Inlet Rowing Club

Joined the Inlet Rowing Club (IRC) over a year now and it has been a blast participating in their scheduled rows (AM/PM) and meeting the exco members/crew! I first joined their learn to row programme which got me hooked, the coaches, support staff and other members made me feel welcomed and excited to row.Port Moody Inlet also offers amazing dry and wet weathered views you can't find anywhere else.

For a club that is supposedly small, friendly, and laid back, it is actually a misnomer and laughable to say the least. I enrolled in its Learn-to-Row programme, which is supposedly a recreational activity (read: non-competitive) for those with no rowing experience . However, it wasn’t the case as there were two specific regular/officer members who demeaned and made me uncomfortable while on the boat with them - all just because I made inadvertent simple errors on how I row (which didn’t even compromise safety. Not to mention that I was still learning). My mistakes could’ve been easily rectified by not yelling and scolding me like a 2 year old who stole treats from a candy store. Their attitudes towards me were very, very unnecessary as if it’s their way to say that you’re not welcome to the club. One of these “teammates” is a very uncompromising and uptight grumpy retiree, who would “grandpa-bully” you if you didn’t fit in his mould. The other one, a very high strung university professor, berates and yells at you as if you’re an elementary student (read: not university student). Like, seriously? I paid the club to experience rowing. I didn't demand or expect a red carpet treatment. However, I neither signed up to be doused with humiliation by these two condescending individuals.Kudos to the other members who are able to put up with these two. If you’re new, good luck to you when you get on the same boat with these duo. With them at the helm, you might as well forget about experiencing a friendly and fun activity and be ready to be hectored by drill sergeants. You’re better off to join a different club, or better yet, the military. Even trainers from more competitive organizations respect their members as opposed to these two bad apples.

I signed up for the learn to row program, found it extremely uncomfortable to be in the tippy rowing boats over very cold water and asked to either get a refund for the unused portion of my program or have the unused sessions credited to my wife. I was denied a refund or a transfer of the sessions numerous times, the club continuing to insist that I either forfeit the services I paid for or simply get over my fear of falling into frigid water on an extremely unstable feeling boat. This policy was not stated anywhere during the sign up period. Moreover my wife was prepared to pay more money for an annual membership if she could use my unused credit towards them, but the club has denied this too. Seems you can't win or negotiate - they take your money and dictate what happens.Beware, if you feel uncomfortable and don't wish to continue the only solution they will provide to you is to tell you that you should change how you feel.-------I am updating this review, as staff in this club have actually taken to stalking me on the internet and reporting my reviews for removal. This attempt at censoring a customer who is out hundreds of dollars due to a non-publicly disclosed policy goes beyond any negative customer service experience I've ever had. This is actually harassment from the club at this point.

Came back to rowing after many years away. The coaches were very helpful. The facility is amazing and it's such a beautiful area to be on the water.

This is a very friendly club. I've never had any problems with the people there and they have been very welcoming. In the summer, they will feed you after evening rows sometimes - it's great and is a wonderful opportunity to get to know the other members.

I joined Inlet Rowing Club this fall after completing the learn to row program over the summer. I had some previous rowing experience, although it had been many years since I had been on the water. I found the learn to row program a great re-intro to the sport. I then joined the recreational program. I have felt really welcomed by other members and have enjoyed getting to know everyone at weekly rows and during the club-hosted socials!