The Launch: Rowing stories by custom rowing clothing founder, Joline Esparza and the JL Team

Women's History Month Athlete Spotlight: Ulyssa Mata

In honor of Women’s History Month, we are excited to highlight Ulyssa Mata, a Team JL ambassador whose journey in rowing is deeply rooted in representation, perseverance, and advocacy. Inspired by Olympic rower Kenia Lechuga, Ulyssa set out to break barriers and create space for more diversity in the sport she loves. Although she has faced challenges and moments of doubt, Ulyssa continues to push forward to be the best version of herself. In this Q&A, Ulyssa shares how rowing has shaped her, the athletes who inspire her, and why representation in sports matters.

March 10, 2025 — Kristin Foster

Tags: Ambassador Ambassador Program Athlete Spotlight Crew Female Athletes Female Rowers JL Athletics JL Racing JL Rowing National Girls And Women In Sports Day Purdue Purdue Crew Row Rowers Rowing Rowing Community Rowing Kit Team JL Team JL 2025 Women Athletes Women In Sports Women Rowers Women's History Month

Women's History Month Athlete Spotlight: Harper Schrager

In celebration of Women's History Month, we are thrilled to spotlight Harper Schrager, a Team JL ambassador and a passionate advocate for rowing. Harper's journey into this sport began at Camp Randall in 8th grade, where she discovered a profound sense of community that ignited her passion for the sport. Through rowing, Harper not only found a supportive community but also embraced a newfound appreciation for her body's capabilities both on and off the water. We sat down with Harper to learn how rowing empowers women, the female athletes who inspire her, and what Women's History Month means to her as an athlete.

March 03, 2025 — Kristin Foster

Tags: Ambassador Ambassador Program Athlete Spotlight Crew Crew Team Custom Rowing Kit Female Athletes Female Rowers JL Racing JL Rowing JLRowing National Girls and Women in Sports Day Row Rowers Rowing Rowing Clothes Rowing Club Rowing Community Rowing Team Rowing Unisuit Team JL Team JL 2025 Team JL Spotlight Women Athletes Women in Sports Women Rowers Women's History Month

Black History Month 2025 Pre-Order Store

Black History Month is an annual celebration honoring the achievements and contributions of African Americans throughout U.S. history. This February, we are proud to announce a special collaboration with Team JL Ambassador, Maurice Scott. Join us in celebrating diversity and excellence in our sport with these exclusive performance apparel designs. Together, let's commemorate and amplify the voices that have shaped our history and continue to inspire us today.

February 05, 2025 — Kristin Foster

Tags: AIO Ambassador Ambassador Program Athlete Spotlight Black History Month Crew DEI Diversity Donation Link High Quality Custom Gear Inclusion JL Racing JL Rowing JLRowing Row Rowers Rowing Rowing AIO Rowing Clothes Rowing Club Rowing Community Rowing Gear Rowing Kit Rowing Uni Rowing Unisuit Team JL Team JL 2025

National Girls and Women in Sports Day 2025

We're celebrating the 39th annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day, a day that honors not just the champions and record-breakers, but also the grassroots efforts of communities, schools, and organizations that ensure sports are accessible for all girls and women. We’re proud to amplify the voices of women athletes, and celebrate the boundless opportunities that sports create. Why do sports matter? Hear directly from some of The Boat Race athletes who inspire us to dream big and break boundaries.

February 03, 2025 — Kristin Foster

Tags: AIO Athlete Spotlight Cambridge University Boat Club CHANEL J12 Boat Race Collegiate Rowing Crew Crew Team CUBC Custom Rowing Kit DEI Female Athletes Female Rowers Inclusion JL Racing JL Rowing JLRowing National Girls and Women in Sports Day NGWSD OUBC Oxford University Boat Club Partnership Regatta River Thames Row Rowers Rowing Rowing AIO Rowing Club Rowing Community Rowing Kit Rowing Team Team Spotlight The Boat Race Unisuit United Kingdom Rowing Women Athletes Women in Sports Women Rowers Women's History Month

“The Boat Race is older than New Zealand as a country” – a Kiwi in Oxford

Tom Mackintosh, the Oxford University Boat Club President for 2025, is a rarity. A President who has never rowed a Boat Race; a man who took Olympic gold in the eight, then moved into the single and won World Championship bronze in the slowest and loneliest of boats. Not many people have sat on an Olympic start line in the biggest and smallest boats. Tom was Olympic champion in the New Zealand eight in Tokyo 2020, before taking some time away from rowing. He returned in the single scull, won World Championship bronze in 2023, and finished fifth in Paris 2024. This unique blend of experiences, Tom believes, sets him up well to lead the athletes at Oxford.

January 08, 2025 — Kristin Foster

Tags: Athlete Spotlight CHANEL CHANEL J12 Boat Race Crew Crew Team JL Racing JL Rowing JLRowing Olympics Oxford University Boat Club Partnership Regatta River Thames Row Rowers Rowing Rowing Club Rowing Community Rowing Team The Boat Race Tokyo Olympics UK Rowing United Kingdom Rowing

Athlete Spotlight: Isabella Pearson

Meet Isabella, a sophomore and student-athlete at Purdue, who balances a busy academic schedule with her love for rowing, dance, and soccer. Growing up as a competitive gymnast, she never anticipated rowing to become such an integral part of her life. In fact, she was initially reluctant to trade her sparkly leotards for the waters of an estuary, but rowing quickly won her over with its technical demands and the strong sense of teamwork she found on the water. Isabella sat down with JL to share her journey into rowing, her tips for novice rowers, race day rituals, and the role models who inspire her both on and off the water.

October 28, 2024 — Kristin Foster

Tags: AIO Athlete Spotlight Collegiate Rowing Coxing Coxswain Crew Crew Team Custom Rowing Kit Female Athletes Female Rowers JL Racing JL Rowing JLRowing Purdue Purdue Crew Row Rowers Rowing Rowing AIO Rowing Club Rowing Community Rowing Kit Rowing Team Rowing Uni Rowing Unisuit Team Spotlight Women Athletes Women in Sports Women Rowers

Two Passions on a Single: Charlie, the Rowing Chestnut

I have some rather niche passions. The first one might not seem so niche to you, since you are currently reading “The Launch” a rowing blog made by a rowing gear company, but for many, it seems quite odd to have a wake up before 5 am to go sit on a tippy boat, narrower than your butt, to move backwards on a river…My second passion is the Castanea dentata tree (I told you it was rather niche…), the American Chestnut tree!

February 08, 2024 — Kristin Foster

Tags: Ambassador Athlete Spotlight Crew Head of the Charles HOCR JL Racing JL Rowing JLRowing Masters Rowing Regatta Row Rowers Rowing Rowing Community Team JL Team JL 2024 Team JL Spotlight

Athlete Spotlight: Nikki Hallahan

Meet Nikki Hallahan, a freshman on the rowing team at Purdue University. Nikki started rowing in high school, and hasn't looked back! Her favorite pre-practice snack is a protein shake she makes in her dorm room with protein powder, almond milk, vitamins/supplements, and yogurt. Her favorite seat is bow seat in a 4x, and she is also bisweptual when rowing sweep! Read about how special rowing is to her, what her goals are for the season, and what she recommends to high schoolers considering rowing in college.

February 20, 2023 — Kristin Foster

Tags: Athlete Spotlight Concept2 Crew Custom Custom Rowing Kit Erg Erging Female Athletes Female Rowers High Quality Custom Gear Indoor Rowing JL Racing JL Rowing JLRowing Purdue Purdue Crew Row Rowers Rowing Rowing Community Women Athletes Women in Sports Women Rowers

~The Launch~