The Asheville Youth Rowing Association (AYRA) was founded in 2008 and has spent the next two decades introducing students in Western North Carolina to a sport that was once virtually unknown in the region. AYRA was built on a simple but powerful mission: to open doors for youth and create opportunities through the sport of rowing. This powerful mission is common core throughout so many other types of Peachjar organizations nationwide and in this article we are highlighting Asheville for their pursuit of that mission.
“Rowing as a sport was unknown at that time and remains relatively unknown,” shared Martha Williams, Director of AYRA. “Our mission has always been to open doors to the youth of this part of the state.”
Over the years, that mission has translated into real, life-changing outcomes. Since 2010, multiple AYRA athletes have been recruited to row at the collegiate level, helping students access higher education through financial support and the sport of rowing. “In the spring of 2025, we graduated 7 seniors and 6 of them were recruited to row in college,” said Williams.
Like many youth organizations, AYRA faced significant challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our coach designed Zoom workouts with the kids throughout the shutdown,” explained Williams. “When we were able to go back on the water, we had to re-rig our boats and row with masks. But we kept going.”
Just as the program began to rebuild, another major obstacle emerged. In September 2024, Hurricane Helene caused devastating damage across Asheville and surrounding areas. While AYRA’s boathouse remained intact, access to their training space was cut off for months.
“We placed our ergometers in a church 30 to 40 minutes away and stored our boats at a lake nearly an hour away,” Williams said. “Our kids traveled from Asheville to those locations to train. We did not miss a single race.”
Despite these challenges, AYRA achieved remarkable success. In 2025, four boats qualified for the USRowing Youth National Championships. An amazing feat under any circumstances, but especially given the obstacles they and their community faced.
“When kids go through what we did with COVID and then Helene, being able to row was a sense of normalcy. We all pulled together. The answer was always the same: Appalachian attitude and strong team spirit,” said Williams.
While competitive success is celebrated, AYRA’s true focus is on personal growth and community.
“In AYRA we value every kid, every boat, every success, not just the boats that win medals,” Williams shared. “The goal is for every kid to feel that rowing is making them a better person and helping them believe they can do more than they ever thought.”
That philosophy has helped create a program where teamwork, perseverance, and confidence take center stage and these are values that extend far beyond the water.
To continue growing their program and introducing more students to rowing, AYRA uses Peachjar to reach families directly.
“We use Peachjar to provide notice to the schools and their families of our upcoming learn-to-row classes in an attempt to increase our enrollment,” said Williams.
By leveraging Peachjar’s digital flyer distribution, AYRA is able to connect with parents who may not otherwise be aware of rowing opportunities in their area, helping expand access to a sport that continues to change lives.
From navigating a global pandemic to overcoming natural disaster, Asheville Youth Rowing Association has proven that resilience and community can carry a program through even the toughest conditions.
With an unwavering commitment to their mission and the support of tools like Peachjar, AYRA continues to grow and is empowering the next generation of athletes with confidence, opportunity, and their Appalachian attitude.