The Princeton Hot Seat is a new recurring photo blog to highlight the transient nature of the rowing community in the Princeton, New Jersey area.  It's open to anyone directly involved with the sport of rowing that comes to Princeton on rowing "business".  Could be rowers, coxswains, coaches, boatmen, officials, etc.

How does the Hot Seat Work?

Each subject gets four questions to answer, the first of which is simply, why are you here (in Princeton)?  Then the subject randomly draws the remaining three from a pool of pre-determined questions, of which half are rowing related, half are not...and can be pretty random.  They get one pass.

On the Hot Seat today is the coxswain of the world champion USA W8+ Katelin Snyder.

Princeton Hot Seat - Why are you in Princeton?

Katelin Snyder - I am in Princeton to train for the 2016 Olympics.

PHS - Is there a specific crew that you've been a part of that that you would consider the best/fastest/memorable?

KS - My Washington freshmen eight has been the most memorable crew for me so far.  We won the class day regatta over the seniors/juniors/sophomores, which was the first time that had been done since the 1940s.  We lost the Cal dual and at Pac-10s, but then came back and won the IRA.  It was just so much fun to be a part of that.  The experience of being  with that group of people that were also just starting college was something I will never forget.

PHS - If you could have any animal as a pet, what would it be?

KS - I would definitely have a dog and it would be a vizsla.  It's similar to a weimaraner and they're great.

PHS - Do you recall any mid-race coxwswain calls that you'll remember for the rest of your life?

KS - Yes, last year during the Aiguebelette World Cup II Final, we were down to Canada by a length and the call in the third 500 was, "for your pair partner."  The entire eight had just raced two hours earlier as four pairs in the W2- A Final.  It was special for everybody to race with their pair partner in both finals.  Plus, we came back and ended up winning the eight!