Mile High Rowing Club was founded by coaches Grace Malacrida and Kati O’Hara, along with the help of parent volunteers, at Cherry Creek Reservoir on February 20, 2009. Their goal was to create a team dedicated to the development of young athletes and expand rowing in Colorado. At the time, there was not an independent youth rowing team in the Denver area; however, there was a group of determined athletes who set the standard for Mile High’s legacy of success. In their first year of competition, Mile High qualified a junior women’s 8+ for US Rowing’s Youth National Championships. For every following year, MHRC has qualified boats for US Rowing’s Youth National Championships in all boat classes, with several podium appearances.

Colorado Junior Crew was established in 2006 at the Boulder Reservoir. CJC has a history of success and several appearances at US Rowing Youth Nationals in different boat classes in both junior women’s and men’s events.

MHRC and CJC always had a close relationship, as most rowing clubs in close proximity do, knowing that together they could support a larger rowing community. Over the years the teams have exchanged coaches, Grace Malacrida was Head Coach at CJC before founding MHRC and Lisa Dirth coached for CJC before joining MHRC. The teams had shared trailers to regattas, tents at Nationals, and Colorado fellowship at any opportunity. In July 2024 Mile High Rowing Club and Colorado Junior Crew combined teams to form Mile High Rowing Colorado to use the strengths of both teams to expand rowing throughout Colorado and create more opportunities for everyone to find their place on the water.

Rowing in Colorado is a unique experience. But in spite of our limited time on the water due to Colorado’s variable seasons and unpredictable weather, our hard work continues to pay off and keeps us competitive with teams across the United States. Our humble beginnings with only a handful of old rowing shells on the Cherry Creek Reservoir and the Boulder Reservoir remind us that our community is what sustains us. Our combined hard work and sense of community has allowed the team to evolve and grow to have a fleet of shells and training equipment in two locations that can accommodate our unique position as a rowing team that spans that state of Colorado.

We are sustained by the dedication of our athletes, coaches, and parent volunteers.