XULA Rowing recently returned from an elite preseason training camp, one that has allowed the Gold to hone their skills at a major level. 

In early August, the team visited Vermont and the Craftsbury Outdoor Center for a sculling camp that featured top-level coaches, as well as dozens of athletes from across the country. 

XULA athletes, who entered the camp on the back of winning the 2026 River Bowl Classic,  attended the camp on 100% scholarships, meaning they could grow as athletes without having to fret over financing. 

Coaches and staff at Craftbury are a who's who of Olympic and collegiate rowing, among them: 

• XULA head coach Tamara Clayton
• Erika Sloan, men's lightweight coach at MIT
• Kevin MacDermott, who has coached Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, to back-to-back IRA D3 national championships
• Lindsay Meyer, who competed in the 2008 Olympic Women's Quadruple Sculls, was a Junior and U23 World Championships medalist in the single and quadruple sculls and a silver medalist in women's double and quadruple sculls at the 2015 Pan American Games, and was part of the Stanford NCAA Champions team in 2009
• Troy Howell, the longest-tenured coach at Craftsbury (since 2007)
• Flo Elkins, a certified PT and wellness strategist who coaches middle school girls in Dallas. 
• Mesha Jefferson, a University of Texas Rowing alum
• Julia Veal, an intern at Craftsbury who is also an undergrad at Albany. 
• Emma Paxton, a Craftsbury intern, Rutgers Rowing alum, PNRA/Mercer Novice Girls Head Coach and Summer Camp Coordinator
• Liz Keglor, yoga instructor
• Megan Chacosky, a sports dietitian and performance chef
• Sara Gronewold, a Boston University alum, who won a national championship in 1992 and a Worlds gold medal with Team USA in 1999
• Ciara O'Sullivan, Fleet Manager and Boston University Open-weight Women's assistant coach

Beyond the XULA contingent, athletes from New York, Washington, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Michigan, France, Illinois, Vermont, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Oregon, Texas, New Jersey, Virginia, and Mississippi were all represented.

Athletes went through three practices per day and were fed onsite, but the camp also afforded the XULA team opportunities for mountain biking, kayaking, orienteering, badminton, trail running, and swimming.

On the final day, XULA raced in the Head of the Hosmer, a 2,800-meter singles race.