Champ of the Champ Single

Post # 154

Head of the Charles has wrapped up and it was a great weekend. Kate, my doubles partner, won the whole thing! Pretty impressive considering she is a lightweight racing in the heavyweight (open) event.

I came in sixth, which I'm really happy with. It was my first time racing the Championship Single and I'm so glad I got to see where I stack up against some of the fastest scullers in the world, heavyweight or lightweight. An opportunity like that doesn't come along too often. 

It was so cool that my parents, family friends, Amory, and her whole family were there to cheer me on. They stationed themselves in the middle of the last big turn, which turned out the be the perfect spot. It's towards the end of the race, when your lungs and legs are burning, and it's in a traditionally quiet spot in the race course (no bridges for people to stand on in that section). I loved getting some positive energy there! 

The Artemis girls raced on Sunday and did an awesome job navigating the tough course with 83 other youth eights. And it was their first time racing an 8 at the Charles! 

The racing was definitely the most fun part of the weekend, but the most unique experience was being the subject of a full moon photoshoot on Friday night. My buddies at Row2k invited me to come down and row towards the Boston skyline right as the moon came up. Pretty neat: 

Photo by Erik Dresser/Row2k

It was great to catch up with so many old friends and teammates at the Charles. My only complaint was that it all went by too fast. See you next year, HOCR!

Head of the Charles

Post # 153

This weekend is going to be awesome. It's Head of the Charles in Boston, which means I'll be home for four days soaking up the crisp fall weather, seeing friends from high school, college, and everywhere since, and having some fun racing on the Charles. This event is the largest two-day regatta in the world. So many people from the rowing world come to this race that there's not even enough time to see everyone you want to see.

I'm racing in the openweight event this year (listed as the Championship Single). I've raced the lightweight single for the past four or five years and this year, I signed up for the tougher event. I'm bow #8, racing on Saturday, October 19 at 4:41 pm. Here are the first five bow numbers in my event:

1. Gevvie Stone, raced in the single at the London Olympics. She's also a fellow Boston native, and trains on the Charles. She knows this tough course better than anyone.
2. Ursula Grobler, my teammate in the 2010 Worlds silver medal winning quad, now rows for South Africa
3. Emma Twigg, New Zealand's top single sculler for many years, won a silver medal in Korea in this event
4. Kate Bertko, my doubles partner!
5. Mirka Knapkova, 2011 World Champion and 2012 Olympic champion in this event

So, uh, that's who I get to chase down. Wish me luck and if you're there, come cheer! The Artemis girls are racing in the youth 8+ event (bow #58), along with 84 other crews at 1:22 pm on Sunday.

Here's where to find the live video and results.

Wine Country Classic

Post # 152

Petaluma, California - It's been a blast to start coaching at Artemis again. When I showed up a couple weeks ago, I came without telling the kids (on purpose) and I'm not sure who was more excited to see who: them or me. I brought my medal to pass around. I can't wait for the day when one of them brings me their Worlds medal. It's always a possibility and it can certainly start here, at a hardworking middle/high school club.

Moire wearing my Worlds medal

The kids raced at the Wine Country Classic up in Petaluma, CA today. In the first race of the day, they executed the race plan better than they had at races last year by being more consistent and aggressive. Then, every subsequent race went even better than that one. The day ended with the boys' 4+ winning gold! I'm proud of what these guys are accomplishing. Their excitement about the sport and desire to learn is so fun to be a part of. 

Bow 5 of the 8+

Gold medals !