1. What inspired you to go to your first rowing practice; was there anything memorable about it?
A persistent and passionate novice coach at San Diego State University by the name of Durrill Shattuck. After being cut from the Volleyball Team, I was looking for something to do to stay in shape. Seeing the sun rise over Mission Bay and just being blown away by the uniqueness of the sport.
2. Was there a practice, race or other event when you fell in love with the sport, or when you knew you might not be too bad at rowing? When you thought you could make the national team?
Initially I was pretty awful and considered quitting after the fall, but I was better than average on the erg so that kept me around. After my first 2k race against UC Irvine, I was hooked. I had never experienced pain like that first race, but when we crossed the line first the pain was overshadowed by excitement and euphoria. I don't remember the exact moment when I thought about making the National Team, but I was encouraged by the coaches at SDSU to try and go to the next level. It was when I broke 6:10 on the erg that I thought I might be in the ballpark.
3. Best race/practice, worst race/practice?
Best race: Tough one, it's a 3 way tie between California State Championships in 1995 when there was less than one foot separating us and UC Davis for about 1900m (a race where I learned what racing is about), Cal Cup Crew Classic 1994 where we purposefully let a boat get 6 or 7 seats up on us then rowed them down in the last 600m (sounds pretty dumb now, but is was dramatic) and my first World Championship in 1999 where we (4+) were about even at the 1000 and took our "move" and had 2 lengths on the field.
Worst race/practice: Too many to name and too painful to relive.
4. Best/Anything you've done in the sport no one knows about?
I have worked behind the scenes as an Athlete Representative on the USRowing Board of Directors to try and make life a little bit easier for the National Team athletes. Sometimes successfully, sometimes not so much.
5. Any/Most important advice for young rowers?
Be patient, getting good at anything is a process and takes time. Give yourself reasonable but difficult goals and a finite amount of time to achieve them. When all else fails...just crank!
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