Practice Video

Post #39

Berkeley, CA - Often times in rowing, we use video review to learn how to improve technically. It's one thing to feel how you're rowing, but it's an entirely different thing to see what you're doing from the coach's view. There have been so many times that I've thought, "wow, I really feel like I'm (sitting up, getting my catches in well, rowing smoothly, etc.)" but then after seeing the video, realize that I am totally not. For me, video is one of the most valuable ways to make technical improvements. Here's some recent video of practice.

Over the weekend, the Wisconsin Lightweights were in the SF area to race Stanford and Princeton in their first spring race against other lightweight teams. It was great to see the Badgers again and cheer them on. The races were all dual style (the lake isn't wide enough for anything other than two boats across) so it made it especially exciting. Spring is here and I can't wait to get out there and race down the course myself!

Youth Bike Program

Post #38

San Francisco, California - While living and training in Berkeley for the month, I've gotten involved in a few community events. My most recent activity was a YMCA Youth Bike Program called Community Hubs. It was an open event for families in the community to come and learn bike safety, repair, etc. I spent my Saturday teaching kids how to ride bikes. It was so much fun and super rewarding. One of the girls came in with training wheels on and by the end of the day, she was confidently riding in circles around us! Here are a few photos. Tomorrow morning I'll be working with kids an elementary school in the city. More to come later!

Jason teaching one of the kids

Scenes from the Road: CA Highway 1 Edition

Post #37

Berkeley, California - I've borrowed ITA Athlete Torin's idea for the title of this post. More photos from the Olympic Training Center and the trip up the coast are below.

My time training in Chula Vista wrapped up with some good workouts and a few chances to race the men's pairs. I was training alongside the men's heavyweight team while I was there. Imagine seeing about twenty six-foot-seven heavyweight dudes and one little five-foot-six lightweight girl. It made for some funny remarks when people saw me standing with them during the land warm-up or at the team meetings. The coaches were kind enough to time me for the race pieces we did on the water and the team cheered me on even when I came across the finish line a full two minutes behind them. The good news is that the coaches convert the times into "perecentage of Gold Medal Standard" for each boat class, so I could at least compete with them on those numbers.

I'll be training in Oakland, California out of the Cal Berkeley boathouse for the next few weeks. Julie, the woman I'm training with, went to Cal and the coaches have been nothing but welcoming to me so far. We even get to meet up with the Cal women's team for weekly core classes on campus. I've never spent more than a day or two in the San Fran area so I'm excited to see more of it. About six friends from my high school rowing club live out here now so it's great to reconnect with them. I'm hoping they'll show me all the great spots!

View of the track and lake at the OTC

The 2012 Olympic Venues Map is up at the Athlete Center!

Elephant Seals

Surfers

My 2011 Tour de California traveling rig