Ready, Row! USA - Show Notes

Gadgets & Gear with Ellen Minzner - Para Rowing & More

Watch link: https://youtu.be/Hb9C63pd6Sk

HOST: Charlotte Pierce, Publisher at Pierce Press. I'm also a masters sculler of about 6 years, and a member of Community Rowing in Boston.

CONTRIBUTOR: Ellen Minzner, Olympic Para Team coach and Director of Inclusion & Advocacy at Community Rowing in Boston.

Welcome to the fourth episode of Ready, Row! USA, a production of the RowingChat international podcast network. Our primary topic today is one that’s near and dear to my heart - GADGETS & GEAR! Last week we previewed some exciting new tech for connected athletes and today, we’re continuing the discussion with our regular contributor Ellen Minzner

Ellen began rowing as a lightweight at Villanova, rowed on the US Lightweight team from 1991-96, coached for several years at high school, college, and national camps. She’s currently Head Coach for the US Para Rowing Team.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM ELLEN:

Just returned from San Diego Olympic Training Center for the first Para rowing camp of the year. Exciting to see all the new faces and teams forming. (Ellen)

NEWS FLASH: CRI is in negotiations with US Rowing to become a designated US Paralympic training center. Hopefully we’ll have official word on that to be out later this month. https://USRowing.org

Ellen attended the Power10 Dinner last night in NYC, honoring Martin Cross and his outstanding career as an oarsman, announcer, and all-around enthusiast of exciting races. Fun hearing his selection of the “Top 10” races of the year - not all the marquee races you’d expect! (Ellen) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_...

Not so much a gadget as an idea that we’ve been working on, especially for the PR2 category. We’re finding that para rowers can safely negotiate a standard Olympic hull, which opens up a lot of possibilities and expands the para athletic experience. Resolute Adaptive has been a big supporter of this idea. https://www.facebook.com/ResoluteAdap...

Bob Berry of Remote Coxswain has developed a rudder device that allows visually impaired single scullers to row regular boats. Watch this video (https://goo.gl/evomYu) of a blind sculler docking while the coaches steer him in remotely. Ellen noted that the remote coxswain could apply more broadly to all para rowing, not just visually impaired. http://remotecoxswain.com/

Lots to think about, so many gadgets to improve people's athletic experiences, so many exciting tech developments!

We’ll be wrapping up the current Gadgets & Gear series on Jan. 25 when we hope to bring in engineer Andy Crumpholt from the busy workshop at Community Rowing in Boston, Massachusetts.

Ready, Row! USA is part of the international RowingChat network. You can subscribe there to receive notifications of upcoming shows, send in news tips, and join our community.

LINKS:

HOST https://piercepress.com/

GUEST: https://www.communityrowing.org/inclu...

PODCAST WEBSITE: http://rowing.chat/ready-row-USA

THIS WEEK’S ROWING CLUB NEWS

Put your rowing club on the map and boost attendance for events by sending in your club news with this form: https://goo.gl/forms/C8P0XZ8wLdQWlf0K3

=========================================================================

Central NY Sweep Rowing Meetup continues. Contact Scott Laffer, 315-569-6228, [email protected]

On Jan. 26, CRI hosts "Grace, Grit & Glory, A Celebration of Women Rowers 2019" featuring a special award for filmmaker & Olympian Mary Mazzio. RSVP at CommunityRowing.org

Rio Salado Rowing Club in Tempe, AZ are holding rowing camps from February through March for scullers & sweep rowers with guest coaches. Full listings on Regatta Central.

Sarasota County Rowing Club hosts the Sarasota Invitational Regatta at Nathan Benderson Park on February 22-24. Masters compete on Sunday. Vespoli, Resolute, and Hudson can supply you with state-of-the-art boat rentals. Come thaw out in Florida! Rowing club phone 203-858-6806.