From walk-on at the University of Pennsylvania to gold in the LM2x at the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, Jasper Liu is an elite-level lightweight rower who’s worked hard on and of the water to learn about all aspects of our sport.

As a U.S. Senior National Team member, Jasper and his LTWX doubles partner Zack Heese will represent the U.S. at the World Rowing Championships this September in Prague, with a focus on Paris 2024.

Jasper also founded www.rowingdojo.com to share the most useful information that he’s picked up from some of the best coaches in the country.

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To see photos of Jasper and links to the people, events, and clubs mentioned in the episode, visit www.steadystatenetwork.com

It’s July, which means summer, which means vacations. And we’re taking one. Or, at least, a break. This special bonus episode was recorded live in May at Deer Apple Farm on Vashon Island, WA.

After a long day – and a couple of local hard ciders – we started swapping rowing stories. So of course, we recorded it. We hope you have fun listening!

Do you have any equipment breakage or river traffic snafu stories? Click here to tell us.

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00:00 - Introduction

To see photos and get links to the people, places, and events mentioned in this episode, visit www.steadystatepodcast.com

From Fairmount Park rowing camp as a teenager, to team captain at La Salle University, to coach at BLJ Community Rowing – you could definitely call Marqus Brown a Philly guy through and through. But the chance to coach for the prestigious University of Washington Huskies recently took Marqus out to Seattle, where he’s digging into the details to help his motivated crews move boats even faster.

In 2021, Marqus was the stroke of an all Black Men’s 4x, the first ever to row at a USRowing Masters National Championship. We’ve talked with the other members of that lineup, and hope you’ll listen to those episodes, too: Napoleon Griffin, Maurice Scott, and Brook Yimer.

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This episode was made possible in part by our Patrons and Concept2. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app.

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

We are really interested in backstories – the experiences on and off the water that make people the rowers, coaches, and coxswains they are today. And when it comes to rowing programs and initiatives, we’re curious about who’s behind the scenes creating opportunities for their communities.

With that in mind, we took a trip to the George Pocock Rowing Center in Seattle to talk with Zoe Vais, the organization’s Middle School Programs Specialist. She’s also a coach for GPRF’s Camp Lucy – a free learn-to-row camp for girls, inclusive of non-binary, trans, and gender non-conforming youth. From being a walk-on at the University of Washington, to leaving a mark on Seattle rowing, Zoe offers a thoughtful look at slowly falling in love with the sport and the important role coaches play in young rowers’ lives.

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0:00 Welcome

To see photos of Zoe, along with links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in the episode, check out the show notes on our website.

This episode was made possible in part by our Patrons and the support of Concept2.

When Susan Kinne cracked the bottom of a wooden hull, she never could have guessed that nearly 25 years later she’d be a master craftsman handling boat repairs of all sizes at Lake Washington Rowing Club. Just north of 70 years old, Susan sets pitch, patches damaged hulls, and builds Frankenstein boats. She is a powerhouse with tools and in a scull, and is a well of information about Pocock Racing Shells.

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To see photos of Susan, along with links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in the episode, check out the show notes on our website.

This episode was made possible in part by our Patrons and the support of Concept2.

Rock City Rowing members will tell you that Arkansas is sorely underrated. Located on a beautiful stretch of water in Little Rock, RCR is home to one of just two boathouses in the entire state offering programs for masters and juniors. RCR Head Coach Ted Riedeburg and three masters rowers tell us about bringing rowing back to Little Rock after a long hiatus, and how rowing changed their lives.

GUESTS

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To see photos of Rock City Rowing, along with links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website.

Isaac Kenyon just set his third ultra-distance world record on the Concept2 indoor rower. This follows on the heels of other huge achievements, like rowing the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, and swimming the English Channel. We dive into the philosophy and motivation that helped him break free of the lure of screen time, and the coping mechanisms necessary to take on audacious challenges. Through it all, Isaac's advocated for the environment and Autism awareness.

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00:00 - Introduction

01:53 - Rapid Fire Q&A

04:04 - Rowing Week: Scale of 0-10 

04:54 - World record for C2 tandem longest continual row (2 person) Male 20-29 LTWT to raise awareness of Autism

06:40 - Tandem partner Jordan Williams: From novice to world record holder in 5 months. Training, self-care, technique triggers

11:24 - Finding motivation, getting out of dark places, the importance of a support network, coping mechanisms

17:44 - An invitation to row the Atlantic was Isaac's introduction to rowing

22:25 - The tipping point from “outdoorsy guy” to seeking audacious challenges, exploring, and honing new skills

24:35 - The way into adventuring: start small

26:55 - 2018 Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge: training, nutrition and communications, losing sight of shore, and swimming with whales

36:55 - 2019 Ted Talk: Seeking a balance between outdoor time and screen time; how the Atlantic row changed his relationship with technology

39:45 - Regulating brain chemicals, substituting outdoor time for technology

45:24 - Being a part of the first digital generation, FOMO, and never seeing people again

50:50 - Up next: Setting a speed record for swimming the 7 biggest seas in one year

53:25 - Flying the flag for the outdoor time in exchange for screen time

58:15 - Letterboxing

See the full show notes at www.steadystatenetwork.com/podcast

Brook Yimer started coaching as a volunteer in high school. Just six years later he's the program coordinator for STEM to Stern. He’s also Senior Assistant Coach and Youth Lead Coach for Athletes Without Limits, and Assistant Coach at Wakefield High School.

Brook honed his leadership skills as a high school and collegiate rower, which today is clearly represented by his advocacy for – and involvement in – community service. 

"I don’t think you have to be part of [a specific] community to do good in that community. I just think it’s everyone’s responsibility to make sure the community is good.” - Coach Brook Yimer

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The aches of a teenage growth-spurt, years of collegiate and high performance training and racing, and injuries sustained in an accident, all inform Lisa Lowe’s personal and professional attitudes and opinions about self-care.

Now a PR3 rower and physical therapist in Boston, Lisa’s goal is to cultivate a culture within rowing where we support each other without breaking each other.

IG:

Ask most any rower about the perfect rowing conditions and they’ll wax poetic about  glassy calm water and zero wind, when a blade can quietly drop into the water at the catch, release clean, and the boat glides across the surface undisturbed.

But ask a coastal rower about great conditions and the answer will be completely different. It’ll involve navigating waves, executing turns around buoys, and end with a sprinting dive to the finish line on the beach.

We invited John Huppi, Kats Siemens, and Will Kuckro from New Orleans Rowing Club to tell us about The Big Easy – a city with a rowing history that stretches back nearly 200 years – and their vision for the future of coastal rowing in the Gulf South. 

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00:00 - Intro and welcome

02:30 - Rapid Fire 

04:22 - Mardi Gras is more important than rowing

07:42 - Recruit by looking outside standard flat water pipeline/training/racing 

11:40 - How Will and Kate as “coastal outsiders” are contributing to NORC’s success

12:30 - With fewer flat water LTWT opportunities, smaller rowers are finding success in coastal 

13:45 - How is coastal different?

16:55 - On-water problem solving and the importance of finesse

21:24 - The thrill of mixed boats and beach sprints

21:24 - The time John was a boat handler for Norwegian Olympians

28:44 - Throw “the perfect stroke” out the window, prepare for chaos

31:30 - What makes a great coastal rowing venue?

34:35 - Hurricane Ida's impact on NORC and training

38:04 - On coaching: helping people overcome challenges

40:39 - Rowers take ownership and redefine rowing training

42:58 - To grow coastal in the Gulf South, NORC is hosting development camps and experiential opportunities, and developing an endurance race on Lake Pontchartrain

44:38 - In a tourist town, coastal touring could thrive

48:58 - Coastal bucket list locations 

52:23 - Turning coastal boats and historic stake races in New Orleans

52:45 - NORC is the only boathouse in the Louisiana with juniors and masters programs

54:40 - LA2028 Olympics: perfect for building audience engagement, race coverage

58:50 - The year ahead at NORC

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www.steadystatenetwork.com/podcast