Ive used the rowing machine at the gym a couple of times. Can I go straight to the varsity team?
That will all depend on your form. One thing that people often overlook is that rowing on a rowing machine is different than rowing on the water. In 9 out of 10 situations, people who taught themselves how to row on a rowing machine without any coaching or reading develop inefficient and sometimes injurious technique. Nonetheless, the coaches will spend some extra time with you to determine your placement. After all, you could be a natural!