Me, Gayle and her friend meeting at the 2010 Crew Classic

So last week I get an e-mail from my sister saying that a coach wants my contact info for one of her coxswains.  Half a day later, Gayle from Indiana contacts me requesting some answers…

Gayle is about to write a blog for her school and thought that I would be a good person to interview.  I hope I didn’t disappoint!  I thought since she is going to put my answers in her blog that I should do the same.  So below are my answers to her 8 questions.

1) What is a favorite memory you have from coxing in college?

I have a lot of great memories from college.  I was fortunate enough to win a lot of races while at Washington.  The memories that stick out always include friendships, team bbq’s, practice, and traveling for races. The community that forms from being on a rowing team is special and teammates truly do become like family.

2) How do you keep your rowers motivated when you are down in a race?

Believing in each other and your race plan helps me stay motivated.  A good crew will feed off each other and back each other up when they are down to create momentum that will help them work back into the race.  As a coxswain, I have to create ‘buy in’ from all my rowers so the upcoming move brings us back and to the finish line first.  I do that by thinking of things that I would want to hear. That way I truly believe in what I’m saying and it comes out sincere and passionate.

3) What has been your favorite race (or races) thus far in your career?

It would have to be the 2008 Olympic race.  It’s not only because we won, but it was the way we started out the day, the feeling we had before the race, and especially during the starting sequence.  It all came together and it felt amazing.  Winning was definitely the bonus.  Overall for me it is my favorite race because of how we got to the line, the journey, that made it my favorite.

4) What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made on the water and how did you deal with it?

The biggest mistake I’ve made on the water was hit a buoy.  Not just any buoy, it was a huge buoy that we had to leave on our Starboard to make a turn during a head race on my home water.  Since I knew that course like the back of my hand and proceeded to take the turn like I have always done everyday in practice, I neglected to notice that the race officials decided to put a safety buoy before the channel marker that makes the real turn.  The buoy was right in my blind spot…right in front of me.  We still managed to win, but it was totally embarrassing.

5) What are your thoughts on the relationship between coxswains and their rowers?

My only thought is that they are my teammates and I would want to be considered the same by them.  They have a role in rowing and my role is to steer and organize.  Both roles need to be executed in order to make boats go fast.

6)  Any funny/goofy stories from coxing?

none come to mind, sorry.

7) What was your favorite part about the Beijing Olympics (doesn’t have to be rowing related!)

Other than the race, being able to watch other events and living at the Olympic Village was pretty fun.  The dinning hall was the happening spot to be and hang out, especially the McDonalds. There was always a line for egg McMuffins in the morning.

Any advice for collegiate athletes looking to continue on to the National Team?

The erg is your friend.  Having a good erg score will get you the invite to train with the National Team and continuing to make progress on the erg will give you more opportunity to be in fast boats and with fast partners.

Thanks Gayle for thinking of me and considering putting me in your blog.  Good Luck this racing season and I’ll put the link up as soon as you send it to me.  For all the rest of you trying to contact me the “Ask” button is a great way to connect with me.  One more day left in sunny San Diego before going back to Princeton which means racing season is about to begin.  I’ll try to put up some race tips soon.

Steer Straight!

mwhip+

Bouncing around Anchorage, AK!

Since my last post I, The 9th Seat, have been busy.  I started grad school at the University of Washington and am on my way in completing a masters degree in Intercollegiate Athletic Leadership.  Which is basically a mouth-full for sports administration for college sports.  This is the main reason for taking the summer off from the National Team since the IAL program smooshes one full year of curriculum into 8 weeks.  I’ve been in school this past 8 weeks from 9 am to 5 pm.  Talk about intense.  I’ve met really cool people and love my class size, all 27 of them.

All 27 of us in front of Gas Works/ Lake Union

We now move into our internship portion of the program and I’ve secured an internship with the Tyee Club.  I’m excited to learn about donor relations and hopefully use my skills that I’m going to learn to help me run my college rowing team one day!

The Poland World Championships are a week away and I’m going to be excited and sad to cheer on my team from Seattle, but a year off is what I needed to help me prepare for 2012.

Look for more coxswain specific content in the coming weeks and more news about upcoming clinics.

Steer Straight!

mwhip+