club had 6 boats, 10 rowers, a contract with a world-class coach. Thanks to the generous support of Camp Burton, we also had a launch site and a home for our boathouse. Our inaugural season was a smashing success, bringing home multiple medals from every regatta in which we participated. Two of our rowers qualified for the US Rowing Youth National Championships, where BBRC had the distinction of being the youngest club out of nearly 150 clubs from across the country. One of our rowers made it all the way to the Junior World Championships on the US National Team. 

Since then, the team continues to grow each year and our rowers have medaled in national and international Regattas.

Coach Richard Parr

Richard Parr is a world-class coach with more than 30 years experience working with elite athletes around the world. His former athletes have more than 250 medals from the Olympics, World Championships and World Cups. At least one athlete at every club he has coached has become an Olympic medalist or World Champion. Richard builds champions by instilling skills for success both on and off the water: hard work, integrity, kindness, and persistence.