Light Blues Programme
Key Dates:
Camp 1 – Sunday 17th May 2026, 7am – 12pm
Camp 2 – Sunday 14th June 2026, 7am – 12pm
Camp 3 – Sunday 26th July 2026, 7am – 12pm
Camp 4 – Sunday 9th August 2026, 7am – 12pm
Squad training – location TBC 1st – 17th September (please note this will be discussed with your school coaches to minimise disruption)
Australia trip – 18th – 22nd September
Further information will be provided upon selection into the Light Blues programme.
The Light Blues are heading to Australia!
The Light Blues Programme is a development programme for rowers and coxswains in Year 12 of school and high performing Year 11 in the Auckland region. This programme will operate like a “rep-team”, so we are looking for athletes who are wanting to progress their development and have future aspirations of making Auckland regional or New Zealand representative teams. There will be a specific focus on small boat skills which will be essential for higher representative selection.
This programme will also provide insight into what NZ rep campaign entails, introduction into strength and conditioning plus learn basic fundamental skills that will be useful as they progress in their rowing journey, coxswain development, as well as insight and tools on how to navigate life as a high performance athlete.
Another purpose of this programme is to select a squad to travel to Australia and race against Australia’s best at the Queensland State Schools Championship Regatta in late September 2026.
The maximum cost for this programme will be $350, pending funding from Rowing NZ and other sources – the aim is to make the athlete cost as low as possible. This contributes towards coaching, plant use, strength & conditioning and gear. There will be an additional cost for athletes selected to represent Auckland at the Queensland State Schools Championship Regatta in September 2026.