The world of rowing is constantly flowing and evolving with HUDSON™ and its team at the heart of the action. Stay in the current with articles and events straight from the SHARK's mouth, or explore more about HUDSON and our history in the industry.

  • History -- The evolution of HUDSON. How we went from wooden singles to becoming a world leading composite boat builder.
  • Success -- The proof is in the results. See how HUDSON boats have performed at the highest level of the sport.
  • Experience - Performance partners share their experiences with HUDSON
  • Events -- HUDSON is present at most of the world's top rowing events. Explore a calendar of upcoming events.

In Memoriam - Jon Beare, HUDSON Co-Owner and North American Sales Manager

Jon Bear & Craig McAllister Rowing LM2-

HUDSON mourns the loss of an irreplaceable member of our company and community. It is with a heavy heart we share the devastating news of the passing of Jon Beare, HUDSON Co-Owner and North American Sales Manager, who left us far too soon.

Jon left a significant impression on the rowing world throughout his career, both on and off the water. He represented Canada in the LM4- over three successive Olympic campaigns, culminating with a Bronze medal in 2008. Jon also served as Athlete Director on the RCA Board of Directors after formally retiring from competition. As a key member of the HUDSON management team Jon had a profound influence on the success of the company, managing sales and building the SHARK brand.

"We had deep seated respect for each other, and the way we thought, communicated, and lived private lives made our career partnership seamless and effortless. We had similar vision, work ethic, competitive drive, attention to detail, and pragmatic approach. A standout quality of Jon's was his professional unwavering moral compass and the line in the sand he drew between right and wrong. As the North American Sales Manager and valued partner in the ownership group at HUDSON, Jon kept us honest and in the lane, doing the ‘right’ thing as a company, presenting a strategy, project, or idea only after seeking peer review, opinion, and consensus,” said HUDSON Commercial Manager Craig McAllister.

Bronze Medalists“Jon had a prolific international rowing career that was headlined by racing at three consecutive Olympic Games representing Canada in the LM4-, culminating in 2008 with a Bronze medal in Beijing. His versatility and talent was showcased by winning the Open Men’s Championship 1 x at Head of the Charles Regatta. It was a Hall of Fame rowing career that Jon rarely spoke about during his HUDSON career, and he would politely deflect recognition and accolades when I or others would publicly bring attention to his remarkable achievements.”

McAllister and Beare were friends, teammates and co-workers for over 30 years, dating back to their first row together at Western University. 

“Our 30 year friendship began at Western University and was forged in 1995 racing together in the LM2-, representing Canada at the World Championships in Tampere, Finland. Over the past 17 years working together, we built the HUDSON SHARK brand and grew global sales, constantly evolving the front side of the company. After reflecting on our body of work together, it would not be a stretch to say Jon is my soul brother and brother in arms. Vale Jon, until we meet again."

HUDSON Team, Head of the Charles 2022

While rowing was a big part of Jon’s life, his role as husband and father were most important. Our hearts are with his wife Danielle, and their two children Mya and Rhys. 

Danielle said it best - “A beautiful human inside and out. His calm, determination, and empathy gave us an amazing life. Although we felt the universe was unfair with his diagnosis, he kept us strong as we caught ourselves saying many times that we were so lucky to have this life. Jon was an amazing Dad, Husband and friend. His love has filled us for a lifetime.”

For Jon, and his beautiful life.

https://www.earthsoption.com/obituaries/Jonathan-Barrington-BEARE?obId=29410975

SHARKS Attack 2023 NCAA Championships

Programs racing HUDSON have won 8 of the past 13 NCAA Division I Team Championships.

2023 NCAA Team Champions

Worcester, MA - SHARKS earned multiple titles on the Cooper River at the 2023 NCAA Championships. Stanford University claimed the Division I Team title with their outstanding performances winning the 1st Varsity 8+ and 2nd Varsity 8+, after finishing runner-up in both 2021 and 2022. Wellesley College claimed their 3rd NCAA DIII Team Championship.

HUDSON programs have regularly reached the podium at the NCAA Championships. Over the past 13 events, programs that have raced in SHARKS have claimed 8 team titles across 4 different teams; include University of Virginia (2010, 2012), the Ohio State University (2013, 2014, 2015), University of Texas (2021, 2022) and now Stanford University (2023). 

Craig McAllister, HUDSON Commercial Manager, has been focused on this market years before the first title, witnessing the impressive growth of women’s collegiate rowing. “The NCAA D1 Championship is second only behind the Senior World Championships in terms of high performance Women’s rowing and the 2023 Team Champions from Stanford University made it 8 team champions with 5 runner-ups from the past 13 events, across 5 different programs racing SHARKS,” McAllister said. “It’s been exciting to support a growing number of programs choosing HUDSON at this highly competitive, elite level of competition.”

Stanford University Head Coach Derek Byrnes credits their recent success to the team’s exceptional ability to recognize and harness the power of cohesion.

“The group understands the importance of holding one another to a high standard while also displaying unwavering support,” said Byrnes. “They relentlessly pursue success, setting high goals for themselves and each other and courageously attacking them, while also understanding the importance of having fun, trusting the process, and not taking themselves too seriously.”

University of Pennsylvania is one of the recent A-Final programs to race SHARKS at the NCAA’s. 2023 marks their second straight appearance at the competition, finishing 6th overall improving on their 11th place finish from 2022. 

“Every NCAA regatta is distinct and this one was particularly special for us because it was so close to home!” said University of Pennsylvania Head Coach Wesley Ng. “Our training was very similar to how we practice during the regular season and it was very gratifying to see that our approach to championship rowing can yield great improvements.” 

Additionally, the SHARKS have seen success at the Division III championships having won 7 of 13 team titles at the Division III level with Bates College and Wellesley College. Mercyhurst University, another HUDSON program, also won the Division II title in 2022. 

Tufts University had their highest program finish (4th) and Varsity 8+ performance (4th) at this year’s championship. Tufts University Head Coach Noel Warner believes that this performance was fueled by the entire 40+ person group, not just those on the course. 

“Back in September we talked about the opportunity each year brings— how can we create a great team?  What are the core elements:  bring energy to every moment of practice, be willing to take chances and to fail, treat each other with compassion, embrace competition as a gift” said Tufts University Head Coach Noel Warner. “The team has been building this over many years, starting way back before the pandemic, so it’s delightful to feel that energy really flowing in the group now.”

University of Virginia Head Coach Kevin Sauer was one of the first HUDSON programs dating back to 2008. The feedback he received from his athletes was positive and after choosing to race a demo boat and winning, he never looked back. 

“The customer service, willingness to listen and adapt to ideas that I have had about how to improve the product and great people to work with has kept me as a loyal consumer,” said Sauer. 

 

For more information on SHARK racing shells, please visit www.hudsonboatworks.com or contact your local HUDSON representative. 

 

#beashark

 

D1 POINTS TROPHY (22 programs)

Top half (11) programs that race HUDSON > 50% 

1. Stanford

4. Texas

6. Pennsylvania

9. SMU

10. Virginia

11. Michigan

 

D1 EVENTS 

Varsity 8 - A Final

1. Stanford (S8.21)

4. Pennsylvania (U8.21)

5. Texas (U8.21)

 

Second Varsity 8 - A Final

1. Stanford (S8.21)

6. Texas (S8.21)

 

Varsity 4 - A Final

1. Texas (U5.21)

5. Virginia (U5.21)

6. Princeton (U.21)

 

D3 POINTS TROPHY (8 programs)

1. Wellesley 

3. Bates

4. Tufts

 

D3 EVENTS

Varsity 8 - A Final 

1. Wellesley (U8.21)

4. Tufts (U8.21)

6. Bates (S8.21)

 

Second Varsity 8 - A Final

1. Bates (U8.21)

2. Wellesley (U8.21)

4. Tufts (U8.21)



 

SHARKS top of the class in ANZ school championship season.

2022 Aon Maadi Cup Champions - Hamilton College

May 3rd, 2022 - The 2022 school championship racing season in Australia and New Zealand brought many program milestones and athlete accolades. SHARKS showed strength in numbers, placing many programs onto the podium with a few historical results.

New Zealand – Aon Maadi Cup

Event

Finish

Program Name

Boat

Girls U17 4x+ 

1st 

Wakatipu

S5.21

Boys U18 4x+

1st 

St. Paul’s

S5.41

Boys U18 2-

1st 

Mount Albert

S2.31

Boys U18 4+

Springbok Shield

1st

Mount Albert

S5.31

Girls U17 2x

1st 

St. Andrew’s

S2.32

Girls U18 4x+

3rd 

Wakatipu

S5.21

Boys U17 8+

2nd 

Hamilton

U8.21

Boys U18 8+ Maadi Cup

1st

Hamilton

U8.21

 

2022 marks the 15th year that HUDSON has served as a regular supplier of boats to the region. In the past 14 Aon Maadi Cup Regattas, 8 Maadi Cups and 8 Springbok Shields have been won in a HUDSON. Hamilton claimed the Maadi Cup (8+) for the 11th time in program history this year in a time of 6:04.01, 3.21 seconds over 2nd place Canterbury. Mount Albert made program history winning the Springbok Shield (4+) for the first time at this event with a time of 6:38.63.

 

Full results from the 2022 Aon Maadi Cup can be found here.

 

2022 Australian Nationals 

Event

Finish

Program Name

Location

Boat

School Boy 8+

2nd 

Scotch College

Melbourne

U8.32

 

3rd

Shore School

Sydney

U8.32

 

5th 

St. Kevin’s College

Melbourne

U8.32

School Boy 1x

2nd

Nudgee College 

Brisbane

U1.42+

 

Victoria – APS Head of the River (VIC State Champs)

Event

Finish

Program Name

Location

Boat

School Boy Open 1st 8+

1st

Scotch College*

Melbourne

U8.32

 

3rd 

St. Kevin’s College*

Melbourne

U8.32

School Boy Open 1st 4+/x

3rd 

Brighton Grammar

Melbourne

S5.31

 

New South Wales – AAGS Head of the River (NSW State Champs)

Event

Finish

Program Name

Location

Boat

School Boy Open 1st 8+ 

2nd 

Shore School*

Sydney

U8.32

 

5th 

Scots College*

Sydney

U8.32

School Boy Open 1st 4+

1st

Shore School

Sydney

S5.31

 

Queensland – GPS Head of the River (QLD State Champs)

Event

Finish

Program Name

Location

Boat

School Boy Open 1st 8+

2nd 

Southport School

Gold Coast

U8.21

 

3rd 

Nudgee College*

Brisbane

U8.32


 

*SHARKS claimed FIVE out of NINE podium finishes, racing the U8.32 in three (VIC, NSW, QLD), School Boys Head of the River.

 

For more information about HUDSON, please visit www.hudsonboatworks.com and/or contact your local sales representative.

 

#beashark


 

California Rowing Club selects HUDSON as official performance partner

 

DECEMBER 20TH, 2021 – California Rowing Club (CRC) has selected HUDSON Boat Works as their official performance partner, effective December 1st, 2021.

Working in collaboration with CRC coaches Mike Teti and Skip Kielt, HUDSON will provide training equipment to the center in Oakland, CA as well as racing equipment for domestic and international competition.

“Our relationship with HUDSON was built on trust… but ultimately our decision to row a USP was based on performance” said CRC Coach Skip Kielt.  “CRC athletes will have access to the best equipment to race in for both domestic and international competition with HUDSON.”

According to a press-release published by CRC in October, “California Rowing Club is very excited to embrace the new athlete-focused model for USRowing. Qualified athletes who choose to train at the CRC will not only find exceptional coaching talent and the ability to train year-round, but also world class training equipment, physical therapy, and boathouse facilities.”

SHARK team athlete Ben Davison, is one of the athletes currently training at CRC. “I can’t thank HUDSON enough for their support of me and my teammates at CRC,” said Davison. “Their world-class equipment and service allow me to pursue my goal of competing at the highest level.” Most recently, Davison won the Men’s Champ 1x in a HUDSON USP at the 2021 Head of the Charles Regatta®.

Athletes that are invited to train at the California Rowing Club located in the Ebright Boathouse at the T.Gary Rogers Rowing Center in Oakland, CA will be under the direction of long-time Olympic and National Team Coach Mike Teti, along with Coach Skip Kielt.

“As alumni of the US National Team, Matt [Muffelman] and I are excited to provide the championship levels of support and service to the next generation of U.S. athletes at the California Rowing Club,” former Olympic Rower and HUDSON Sales Representative Dan Walsh said. “Mike's coaching has helped US crews succeed at the highest levels of competition, nationally and internationally. The last time the United States won a gold medal in the Men’s 8+ at the Olympic Games was in 2004 while rowing a HUDSON, coached by Teti.”

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For more information on the California Rowing Center, please visit:

https://californiarowingclub.squarespace.com/.

For more information on HUDSON Boat works and the USP models, please visit:

www.hudsonboatworks.com.