I decided to take a fairly casual tone in this blog as opposed to writing press releases. You run the risk of offending people sometimes when you do that. Hope no one was too put off. The parental support of this endeavor (The World Championships) was incredible. I know how much it meant to the kids and coaches to have parents in the stands and at home going crazy cheering for our crews. I want to thank you on behalf of the whole US team for your commitment to support our efforts.
As we continue to develop the JNT experience the feedback of our the athletes' parents is crucial. If you have a comment you'd like to make I'd like to hear it. Not necessarily about the camp, the selection process or the coaching. Those comments need to be directed to the coaches. In my role as manager this year I'd like to see if I can make some notes for the next time that relate to communication with parents, before and during the event. This blog was one experiment, but there is plenty of room for more development.
nickhaley@comcast.net
Thanks for your support. Go USA!
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Sunday racing
We were so prepared for the storm of the century today that when we woke up to sunshine it was a nice surprise. Conditions on the course were windy, but even at the end of racing I think they remained fair and rowable. Good sign for next year's Olympics.
The boys' pair started the day. Once again, the guys got off the line a bit behind the leaders and once again they showed great maturity and composure as the established their rhythm and began hunting down the crews in front of them. The were consistent and aggressive to the line and took some great strokes. There was one crew that went faster than the US and there wasn't anything we could do about that. I asked Mike after the race if it was a good row and he said it was. I asked him if he was happy and he paused and then gave an uncharacteristic little smile that spoke volumes. "Eighth in the world... that's pretty good I guess..." And they can never take it away from you Michael.
At the 1500m mark of the girls' double race I almost stopped my bike and turned around. The quad was coming next and the race looked pretty set in stone. Boy, am I glad I stayed with it. Maria and Hannah cranked that last 500m like you wouldn't believe and all of a sudden they were going through crews like a hot knife through butter. It was a thrilling finish and a testament to Guenter's training program and the girls "never-say-die" attitude. It ain't over 'til it's over. This year's combined finishes of the girls scullers marks the best the US has ever done. Awesome job girls!
The boys' quad had a good race too, with the best finishing quarter the guys have produced. They did a great job in the middle of the race staying focused and lifting with the pack. They might not have had the speed required to medal this year, but they produced their best rowing in the final.
It bothers me that there are probably people thinking that the girls' bronze medal in the eight is kind of a consolation prize. I hope the girls don't feel that way. Look, that German eight was unbelievable. They finished the course- on a windy day - in 6:20. That is scary fast. They rowed through a Romanian eight that had nearly a full length advantage by the halfway mark. And the Romanian girls aren't exactly chopped liver. The German girls were in their own class today, as were the Italian guys yesterday. I didn't get a chance to watch our girls train and I don't know if they took their best strokes today. But they sure as heck deserve those medals. The French, the Italians, The Aussies, the BRITS-- none of these teams fielded girls' eights. Why? Because they knew we'd beat them. They know how hard the US girls train and they know how good our coaches are. They had no confidence they could overcome that. Our girls earned the rep they have just like they earned the medals they now wear. It's all the same thing. They did the work. They earned the prize.
Would we have brought the girls' eight if we knew exactly how fast the Germans were today? Well, I think if you look you'll see we brought every single class of boat. You'll never know what it means to be a champion unless you enter the race. And our crews demonstrated that they were willing to test themselves against the best- without guarantees of medals or grand finals. That attitude is a valuable one to cultivate.
Well done to all the US crews. They did us proud. And not for nothing-- every single one of the regatta organizers I spoke to said our team was the nicest, most respectful and happy group of the regatta. Job done.
The boys' pair started the day. Once again, the guys got off the line a bit behind the leaders and once again they showed great maturity and composure as the established their rhythm and began hunting down the crews in front of them. The were consistent and aggressive to the line and took some great strokes. There was one crew that went faster than the US and there wasn't anything we could do about that. I asked Mike after the race if it was a good row and he said it was. I asked him if he was happy and he paused and then gave an uncharacteristic little smile that spoke volumes. "Eighth in the world... that's pretty good I guess..." And they can never take it away from you Michael.
At the 1500m mark of the girls' double race I almost stopped my bike and turned around. The quad was coming next and the race looked pretty set in stone. Boy, am I glad I stayed with it. Maria and Hannah cranked that last 500m like you wouldn't believe and all of a sudden they were going through crews like a hot knife through butter. It was a thrilling finish and a testament to Guenter's training program and the girls "never-say-die" attitude. It ain't over 'til it's over. This year's combined finishes of the girls scullers marks the best the US has ever done. Awesome job girls!
The boys' quad had a good race too, with the best finishing quarter the guys have produced. They did a great job in the middle of the race staying focused and lifting with the pack. They might not have had the speed required to medal this year, but they produced their best rowing in the final.
It bothers me that there are probably people thinking that the girls' bronze medal in the eight is kind of a consolation prize. I hope the girls don't feel that way. Look, that German eight was unbelievable. They finished the course- on a windy day - in 6:20. That is scary fast. They rowed through a Romanian eight that had nearly a full length advantage by the halfway mark. And the Romanian girls aren't exactly chopped liver. The German girls were in their own class today, as were the Italian guys yesterday. I didn't get a chance to watch our girls train and I don't know if they took their best strokes today. But they sure as heck deserve those medals. The French, the Italians, The Aussies, the BRITS-- none of these teams fielded girls' eights. Why? Because they knew we'd beat them. They know how hard the US girls train and they know how good our coaches are. They had no confidence they could overcome that. Our girls earned the rep they have just like they earned the medals they now wear. It's all the same thing. They did the work. They earned the prize.
Would we have brought the girls' eight if we knew exactly how fast the Germans were today? Well, I think if you look you'll see we brought every single class of boat. You'll never know what it means to be a champion unless you enter the race. And our crews demonstrated that they were willing to test themselves against the best- without guarantees of medals or grand finals. That attitude is a valuable one to cultivate.
Well done to all the US crews. They did us proud. And not for nothing-- every single one of the regatta organizers I spoke to said our team was the nicest, most respectful and happy group of the regatta. Job done.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Saturday racing
The word that keeps coming to the top of my brain is "momentum." Today's racing saw some spectacular racing and more often than not the battles were won by the crews that seized the momentum at exactly the right time. That's real racing!
A couple of our crews had to race twice today, as the schedule has been compressed. There's a big storm coming tomorrow, so everything has been moved up in order to finish early. The boys's double knew going in they would race twice, but didn't back off at all in their semi. In a close race they got the job done and qualified for the C final. That was some great work and they deserve credit for pushing to their limit and grabbing the highest possible rung on the ladder.
I had a great time following Sophie's race in the single. She raced very intelligently. Knowing she just needed second to qualify for the C final she charged out to a length open water and then sat in front of Zimbabwe all the way down. No sweat. She and I had a chuckle afterwards- the other single in the race was Greece and she apparently only has one gear, because she raced at top speed all the way down. I was on the bike next to her coach who would NOT stop screaming at her, even when she was over three lengths up and clearly going to qualify. Sophie told me she just keep thinking "go ahead, burn it all up now... See ya in the final tomorrow..."
Ryan raced twice today and his coach told me the final was the better of the two pieces. Perhaps he was able to really relax and get into his rhythm. I'm sure he gained a tremendous amount of insight into racing at the elite level this weekend. That his last race was his best means he kept on working at it all the way through. Good man.
The boys' coxed four raced very well. They were a bit stunned by the blazing start of the Serbs, whose strategy of throwing everything humanly possible into the first minute of the race paid off. Our guys rowed well and pushed back, but the Serbs had just enough momentum and confidence to hold it. The US just didn't have enough to come back at them.
The straight four had a similar fate. They just got over powered. The field was very, very competitive and each time a crew moved the others responded. The effect was to drive the pace of the pack up to the point where we couldn't quite follow. I think it was a better row for the guys, but not quite enough to match the leaders.
The boys' pair also raced a gutsy race. When I asked them how it went they conceded that the other guys were simply faster today. No big problems, it was a good row. The South African crew are the top two guys in their country. The same is true of many of the boats in this category. They can row. The US went after it with all their resources, but couldn't find a way to shake them up and grab a spot in the A final. The boys will have a great challenge in the B final tomorrow and it sure is an improvement from our finishing place last year (17th).
The girls' double are also headed to the B final tomorrow. Coach Beutter thought they rowed well. They responded to challenges and stayed within themselves. I know they are fired up for the final, so I'm excited to watch the race.
I was frustrated for the guys in the quad as I watched the race. They were going so hard and throwing everything they could at their competition. At points it must have seemed like trying to chop down a mountain with a feather. The monster guys in the lead boats were unassailable. But as I say, the US boys raced very, very hard and should be proud of their effort.
There are some great interviews and quotes on the world rowing web site. They capture the drama and excitement of the girls' four race very well. It goes without saying that the crew are rockstars and did a phenomenal job. Super aggressive out of the gate and then once they had their lead that sat of the field and waited patiently for someone to try it on. They responded to moves and kept their lead and then simply brought it home. Sounds easier than it was. I suspect the emotions in the boat were the exact opposite to the emotions on the bikes. As a coach, when you see the BIG PRIZE shaping up before your eyes there is a tendency to get pretty wound up. Thoughts like "They could do it" and "Hold on!" and "Almost there!" are going through your mind at a mile a minute. The girls may have known they had it in the bag before the line, but there were some pretty loud exhalations on the shore when the horn sounded. Happy happy happy.
The girls in the pair said they had a good row. It was awfully bouncy out there in lane one to be racing a pair, but they acquitted themselves well. They haven't had the smoothest week of training, but their racing has improved with each race. A great effort to make the A final and compete with the best.
The girls' quad pulled out all the stops. They finished just short of a medal, but with a time that in any other year would have done it. Personal best speed achieved. Great row and great race. Coach was very proud of their accomplishment. One of the Canadian coaches commented to me that he has noticed the American scullers seem to be improving rapidly-- yup!
I know the boys in the eight are disappointed about their result. As I told them: they did what they had to do to get in the race. They improved their start and were a close second in the first few hundred meters. Job done. When the field tried to break away in the second five hundred- a real danger spot for our crew- the guys pushed right back. Crossing the 1000m Italy was in front, but we were dead even with GB and Germany. Job done. We just couldn't keep it going. We ran out of steam, or fell out of rhythm, or maybe a bit of both. That's all it takes. Look at the progression though, over the week, and you'll see a crew that evolved under pressure. Another couple of days and we might have won it. Nothing wrong with the job they did here. It was top work.
A big storm is coming in tomorrow, so I hope we get it all in. Plenty of racing left. Hope you're listening in and following the race tracker. We're almost done!
A couple of our crews had to race twice today, as the schedule has been compressed. There's a big storm coming tomorrow, so everything has been moved up in order to finish early. The boys's double knew going in they would race twice, but didn't back off at all in their semi. In a close race they got the job done and qualified for the C final. That was some great work and they deserve credit for pushing to their limit and grabbing the highest possible rung on the ladder.
I had a great time following Sophie's race in the single. She raced very intelligently. Knowing she just needed second to qualify for the C final she charged out to a length open water and then sat in front of Zimbabwe all the way down. No sweat. She and I had a chuckle afterwards- the other single in the race was Greece and she apparently only has one gear, because she raced at top speed all the way down. I was on the bike next to her coach who would NOT stop screaming at her, even when she was over three lengths up and clearly going to qualify. Sophie told me she just keep thinking "go ahead, burn it all up now... See ya in the final tomorrow..."
Ryan raced twice today and his coach told me the final was the better of the two pieces. Perhaps he was able to really relax and get into his rhythm. I'm sure he gained a tremendous amount of insight into racing at the elite level this weekend. That his last race was his best means he kept on working at it all the way through. Good man.
The boys' coxed four raced very well. They were a bit stunned by the blazing start of the Serbs, whose strategy of throwing everything humanly possible into the first minute of the race paid off. Our guys rowed well and pushed back, but the Serbs had just enough momentum and confidence to hold it. The US just didn't have enough to come back at them.
The straight four had a similar fate. They just got over powered. The field was very, very competitive and each time a crew moved the others responded. The effect was to drive the pace of the pack up to the point where we couldn't quite follow. I think it was a better row for the guys, but not quite enough to match the leaders.
The boys' pair also raced a gutsy race. When I asked them how it went they conceded that the other guys were simply faster today. No big problems, it was a good row. The South African crew are the top two guys in their country. The same is true of many of the boats in this category. They can row. The US went after it with all their resources, but couldn't find a way to shake them up and grab a spot in the A final. The boys will have a great challenge in the B final tomorrow and it sure is an improvement from our finishing place last year (17th).
The girls' double are also headed to the B final tomorrow. Coach Beutter thought they rowed well. They responded to challenges and stayed within themselves. I know they are fired up for the final, so I'm excited to watch the race.
I was frustrated for the guys in the quad as I watched the race. They were going so hard and throwing everything they could at their competition. At points it must have seemed like trying to chop down a mountain with a feather. The monster guys in the lead boats were unassailable. But as I say, the US boys raced very, very hard and should be proud of their effort.
There are some great interviews and quotes on the world rowing web site. They capture the drama and excitement of the girls' four race very well. It goes without saying that the crew are rockstars and did a phenomenal job. Super aggressive out of the gate and then once they had their lead that sat of the field and waited patiently for someone to try it on. They responded to moves and kept their lead and then simply brought it home. Sounds easier than it was. I suspect the emotions in the boat were the exact opposite to the emotions on the bikes. As a coach, when you see the BIG PRIZE shaping up before your eyes there is a tendency to get pretty wound up. Thoughts like "They could do it" and "Hold on!" and "Almost there!" are going through your mind at a mile a minute. The girls may have known they had it in the bag before the line, but there were some pretty loud exhalations on the shore when the horn sounded. Happy happy happy.
The girls in the pair said they had a good row. It was awfully bouncy out there in lane one to be racing a pair, but they acquitted themselves well. They haven't had the smoothest week of training, but their racing has improved with each race. A great effort to make the A final and compete with the best.
The girls' quad pulled out all the stops. They finished just short of a medal, but with a time that in any other year would have done it. Personal best speed achieved. Great row and great race. Coach was very proud of their accomplishment. One of the Canadian coaches commented to me that he has noticed the American scullers seem to be improving rapidly-- yup!
I know the boys in the eight are disappointed about their result. As I told them: they did what they had to do to get in the race. They improved their start and were a close second in the first few hundred meters. Job done. When the field tried to break away in the second five hundred- a real danger spot for our crew- the guys pushed right back. Crossing the 1000m Italy was in front, but we were dead even with GB and Germany. Job done. We just couldn't keep it going. We ran out of steam, or fell out of rhythm, or maybe a bit of both. That's all it takes. Look at the progression though, over the week, and you'll see a crew that evolved under pressure. Another couple of days and we might have won it. Nothing wrong with the job they did here. It was top work.
A big storm is coming in tomorrow, so I hope we get it all in. Plenty of racing left. Hope you're listening in and following the race tracker. We're almost done!
Friday, August 5, 2011
Post-event party
I've had some inquiries about the nature of the festivities that are scheduled after the racing is over. There are three events that will occur:
1) Gear Swap Melee: This will begin before the racing is over. The kids will all be in a mass trading their kit and making new friends. It is an important social tradition at World Championships. Your kids love you and want to see you, but they want the cool German unisuit more :) Best to let them dig in for a bit.
2) Official Post Regatta party: This will run for an hour and a half immediately after the last medal ceremony at the course. My understanding is that light refreshments will be served. This is not considered by the kids to be a "real party"- it is pretty tame and most of the time they're seeing parents etc. They'll take the buses back to the dorms afterwards.
3) Socializing at the Dorms: FISA has recommended some rules for the teams for Saturday and Sunday nights. There will be a curfew (kids back in their dorms) of 10pm on Saturday and 11pm on Sunday. There will be no alcohol allowed on the campus. The coaches collectively have added the rule that only US athletes will be allowed inside our dorm. We'll be checking to make sure all the kids are in by curfew.
So the kids will be allowed to hang out outside the dorm, meet the other kids and generally make a lot of noise and blow off whatever energy they might have left. Realistically, it is very difficult for the coaches to prevent those who really want to from disappearing into the woods for twenty minutes.* They will be told, however, in no uncertain terms what our rules are and what we think are smart activities vs. activities they will regret. They will also be told that breaking the rules may negatively impact their future on any US National Team.
Parents are more than welcome to come and take their kids out to dinner. I wouldn't want to be in the middle of that argument though :)
*This is an informal, personal comment, not and official USRA position -in case you don't have a sense of humor.
1) Gear Swap Melee: This will begin before the racing is over. The kids will all be in a mass trading their kit and making new friends. It is an important social tradition at World Championships. Your kids love you and want to see you, but they want the cool German unisuit more :) Best to let them dig in for a bit.
2) Official Post Regatta party: This will run for an hour and a half immediately after the last medal ceremony at the course. My understanding is that light refreshments will be served. This is not considered by the kids to be a "real party"- it is pretty tame and most of the time they're seeing parents etc. They'll take the buses back to the dorms afterwards.
3) Socializing at the Dorms: FISA has recommended some rules for the teams for Saturday and Sunday nights. There will be a curfew (kids back in their dorms) of 10pm on Saturday and 11pm on Sunday. There will be no alcohol allowed on the campus. The coaches collectively have added the rule that only US athletes will be allowed inside our dorm. We'll be checking to make sure all the kids are in by curfew.
So the kids will be allowed to hang out outside the dorm, meet the other kids and generally make a lot of noise and blow off whatever energy they might have left. Realistically, it is very difficult for the coaches to prevent those who really want to from disappearing into the woods for twenty minutes.* They will be told, however, in no uncertain terms what our rules are and what we think are smart activities vs. activities they will regret. They will also be told that breaking the rules may negatively impact their future on any US National Team.
Parents are more than welcome to come and take their kids out to dinner. I wouldn't want to be in the middle of that argument though :)
*This is an informal, personal comment, not and official USRA position -in case you don't have a sense of humor.
Friday racing
If you've been following the race tracker and listening to the broadcast online you already know most of what there is to know. The commentators are excellent and have a keen eye for rowing and racing. The conditions today were much better. A bit of a tailwind early, but periods of really good water.
Overall I think the team is doing a great job. The kids are focused, the coaches are on their game. No drama, no issues. Very professional. We're definitely still putting some of the pieces together with some of the crews, but progress is being made.
The boys' coxed four had a good, strong piece. They made some nice adjustments and they went after it aggressively. They didn't have the juice to break through into the A final, but Coach Houston was proud of their race. If they continue to charge at it they should have a great race in their final.
The girls' pair hasn't had their best piece yet- there are elements that still haven't come together. That's exciting because they still managed to grab a spot in the A final. When they line those ducks up in a row- watch out.
The boys' pair wasn't first off the line, but they were first at the finish, and watching their transformation from "are we gonna?" to "yeah we are!" over the second 500m was inspiring. They found their groove- loving the tailwind- and stomped on it. Got some momentum going now...
The boys' double gave it a good shot, but found the closing meters too tough to handle. I didn't get a chance to talk to the guys, but I'm sure they are looking ahead to the racing and the challenge that Croatia, Ukraine and Norway will present. Their final will be a big test and could be very satisfying if they are able to get their best strokes in.
What a great race in the boys' quad! Nail biter to the end. The Poles were trying to crank these enormous long strokes while the US just sat up and attacked with with the quick legs. A great, great job by the guys. Outstanding racing under extreme pressure.
They were stoked and so were their coaches. Producing a champion performance right when you need to is very satisfying.
I didn't get to talk to Sophie, but I think that Ryan's row was a little flat. That's disappointing, but when you see some of these scullers you realize how deep this field is. Its great to see countries like Zimbabwe and Azerbaijan fielding these top scullers it is exciting for our sport. At our very best the US can compete at this event. If we're even a bit off on the day it gets pretty hard to make an impression. Hopefully the kids are gearing up for tomorrow and a new shot at it.
The boys in the eight- as I thought- are figuring it out. Two of the three second margin the Germans had at the finish was earned in the first 500m. So the US has found a competitive groove for the body of the race. Now they have one more shot to sharpen up that start. And then all bets are off. Keep sending the good vibes their way!
I think there were some nerves in the boys' straight four today. We were cautioned after a false start and the race was called back. If the crew was even a little tight it will have been very difficult to get an effective rhythm going. The guys are bummed they couldn't do better today, but a top-ten in the World place is still on the line, so hopefully they'll rebound.
Another fantastic piece in the girls' quad. Great, great, great. So cool to see the girls racing successfully against the traditional powerhouses of Germany and Italy. US sculling is coming up, no doubt at all. Can't wait for the final.
Please note: FISA has changed the racing schedule. Now there are some C&D finals tomorrow afternoon. There is a big storm coming on Sunday and it is possible that the A&B finals will be moved earlier in the morning. Keep checking the schedule for updates and changes. And bring an umbrella!
Go USA!
Overall I think the team is doing a great job. The kids are focused, the coaches are on their game. No drama, no issues. Very professional. We're definitely still putting some of the pieces together with some of the crews, but progress is being made.
The boys' coxed four had a good, strong piece. They made some nice adjustments and they went after it aggressively. They didn't have the juice to break through into the A final, but Coach Houston was proud of their race. If they continue to charge at it they should have a great race in their final.
The girls' pair hasn't had their best piece yet- there are elements that still haven't come together. That's exciting because they still managed to grab a spot in the A final. When they line those ducks up in a row- watch out.
The boys' pair wasn't first off the line, but they were first at the finish, and watching their transformation from "are we gonna?" to "yeah we are!" over the second 500m was inspiring. They found their groove- loving the tailwind- and stomped on it. Got some momentum going now...
The boys' double gave it a good shot, but found the closing meters too tough to handle. I didn't get a chance to talk to the guys, but I'm sure they are looking ahead to the racing and the challenge that Croatia, Ukraine and Norway will present. Their final will be a big test and could be very satisfying if they are able to get their best strokes in.
What a great race in the boys' quad! Nail biter to the end. The Poles were trying to crank these enormous long strokes while the US just sat up and attacked with with the quick legs. A great, great job by the guys. Outstanding racing under extreme pressure.
They were stoked and so were their coaches. Producing a champion performance right when you need to is very satisfying.
I didn't get to talk to Sophie, but I think that Ryan's row was a little flat. That's disappointing, but when you see some of these scullers you realize how deep this field is. Its great to see countries like Zimbabwe and Azerbaijan fielding these top scullers it is exciting for our sport. At our very best the US can compete at this event. If we're even a bit off on the day it gets pretty hard to make an impression. Hopefully the kids are gearing up for tomorrow and a new shot at it.
The boys in the eight- as I thought- are figuring it out. Two of the three second margin the Germans had at the finish was earned in the first 500m. So the US has found a competitive groove for the body of the race. Now they have one more shot to sharpen up that start. And then all bets are off. Keep sending the good vibes their way!
I think there were some nerves in the boys' straight four today. We were cautioned after a false start and the race was called back. If the crew was even a little tight it will have been very difficult to get an effective rhythm going. The guys are bummed they couldn't do better today, but a top-ten in the World place is still on the line, so hopefully they'll rebound.
Another fantastic piece in the girls' quad. Great, great, great. So cool to see the girls racing successfully against the traditional powerhouses of Germany and Italy. US sculling is coming up, no doubt at all. Can't wait for the final.
Please note: FISA has changed the racing schedule. Now there are some C&D finals tomorrow afternoon. There is a big storm coming on Sunday and it is possible that the A&B finals will be moved earlier in the morning. Keep checking the schedule for updates and changes. And bring an umbrella!
Go USA!
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Thursday racing
Despite the cruddy conditions today there was some great racing. Unfortunately I wasn't able to see all of it- I got called away from the course for about and hour and a half. So some of my comments aren't as informed as I'd like. Take them for what they are.
It can't be overstated-- experience at this level makes a huge difference. The first full day of racing at Dorney has borne that axiom out. Athletes racing in their first Worlds almost always come away with the same impression: "That was faster than I thought it would be". Those that can re-calibrate their mindset and approach can often make huge improvements over the course of the regatta. Those that can't get left behind very quickly.
The US girls' straight four is one of our most experienced crews and raced with confidence and composure. They quickly established themselves as a crew that has one place in mind. Coach Trond was pleased with their first attempt. "They had a great start and handled the conditions very well."
The boys' coxed four came off the line with the leaders and in reality were able to match the pace for much of the race. There were moments before the 1000m that their competition edged away, but it is an issue that can now be addressed. The guys have a lot of power but the test now will be to see if they can make the adjustments and execute their revised race plan.
Coach Maloney was pleased the composure the girls' pair displayed in the opening quarter of their race. The crew did not match the pace of the fastest crews off the line, but rather than begin to panic they stayed together and built their rhythm piece by piece. It was a good first piece from the girls- a strong start to build from.
The boys' pair also produced an aggressive initial offering. Upon reflection Coach Hargis characterized his attitude as "bullish" with regard to his boys' performance. The pair didn't think their start was the best they could do, yet they were very competitive and they showed good closing speed in the final 500m. Not the biggest guys on the squad, the headwind was a big challenge for the boys. But guess what? The forecast for tomorrow calls for a tailwind.... :)
The girls' double did what they needed to do. I wasn't able to watch the race, but if I were a betting man I'd guess these two are just getting warmed up. Third place was five seconds back, so it wasn't exactly tooth and nail to the line.
The boys' double and quad, on the other hand, may be recalibrating their ambitions for the finals. Of course the number one goal remains the same: to produce their best possible performance. But these two categories are hotly contested by the Europeans and there are some monster athletes in these crews. I haven't talked to the crews so I don't know how the rows went, but clearly a couple of these outfits might be too hot to handle.
Speaking of hotly contested, have you seen how many single entries there are. It is a cornucopia of different styles, shapes and speeds. Both Sophie and Ryan deserve credit for going out there alone and going after their first piece. Coach Catalano was pleased with Ryan's row. The mission was to qualify and call it good. Mission accomplished. No sense in burning all the jet fuel if you don't need to.
Speaking of which, the girls' eight came down the course ; )
The US won the boys' eight last year, much to the surprise of the crowd, who had watched the crew struggle through the heat and rep. There are a lot of pieces to put together in the eight. Look, their competition is really good, but if the guys are willing to stick their necks out and assert themselves early in the race, good things can happen. If they step up, they'll be there. If they don't, they won't. That's what we're here to find out.
Our day finished with some great finishes. The boys' straight four looked much sharper today than yesterday (what a difference that experience makes) and were competing with the fastest crews all the way down. If they put their foot to the floor in the final 500m they'll be there. Coach Kusturic was happy with the row, but maybe not satisfied...
The girls' quad look great. G-Man couldn't quite conceal the smile on his face when they crossed the line. "It was a good row."
It can't be overstated-- experience at this level makes a huge difference. The first full day of racing at Dorney has borne that axiom out. Athletes racing in their first Worlds almost always come away with the same impression: "That was faster than I thought it would be". Those that can re-calibrate their mindset and approach can often make huge improvements over the course of the regatta. Those that can't get left behind very quickly.
The US girls' straight four is one of our most experienced crews and raced with confidence and composure. They quickly established themselves as a crew that has one place in mind. Coach Trond was pleased with their first attempt. "They had a great start and handled the conditions very well."
The boys' coxed four came off the line with the leaders and in reality were able to match the pace for much of the race. There were moments before the 1000m that their competition edged away, but it is an issue that can now be addressed. The guys have a lot of power but the test now will be to see if they can make the adjustments and execute their revised race plan.
Coach Maloney was pleased the composure the girls' pair displayed in the opening quarter of their race. The crew did not match the pace of the fastest crews off the line, but rather than begin to panic they stayed together and built their rhythm piece by piece. It was a good first piece from the girls- a strong start to build from.
The boys' pair also produced an aggressive initial offering. Upon reflection Coach Hargis characterized his attitude as "bullish" with regard to his boys' performance. The pair didn't think their start was the best they could do, yet they were very competitive and they showed good closing speed in the final 500m. Not the biggest guys on the squad, the headwind was a big challenge for the boys. But guess what? The forecast for tomorrow calls for a tailwind.... :)
The girls' double did what they needed to do. I wasn't able to watch the race, but if I were a betting man I'd guess these two are just getting warmed up. Third place was five seconds back, so it wasn't exactly tooth and nail to the line.
The boys' double and quad, on the other hand, may be recalibrating their ambitions for the finals. Of course the number one goal remains the same: to produce their best possible performance. But these two categories are hotly contested by the Europeans and there are some monster athletes in these crews. I haven't talked to the crews so I don't know how the rows went, but clearly a couple of these outfits might be too hot to handle.
Speaking of hotly contested, have you seen how many single entries there are. It is a cornucopia of different styles, shapes and speeds. Both Sophie and Ryan deserve credit for going out there alone and going after their first piece. Coach Catalano was pleased with Ryan's row. The mission was to qualify and call it good. Mission accomplished. No sense in burning all the jet fuel if you don't need to.
Speaking of which, the girls' eight came down the course ; )
The US won the boys' eight last year, much to the surprise of the crowd, who had watched the crew struggle through the heat and rep. There are a lot of pieces to put together in the eight. Look, their competition is really good, but if the guys are willing to stick their necks out and assert themselves early in the race, good things can happen. If they step up, they'll be there. If they don't, they won't. That's what we're here to find out.
Our day finished with some great finishes. The boys' straight four looked much sharper today than yesterday (what a difference that experience makes) and were competing with the fastest crews all the way down. If they put their foot to the floor in the final 500m they'll be there. Coach Kusturic was happy with the row, but maybe not satisfied...
The girls' quad look great. G-Man couldn't quite conceal the smile on his face when they crossed the line. "It was a good row."
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
First heats
This afternoon two US crews raced their heats. Heats are tough at this regatta because most of the time you really have no idea what the other crews have. It's all well and good to watch a crew rowing in practice, but you never know who will be ready to really race.
In the boys' straight four I thought the Canadian crew looked like they really meant it. Right from the start they looked as though they were going all out every stroke they took. An attitude that, should our guys employ just a bit more of, might just enable them to do something special. Because the US took some really good strokes. Through the body of the race they were in the hunt and it seemed as though they could, at any moment, make a play for the leaders. With 250m remaining their instructions were to shut down if they were clearly not up front, which they did. No sense in wasting energy they'll need tomorrow. Hopefully the guys will have a bit more confidence now that they have done it once and stick their necks out in the rep. They have some real skills and they simply have to adjust to what is obviously a whole new level of play. What a great challenge!
The girls' quad looked like seasoned vets- I was impressed by how composed they were and how rhythmical. The German crew that took the lead is impressive. But our girls appear to have the resources to race this field successfully. They battled back and fourth with the Swiss and narrowly missed them at the finish- from the outside and more wind-exposed lane. I'm excited to see what happens with this crew tomorrow. They are taking good strokes and they may have a couple of surprises for their competition.
Tomorrow everyone is racing, so I'll do my best to keep up. Its going to be an exciting day!
In the boys' straight four I thought the Canadian crew looked like they really meant it. Right from the start they looked as though they were going all out every stroke they took. An attitude that, should our guys employ just a bit more of, might just enable them to do something special. Because the US took some really good strokes. Through the body of the race they were in the hunt and it seemed as though they could, at any moment, make a play for the leaders. With 250m remaining their instructions were to shut down if they were clearly not up front, which they did. No sense in wasting energy they'll need tomorrow. Hopefully the guys will have a bit more confidence now that they have done it once and stick their necks out in the rep. They have some real skills and they simply have to adjust to what is obviously a whole new level of play. What a great challenge!
The girls' quad looked like seasoned vets- I was impressed by how composed they were and how rhythmical. The German crew that took the lead is impressive. But our girls appear to have the resources to race this field successfully. They battled back and fourth with the Swiss and narrowly missed them at the finish- from the outside and more wind-exposed lane. I'm excited to see what happens with this crew tomorrow. They are taking good strokes and they may have a couple of surprises for their competition.
Tomorrow everyone is racing, so I'll do my best to keep up. Its going to be an exciting day!
Manager's notes
For all: They have arranged an online radio service for the WRJC which will carry all the official commentary - you can listen at http://s3.viastreaming.net/8785/
For parents at the event: Please do not attempt to enter the athlete's enclosure. Please do not attempt to buy FISA Friends and Family tickets- they are sold out. Please do not berate the event volunteers- it is not their fault. Please do bring food and drink as it is scarce at the course and expensive.
Our liaison to the Organizing Committee requested my personal cell phone number this afternoon so that they might direct the "high volume" of parent issues and complaints directly to me. My number is 503-799-9440. It is my US number but I have it connected here. Please remember before you call me that I cannot get you FISA Friend and Family tickets and that I am not a travel agent.
For parents at the event: Please do not attempt to enter the athlete's enclosure. Please do not attempt to buy FISA Friends and Family tickets- they are sold out. Please do not berate the event volunteers- it is not their fault. Please do bring food and drink as it is scarce at the course and expensive.
Our liaison to the Organizing Committee requested my personal cell phone number this afternoon so that they might direct the "high volume" of parent issues and complaints directly to me. My number is 503-799-9440. It is my US number but I have it connected here. Please remember before you call me that I cannot get you FISA Friend and Family tickets and that I am not a travel agent.
Spare pairs races
Our first races have been run! The boys' and girls' spare pairs came down the course shorty after noon. Conditions were decent- a light crosswind, but good water on the course. The girls got things started on the right foot. In a head-to-head duel with the Germans they quickly established a lead. It was their move at the 1000m mark that proved to be the deciding moment in the race. Our girls pounded through a series of strokes that cracked the race wide open. From then on it was a question of staying focused and getting to the line.
As the USA came into the last 150m the grandstand erupted into chants of "U-S-A" as the rest of our team cheered them home. The girls were very happy with their row, as were the coaches. Job well done.
The boys pair found the going a bit tougher. Although they came off the line like a shot and were the leaders for the first few hundred meters, the German and Italian pairs were not put off. They pushed through our boys as the crews settled into their base pace. The German and Italian programs are certainly two of the world's strongest and the depth of ability in these two pairs was impressive. Our boys couldn't quite match their resources and finished third. The boys did not feel like they had their best row, but the experience they accrued will stand them in good stead the next time. They did us proud with their effort and sportsmanship.
As the USA came into the last 150m the grandstand erupted into chants of "U-S-A" as the rest of our team cheered them home. The girls were very happy with their row, as were the coaches. Job well done.
The boys pair found the going a bit tougher. Although they came off the line like a shot and were the leaders for the first few hundred meters, the German and Italian pairs were not put off. They pushed through our boys as the crews settled into their base pace. The German and Italian programs are certainly two of the world's strongest and the depth of ability in these two pairs was impressive. Our boys couldn't quite match their resources and finished third. The boys did not feel like they had their best row, but the experience they accrued will stand them in good stead the next time. They did us proud with their effort and sportsmanship.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Let the games commence
Tuesday was a fun day. All of the crews and coaches I spoke to were very happy with their practices. Coach Trond summed it up the straight four's row with one word "Great." Coach Armstrong cancelled the eight's afternoon row-- she told me they were sharp and ready to go and didn't need the second practice. In fact, all of the coaches who planned afternoon sessions cancelled. When coaches are passing on the chance to get water time you know the crews are looking good.
Today the kids got to try the start system. Crews were marshalled into their lanes and backed into the starting platform. For many of us watching, the hydraulic "boot" coming up from under the water to lock their bows in place was pretty cool. Hearing the "attention, go" booming over the P.A. and watching the crews explode out of the gate was plenty sufficient to get your heart beating overtime.
Tomorrow the racing begins for real- the spares' racing is first and then the boys' straight four and girls' quad. I think it is safe to say we're ready to be finished with the practicing. Let's get to it.
The day finished with the Opening Ceremony. Representatives from the Organizing Committee and FISA spoke in front of the majestic towers of Holloway College. All the kids were fired up-- periodically countries would burst into chanting and singing at the top of their lungs. Even the countries with only a handful of athletes gave it their very best shot. There were a lot of patriots in the house. There were speeches and show tunes and lots of flag waving. Be sure to check out the Shutterfly album. I'm sure Dave will post some fantastic shots of Team USA. Craig Slater and Eliza Spillsbury carried our flag in the procession. To their credit I never saw our colors dip at all.... :)
I think I can get online at the course and I will do my best to post updates on the races as they happen. Look for more information on the World Rowing site, row2.com, USRowing.org and USRowingjrs.org.
The kids looked very happy tonight. Their expression of youthful exuberance was very powerful in the Opening Ceremony. That's what is so special about rowing at this level.
GO USA!
Today the kids got to try the start system. Crews were marshalled into their lanes and backed into the starting platform. For many of us watching, the hydraulic "boot" coming up from under the water to lock their bows in place was pretty cool. Hearing the "attention, go" booming over the P.A. and watching the crews explode out of the gate was plenty sufficient to get your heart beating overtime.
Tomorrow the racing begins for real- the spares' racing is first and then the boys' straight four and girls' quad. I think it is safe to say we're ready to be finished with the practicing. Let's get to it.
The day finished with the Opening Ceremony. Representatives from the Organizing Committee and FISA spoke in front of the majestic towers of Holloway College. All the kids were fired up-- periodically countries would burst into chanting and singing at the top of their lungs. Even the countries with only a handful of athletes gave it their very best shot. There were a lot of patriots in the house. There were speeches and show tunes and lots of flag waving. Be sure to check out the Shutterfly album. I'm sure Dave will post some fantastic shots of Team USA. Craig Slater and Eliza Spillsbury carried our flag in the procession. To their credit I never saw our colors dip at all.... :)
I think I can get online at the course and I will do my best to post updates on the races as they happen. Look for more information on the World Rowing site, row2.com, USRowing.org and USRowingjrs.org.
The kids looked very happy tonight. Their expression of youthful exuberance was very powerful in the Opening Ceremony. That's what is so special about rowing at this level.
GO USA!
Monday, August 1, 2011
Dialing it in
By the end of today coaches and crews have been reporting some much better rowing. Although the course is pretty bumpy, with strong winds and many wakes from all the crews, most of our gang seem to have turned a corner. The coaches have tweeked the rigs and the rowers are fully over their jet lag. As a result, the boats are beginning to pop like they did at home- right on schedule.
It is hot over here, but not New Jersey hot, so everyone is doing ok. The rooms are comfortable enough at night and the food is great. All in all, we couldn't ask for a better lead up to the racing. The kids seem in good spirits and it is tough not to be feeling a rising excitement seeing all the teams around. I saw some outstanding rowing today around the course. Even when you are expecting it, it is always wonderful to see just how well these young people can row. As a coach of juniors myself, it is inspiring to know it can be done to such a high level. I'll tell you what- racing successfully against crews at this event is a considerable accomplishment.
Most of the crews are practicing in the morning tomorrow and relaxing in the afternoon. Hooray for the taper! I'm sure the Opening Ceremony will be great and then we start racing on Wednesday. Can't wait!
It is hot over here, but not New Jersey hot, so everyone is doing ok. The rooms are comfortable enough at night and the food is great. All in all, we couldn't ask for a better lead up to the racing. The kids seem in good spirits and it is tough not to be feeling a rising excitement seeing all the teams around. I saw some outstanding rowing today around the course. Even when you are expecting it, it is always wonderful to see just how well these young people can row. As a coach of juniors myself, it is inspiring to know it can be done to such a high level. I'll tell you what- racing successfully against crews at this event is a considerable accomplishment.
Most of the crews are practicing in the morning tomorrow and relaxing in the afternoon. Hooray for the taper! I'm sure the Opening Ceremony will be great and then we start racing on Wednesday. Can't wait!
racing schedule and opening ceremony
The racing schedule on the website is probably correct at this point, but I won't know for sure until the Team Manager's meeting tomorrow.
For those coming to the Opening Ceremony: it will be in the main building (Holloway College). Parking, apparently, is "around the place." I'd watch for the Parking Lot signs. I'm guessing it may not be too easy to find parking, so leave time.
For those coming to the Opening Ceremony: it will be in the main building (Holloway College). Parking, apparently, is "around the place." I'd watch for the Parking Lot signs. I'm guessing it may not be too easy to find parking, so leave time.
Team Photos!
David Trond, our team boatman (on loan from Team Vespoli), has a snappy new camera! He's set up a Shutterfly account online for our viewing pleasure. This is great news because I only have an iPhone and I'm a lousy photographer. Go to:
http://juniorworldrowingchamps2011.shutterfly.com/ and use the password: usa1776
Thanks Dave!
http://juniorworldrowingchamps2011.shutterfly.com/ and use the password: usa1776
Thanks Dave!
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Opening Ceremony
My last entry is incorrect-- the Opening Ceremony is on Tuesday. After a while the days start to blur together... :)
Sunday
We're into our routine now-- the shuttles to the course are running every half hour, the "Olympic" caterers have taken over our meal preparation and the teams are starting to roll in. The germans and french showed up in force this morning and the italians arrived this evening. The boats and blades at this point are mostly rigged and painted. The crews are getting into their respective grooves. Several of the US crews raced each other today in practice into a very stiff headwind.
So it is safe to say the arrival period is over and we're rapidly approaching "go" time. If an athlete isn't very mindful of their focus it is easy to get intimidated at this point. The competition here is the best in the world and they look and act like it. It is critical that the rowers stay confident and aggressive and spend their time and energy on making their own practices the best they can be. So far our crews are working like pros-- one of the British organizers commented to me today that we always look "so dialed in and on top of things." Credit to our coaches and crews then, for showing the competition that we are ready to rumble.
Tomorrow is the opening ceremony and one assumes that by that point everyone will have arrived, so the course ought to be pretty busy in the morning. For those able to come the ceremony: I haven't had an answer yet from the organizing committee about where you are supposed to park. I'll post details just as soon as I can. You are certainly welcome however. Ceremony starts at 7:30pm and lasts an hour.
For those who purchased FISA friends and family tickets: I will have you tickets waiting at the ticket booth (photo above) which is located at about the 1250m mark on the course. They will be available for pick-up from Wednesday afternoon.
For those who still need tickets: You can get them on-line (http://www.wrjc2011.com/spectators/tickets) or buy them at the door. The "regular" seating may consist of simple plastic chairs, set on the hill adjacent the course. You may even be sitting on the grass. Either way, I suspect it will be first come first served. The "FISA Friends and Family" ticket holders will certainly have great seats for the medal ceremony, but otherwise the regular tickets will have exactly the same look at the racing- albeit from the other side of the course. I'm confident everyone will be able to get a great view. Just get there early and bring a rain coat (umbrellas would block viewing).
So it is safe to say the arrival period is over and we're rapidly approaching "go" time. If an athlete isn't very mindful of their focus it is easy to get intimidated at this point. The competition here is the best in the world and they look and act like it. It is critical that the rowers stay confident and aggressive and spend their time and energy on making their own practices the best they can be. So far our crews are working like pros-- one of the British organizers commented to me today that we always look "so dialed in and on top of things." Credit to our coaches and crews then, for showing the competition that we are ready to rumble.
Tomorrow is the opening ceremony and one assumes that by that point everyone will have arrived, so the course ought to be pretty busy in the morning. For those able to come the ceremony: I haven't had an answer yet from the organizing committee about where you are supposed to park. I'll post details just as soon as I can. You are certainly welcome however. Ceremony starts at 7:30pm and lasts an hour.
For those who purchased FISA friends and family tickets: I will have you tickets waiting at the ticket booth (photo above) which is located at about the 1250m mark on the course. They will be available for pick-up from Wednesday afternoon.
For those who still need tickets: You can get them on-line (http://www.wrjc2011.com/spectators/tickets) or buy them at the door. The "regular" seating may consist of simple plastic chairs, set on the hill adjacent the course. You may even be sitting on the grass. Either way, I suspect it will be first come first served. The "FISA Friends and Family" ticket holders will certainly have great seats for the medal ceremony, but otherwise the regular tickets will have exactly the same look at the racing- albeit from the other side of the course. I'm confident everyone will be able to get a great view. Just get there early and bring a rain coat (umbrellas would block viewing).
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Saturday
Compared to yesterday, today was easy. When I wrote yesterday's entry I assumed we were done for the day... not quite. At about midnight we had ourselves a little fire drill. Fortunately we had been well briefed on the fire alarm procedure, and we all assembled outside of the building until we were cleared to return. There were some pretty groggy, confused and irritated rowers though. What an end to a long day!
Today started much better. The group headed off to Windsor for the morning to see the sights. By all accounts the sights were seen; the castle, the changing of the guard, the high street shops and even a cafe or two. You can't really dig in in a couple of hours, but at least they got a taste.
Then it was back to the rowing. The afternoon session saw many of the crews fine-tuning their rigs and getting their first real full session in. It is safe to say the kids are adjusting to the time and environment quickly. A couple of the coaches might still be catching up :) but in fairness, today was the second day they've worked through the lunch break, so they're working very hard.
Tomorrow the official London2012 Olympics crew takes over the venue, so we'll see if things ratchet up a notch.
For parents in London: The Opening Ceremony is being held at the Royal Holloway, so if you want to come and watch on Tuesday evening, please do. 7:30-8:30pm.
Today started much better. The group headed off to Windsor for the morning to see the sights. By all accounts the sights were seen; the castle, the changing of the guard, the high street shops and even a cafe or two. You can't really dig in in a couple of hours, but at least they got a taste.
Then it was back to the rowing. The afternoon session saw many of the crews fine-tuning their rigs and getting their first real full session in. It is safe to say the kids are adjusting to the time and environment quickly. A couple of the coaches might still be catching up :) but in fairness, today was the second day they've worked through the lunch break, so they're working very hard.
Tomorrow the official London2012 Olympics crew takes over the venue, so we'll see if things ratchet up a notch.
For parents in London: The Opening Ceremony is being held at the Royal Holloway, so if you want to come and watch on Tuesday evening, please do. 7:30-8:30pm.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Team USA arrives!
It's the end of a long first day for Team USA. Everyone arrived safe and sound this morning at 7am. After a quick trip to our accommodations at the Royal Holloway for breakfast and check-in, we made our first run to the course. Our boats arrived moments before the team so everyone set to work unwrapping, rigging and even painting. There was a fair amount of sightseeing too-- it isn't often you get to visit one of the finest rowing courses in the world!
Back to the Dorm for lunch and the briefest of pauses before everyone loaded back up for the course. By this time everyone was starting to drag a bit :) but the prospect of getting the first row in galvanized the squad and on to the course they went. It was a succinct row, but a successful one and shortly thereafter the gang made their way home for the last trip of the day- a bit of dinner and off to bed.
The team did a great job today and nobody grumbled or complained. We got a tremendous amount done. The coaches deserve extra credit for skipping lunch and rigging straight through the day. It means that tomorrow we'll be ready to get to some serious rowing and really get settled in. That is, after we do a bit of sightseeing. In lieu of London we're opting for a trip to Windsor in the morning. The kids will be able to take a tour of the castle, do a bit of shopping on the high street or perhaps take a boat tour on the Thames. It should be a great way to really drive home that we are in a foreign land- and one that is overflowing with history and culture. After all, it is the birthplace of modern rowing (amongst other things).
So far so good!
Back to the Dorm for lunch and the briefest of pauses before everyone loaded back up for the course. By this time everyone was starting to drag a bit :) but the prospect of getting the first row in galvanized the squad and on to the course they went. It was a succinct row, but a successful one and shortly thereafter the gang made their way home for the last trip of the day- a bit of dinner and off to bed.
The team did a great job today and nobody grumbled or complained. We got a tremendous amount done. The coaches deserve extra credit for skipping lunch and rigging straight through the day. It means that tomorrow we'll be ready to get to some serious rowing and really get settled in. That is, after we do a bit of sightseeing. In lieu of London we're opting for a trip to Windsor in the morning. The kids will be able to take a tour of the castle, do a bit of shopping on the high street or perhaps take a boat tour on the Thames. It should be a great way to really drive home that we are in a foreign land- and one that is overflowing with history and culture. After all, it is the birthplace of modern rowing (amongst other things).
So far so good!
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Arrived in the UK
It's good to be back in the UK! After a long trip I arrived early in the morning local time and after renting the car headed straight to Dorney Lake. The place is exactly as I remember it from '06- it is a fantastic course that is very well cared for. This week as you can imagine it is abuzz with activity- tents and racks going up, people zipping this way and that. Our boats haven't arrived yet, but everything else seems very organized and nearly ready to go.
Our accommodation at the Royal Holloway is very nice. Each athlete gets their own room, which is unprecedented in my experience with international racing... it is a bit of a drive to the course, but I am confident we'll be very comfortable and well cared for by the staff here. I was met by our Organizing Committee liaison, Miriam Luke, who is a former GB national-teamer with a tremendous resume. It was an honor to meet her. She knows exactly what we are here to do and will no doubt be very helpful.
I've recently heard that www.worldrowing.com will be streaming a live "race tracker" on their web page. So folks at home won't be able to see any video, but World Rowing will be tracking each race as it unfolds. In addition, I've located a wifi signal at the finish line, so hopefully I can provide some color commentary at the end of each race.
The gang arrives tomorrow morning and the fun will begin. The Aussies and Kiwis are already here and all the athletes are in dorms circling a central green- so hopefully it will be wonderful atmosphere and the kids will all make new friends from around the world.
Cant wait to meet the team tomorrow and watch them row!
Our accommodation at the Royal Holloway is very nice. Each athlete gets their own room, which is unprecedented in my experience with international racing... it is a bit of a drive to the course, but I am confident we'll be very comfortable and well cared for by the staff here. I was met by our Organizing Committee liaison, Miriam Luke, who is a former GB national-teamer with a tremendous resume. It was an honor to meet her. She knows exactly what we are here to do and will no doubt be very helpful.
I've recently heard that www.worldrowing.com will be streaming a live "race tracker" on their web page. So folks at home won't be able to see any video, but World Rowing will be tracking each race as it unfolds. In addition, I've located a wifi signal at the finish line, so hopefully I can provide some color commentary at the end of each race.
The gang arrives tomorrow morning and the fun will begin. The Aussies and Kiwis are already here and all the athletes are in dorms circling a central green- so hopefully it will be wonderful atmosphere and the kids will all make new friends from around the world.
Cant wait to meet the team tomorrow and watch them row!
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