WORCESTER, Mass. - Twins are said to be able to understand what the other is thinking, making the connection that the Shuster brothers feel on the water that much stronger. However, competing amongst each other can sometimes prove to be difficult.
"Since there are four of us, that's all there is. If somebody's having an off year, he doesn't lose his seat. We're a gene pool of four people competing against the world," said Neal Shuster. "It's an advantage and a disadvantage."
The brothers Shuster - Chris and George Shuster, 69, and Ken and Neal Shuster, 70, two sets of twins, are among the more than 2,000 athletes competing at the 2016 USRowing Masters Nationals Championships, competing for a national title over the four-day regatta. And this will be their 25th championship where they'll compete as a family.
George, Ken and Chris rowed through college, Yale University for George and Rutgers University for Ken and Chris. Upon graduating, the three took a nearly 20-year break from the sport before reconvening at an alumni race. After rekindling their love for the sport, the brothers decided to enlist Neal, Chris' twin, into the sport. In 1990, they raced the four for the first time, and have stuck with the lineup ever since.
The four work well together on the water and never shy away from a little friendly competition. According to Ken Shuster, twin of Neal, the four men have always been competitive amongst each other.
On Saturday, the brothers split up into two boats for the men's open G-J pair, a race that George and Neal won in both 2014 and 2015. With one of each twin per boat, both boats averaged out to 69, putting them in the G category. The pair of George and Neal finished second after Chinook in 5:09.943 with Chris and Ken finishing fifth.
As a family, the Shusters say their proudest moment was winning the 2001 World Rowing Masters Regatta in the four. Although they enjoy racing the traditional 1,000 meters that masters race, the twins shine in head races and have performed well at Head of the Charles Regatta regularly.
"There was a time when it was very hard to beat us in a head race," said George, his brothers echoing in agreement.
The brothers are racing Sunday in the men's open G-J four with coxswain, repeating the same lineup that earned them a silver medal in 2015, and in the same wooden Dirigo boat the family has been using for years.
On the yellow hull of the boat, surrounded by tiny flame decals, is the phrase "TwinShell."
"'It's got a double meaning," said George, sharing a laugh with his brothers. "Twin shell, twins hell. That's what our mother thought it was, at least."