Maryellen Auger

When I was 48, I started rowing through a community program.  As a mother of two, I was looking for an enjoyable sport that would help me lose weight and get in great shape.

After joining a small group of 5 women who rowed on Hingham Bay in an old Hudson a few times a week, I eventually gained confidence as a rower. It wasn’t long before I’d lost weight and discovered the physical, mental, and spiritual benefits of rowing. I felt amazing, and was more relaxed and healthy than I had been in a long time. I found beauty and peace on the water and within myself, too.

Five years later, I joined the Locarno Rowing Club when I lived in Vancouver, B.C. There, I was introduced to the Echo shell and quickly discover the joy of open water rowing. The awe-inspiring scenery and marine life offshore took my rowing passion to another level. There is no describing the feeling of being in tune with the ocean, with your body, and with the rhythmic motion of an Echo Open Water Shell.  I had to have one!

Eventually, I moved to Marblehead, Massachusetts, purchased an Echo, and began rowing off Little Harbor Beach.

Completing my first Blackburn challenge – a 20-mile open water competition - was a huge personal accomplishment. I had achieved something I would not have considered possible. From that personal win came the vision, and my heart’s desire, to share my love of Echo Open Water Rowing with others. To do that, I founded Rowing For All LLC, and opened the first recreational and open-water-rowing center at Little Harbor Boathouse. Adding kayaking and standup paddling was a natural.

The benefits from rowing and paddling are many!  Feeling ageless, weightless, and stress-free to name a few.  In this digital age of constant texting and information rowing and paddling allows me to escape from the pace of life and endless external distractions and puts me in communion with nature, the water, and my own body.

I love rowing and paddling in new places from the Atlantic to Pacific coastlines - anywhere there's open water, I'm always thinking about Echo Rowing and Hovie Standup Paddling! My mission is to share that passion with you, to introduce you to our human-powered craft and to the benefits of rowing and paddling. I hope you enjoy visiting “Rowing & Paddling For All” -- showcasing two awesome sports for anyone who has access to the water.

"If I can do it, you can do it, too!" -Maryellen Auger

U.S. Rowing Level 1 Coaching Certification
CrossFit/Concept2 Rowing Coach Certification
M.A. Spiritual Psychology-University of Santa Monica
B.S.Recreation Resource Managment-University of Vermont