This is the first episode in a special series on gender policies in rowing. We’ll get to know some of the people behind initiatives challenging the notion of fairness and inclusion in our sport.

Since December 2022, World Athletics, World Rowing, and USRowing (and other national governing bodies) have announced updated gender identity policies. The Biden administration is proposing changes to Title IX. In response, voices across the rowing community have stood up for "fairness for women" and alternatively "inclusion for marginalized athletes." So, we wanted to take a closer look.

Dr. Mary O’Connor, OLY, was a member of the 1976 Yale women’s rowing program that sparked big changes following the passage of Title IX. She went on to become a member of the 1980 U.S Olympic team, an orthopedic surgeon, and a nationally recognized leader for health equity.

Today, Dr. O’Connor is a member of the Independent Council on Women’s Sports – a network and advocacy group “seeking to elevate and empower female athletes by protecting safety, fairness, and opportunity for girls and women.”

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QUICK LOOK

00:00 - Introduction

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To see photos of the Dr. Nary O'Connor, and get links to the people, and policies mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website.

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This episode was made possible in part by Breakwater Realty Group, Concept2, Live2Row, Barb, and our Patrons.

We head to California and go behind the scenes of the San Diego Crew Classic, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

Crew Classic Executive Director Bobbie Smith – also a masters rowers and coach in San Diego – for the past year has been planning this event with Associate Director Megan Kalmoe. Megan, who is currently training for an historic fifth Olympic team, began her racing career at Crew Classic as a novice walk-on at the University of Washington. Coxswain and Head Beach Master Lex Switzer also joins the conversation about this West coast regatta that kicks off sprint season in the United States.

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00:00 - Intro

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To see photos of the Bobbie, Megan, and Lex, and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website.

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This episode is made possible in part by Breakwater Realty Group, Concept2, Live2Row, and our Patrons.

We believe whole-heartedly in inclusion at all levels of rowing. That’s why we created the Steady State Network Changemaker Scholarship initiative, designed to help up-and-coming leaders of programs, clubs, and small businesses to get the knowledge and skills they need.

To support the development of these leaders in the rowing community, we provided scholarships to three deserving coaches to help them attend RowCon, USRowing’s Annual Convention, held In Atlantic City, NJ Feb. 3-5, 2023.

Thanks to Concept2, Rower’s Dream, and the support of our Steady State Patrons, whose financial support helped make these scholarships possible.

Our third-annual class of Changemaker Scholars to attend the USRowing Annual Convention is a young, diverse group of rowers, coxswains, and coaches, all in the early years of their coaching careers.

Today we’re talking with our 2023 Changemaker Scholarship recipients – Jalen Baldwin, Angelina Koch, and Faby Velazques – to find out what sort of ideas and information they picked up at the Convention, and what they’re exited to put into practice this season.

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QUICK LOOK

00:00 - Intro

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To see photos of the Changemakers, and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website.

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This episode is sponsored by the George Pocock Rowing Foundation, and made possible in part by Breakwater Realty Group, Concept2, Live2Row, and our Patrons.

On this episode we talk with John Steventon, a gold medal and world record holding indoor rower who made his way into the sport by way of squash and cycling. He started to make rowing workout videos while rehabbing from an injury during the pandemic lockdown, and today John’s RowAlong YouTube channel boasts nearly 17,000 subscribers and provides hundreds of indoor rowing workouts.

We had a long chat with John and most of it was too good to chop, so we hope you enjoy this extended episode, full of story telling and curiosity.

John explains: "I wanna’ be the rowing buddy talking rubbish to them while they're rowing. And of course I talk technique, but there doesn't need to be another Shane [Farmer of Dark Horse] or another Training Tall because they're really good at what they do. What I found is there was a tiny niche for some idiot Scotsman to fill and I filled it perfectly."

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QUICK LOOK

00:00 - Intro

02:27 - Welcome, regatta t-shirts

07:45 - It’s a 10 out of 10 rowing week for John, who’s back on a “proper training for rowing program” after spending 8 months training for Hyrox

11:27 - Falling in and out of love with rowing; the lines between exercising, putting in effort, and performance training; and finding reasons to row

14:24 - Rapid Fire Q&A

15:13 - John tells a spirited tale of his transition from squash player, to cyclist, to indoor rowing enthusiast

23:42 - First impressions of the indoor rowing scene as someone without on-water experience

26:45 - Finding community with other indoor rowers; how COVID lockdown changed perspective on training on the erg; the recent implosion of indoor competitions in the UK; and the rise of a new class of indoor rowing machines

36:44 - How a kitchen knife accident helped John focus the development of RowAlong, find his niche, and help people have fun and get a good workout

45:28 - After creating 400 videos: a wide variety of content, packaging, green screen use, a vivid imagination, and “talking rubbish” are key

50:22 - Why John is evangelical about the rowing machine

55:50 - John admits he’s never rowed on the water, and we try to convince him to learn to sweep

58:17 - A RowAlong fan calls in to say thanks, and John comes to terms with being recognized as “RowAlong John” in public.

1:01:34 - A non-rower and jiu jitsu practitioner calls in to ask about optimal 60-minute pacing

1:08:10 The psychology of chasing and being chased while racing

1:14:45 - Looking ahead: John’s planning to make a big come back when he hits 50, using micro and macro goals

1:22:55 - bonus outtake

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To see photos of John, and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website.

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This episode is made possible in part by Breakwater Realty Group, Concept2, Live2Row, and our Patrons.

Donna Pili is a San Diego native whose childhood desire to play sports was restrained by the need to help her immigrant Filipino parents. She remembers watching rowing on TV during the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, but it wasn’t until nearly 30 years later, in an effort to retake control of her life, that she committed to learn to row. Since then, Donna’s found community at ZLAC and San Diego Rowing Club, and has traveled the world as a member of Endeavor Racing Alliance.

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Categories: culture, training

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QUICK LOOK

02:10 - Rachel met Donna at SteeringUWright camp in Tempe; Lesleh Wright was Donna’s first coach at ZLAC

04:12 - Getting into a pair with a new partner, wet launches, and sharing the water with non-rowers

09:23 - Rapid Fire Q&A

10:55 - Watching the ‘84 Olympic rowing, not having time for sports as a kid, and committing to learning to row as an adult

17:20 - Opening a restaurant to honor her Dad

19:45 - Getting involved with Chinook Performance Racing and Endeavor Racing Alliance

24:19 - Coaches Lesleh Wright and Lindsay Dare Shoop give us the scoop on Donna

26:30 - Raising the bar for masters, and creating supportive environments for masters women

32:18 - Local, national, and international racing plans for 2023; being open to learning in any environment, in any boat, with rowers of all experience levels

36:43 - Considering the possibility of a perfect stroke

40:55 - Finding Karaoke in London between practices for Henley

47:59 - After the show …

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To see photos of Donna, and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website.

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This episode is made possible in part by Breakwater Realty Group, Concept2, Live2Row, and our Patrons.

On today’s show we’re talking with Corin Wiggins. You might remember that we interviewed her back in 2021 for our "next generation of coxswains" episode. At the time, 17 year old Corin was a member of the Atlanta Junior Rowing Association and already had four years of coxing experience. But what really caught our attention was her Instagram account - @TheBlackCoxswain - which she began in an effort to connect athletes of color in the rowing community. Two years later, she’s a recruited member of Hobart College men's crew, and has forged a community of thousands online and on the water, while finding her own coxing voice.

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CATEGORIES: Coxing, Culture

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QUICK LOOK:

00:00 - Intro

02:00 - Southern transplants to NY

05:55 - Learning coxing skills and confidence from coaches at AJRA, and developing the trust of her athletes

09:45 - Rapid Fire Q&A

14:15 - Getting on the water in winter

15:30 - From thinking of quitting to getting addicted to the multi-tasking challenge of coxing

17:55 - HS senior season in the 2V and transition to first year at Hobart College

20:44 - Winter training camp in FL, learning about practice management, and mentoring novice coxswains

26:15 - History of rowing at Hobart College goes back to 1860; alumni visit the crew 

31:10 - Establishing @TheBlackCoxswain IG account, growing a community of thousands, and open the door for networking and recruiting opportunities

37:12 - The importance of mentors

40:47 - Corin’s idea of the perfect stroke begins and ends with rhythm

42:37 - This one time, at ODP HP camp: when everything went right

49:39 - bonus outtake

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To see photos of Corin, and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website.

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This episode is made possible in part by  Breakwater Realty Group, Concept2, Live2Row, and our Patrons.

A former D1 volleyball player with an M.S. in Sports Administration, Jess Jackson joined USRowing in 2022 as a DEI associate. She hasn't learned to row (yet), but swears by Orange Theory workouts which incorporate indoor rowing. She's honest about her first impressions of rowing as exclusive and white, proud of the steps USRowing is taking around diversity and equity, and hopeful that today's juniors are leading the way in inspiring change for the future of rowing.

We also talk in depth about USRowing’s RowCon2023, which is scheduled to take place two weeks after this episode launches.

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CATEGORIES: Coaching, Culture

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QUICK LOOK:

00:00 - Intro

02:00 - HOCR experience and thoughts on sync in the boat

03:45 - On a scale of 1-10, this week was an 8: travel, Orange Theory

05:14 - Growing up playing a variety of sports

08:00 - Title IX influence on all of us

11:15 - First impressions of rowing: exclusive and white

14:15 - Takeaways from HOCR

17:05 - Code switching, the challenges of overcoming the sport’s exclusive past, and today’s juniors leading the DEI charge

22:46 - Defining diversity, equity, and inclusion

25:08 - The DEI team at USRowing

28:08 - About the TruClusion survey developed to help USRowing formulate its strategic plan

30:40 - RowCon2023's wide variety of content, all with an inclusion lens

37:52 - How RowCon2023 attendees can take ownership of the event and network successfully

46:23 - bonus outtake

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To see photos of Jess, and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website.

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This episode is made possible in part by  Breakwater Realty Group, Concept2, Live2Row, and our Patrons.

Seattle has the Pococks. Philadelphia has the Kellys. And Boston has the Stones. We’re really excited to kick off season 4 with mother/daughter Olympians Lisa and Gevvie Stone. Lisa was a member of the first U.S. women’s Olympic rowing team in 1976. She married Gregg Stone (an Olympian and original founder of C.R.A.S.H.-B.s), and went on to a 42-year coaching career at the helm of collegiate and high school programs. 

Gevvie was raised in a competitive environment, and was a natural when she took up rowing in high school coached by her mom. She won Youth Nationals her first year on the team and went on to row at Princeton. Gevvie was a member of the 2012, 2016 and 2021 U.S. Olympic teams – all while in medical school, and then as an emergency medicine resident.

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CATEGORIES: coaching, training, racing

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TIME STAMPS

02:42 - Tara and Rachel talk about why they’re excited to talk with Lisa and Gevvie

05:00 - What's going on their rowing week

06:45 - Rapid Fire Q&A

11:25 - Lisa’s quick turn from LTR to National Team

16:45 - Gevvie was a natural, winning youth nats her first spring season

20:52 - Gevvie and her siblings were raised to be active and competitive - but not necessarily to be rowers

25:45 - The perfect stroke: is it even possible? There’s always “faster” out there

32:01 - Lisa reflects on being part of the first women’s Olympic squad, doped vs undoped, incremental progress for women in sport

37:47 - Gregg Stone: Rude and Smooth Harvard crew, C.R.A.S.H.-B.s

42:00 - The family dog interrupts and Gevvie ends up telling a story about racing boat slings

43:19 - Leaving a family legacy of joy in rowing in Boston

49:45 - Advice from Gevvie’s coaches 

51:25 - Lisa reflects on her coaching legacy

53:32 - Looking ahead to 2023

58:00 - bonus outtake

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To see photos of Lisa and Gevvie, and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website.

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This episode is made possible in part by the Breakwater Realty Group, Concept2, and our Patrons.

If you were at the Head of the Charles in 2022 and stuck around Boston through Sunday afternoon, you might have caught a glimpse of a Community Rowing, Inc. crew with a combined 720 years of rowing experience. Coach Catherine Saarela put together what she calls her dream team – an Octogenarian 8. In this episode we’re talking with Coach Saarela, 86-year-old coxswain Bill Becklean, and 83-year-old rowers Lee Warren and Alan McClennan. They shared insights on lifelong fitness, being relentlessly active, and those moments you can only find after shoving off the dock.

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CATEGORIES: Coaching, Coxing, Culture, Training

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TIME STAMPS

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To see photos of Community Rowing Inc.’s Octogenarian 8, and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website.

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This episode is made possible in part by the Breakwater Realty Group, Concept2, Lake Washington Rowing Club, and our Patrons.

When she learned to row in the late 1970s, Liz Winter was excited to have a place be “unladylike.” She fell in love with putting power behind the oar and moving boats fast. After landing in Pittsburgh in the ‘80s, Liz was involved in developing Three River Rowing Association, focusing on creating community. Now retired, she’s combined her experience as a lawyer, social worker, coach, and educator, with a USRowing Level 3 High Performance Coaching Certification. We talk with her about coaching education, trauma-informed coaching, and building trust.

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CATEGORIES: Coach, Train

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TIME STAMPS

00:00 - Intro

04:10 - Rowing week: Winter training means a transition to the erg and resisting the urge to peek at your teammates monitors

11:09 - Rapid Fire Q&A

13:10 - Learning to row at Oxford in the mid-1970s: freedom to be “unladylike” and altering men’s heavyweight equipment for women

16:44 - Seeing a shift in perspective about women’s rowing beginning in the 1980s

20:15 - Leaving a career in London, traveling around the world, discovering Pittsburgh's rivers, and a deep involvement with developing TRRA with a community-first focus

25:38 - Law + social work + coaching education = integrated formula for ”do no harm.” For coaches to earn the trust of their athletes they have to be consistent, have integrity, and be transparent.

31:30 - Trauma-informed, allowing rowers time to learn, and “outside in” coaching

39:00 - USRowing Level 3 High Performance Coaching Certification: every rower, at every level, deserves a high performance coach

42:44 - Team Based Learning approach

46:00 - Coaching rowers with anxiety: start with small, incremental challenges

54:00 - Passion project: Partnering with the Puerto Rico Rowing Federation to establish a coastal rowing program

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To see photos of Liz, and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes at www.steadystatenetwork.com/podcast/s3ep25-liz-winter

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This episode is made possible in part by the Breakwater Realty Group, Concept2, Lake Washington Rowing Club, and our Patrons.