Rowing: A Lifetime Sport


Rowing is one of those sports that, for some people, is instantly addictive. Competitive rowing demands of the athlete a physically and mentally grueling combination of endurance and power. It is a quest for perfection. In rowing, during any given stroke cycle, the athlete strives for that perfect combination of intensity, relaxation, timing, precision, power application, balance, and quickness. I've learned things and had experiences while rowing that I will never forget, even if I never experience rowing at the elite level ever again. It is a lifetime sport, being low impact enough that one can enjoy and participate in the sport well into one's 70's and beyond. Here are some photos...



  • One of the most physically gifted heavyweight rowers ever, Derek Porter of Canada (roughly 6'5", 220lbs).



  • Canada's Lightweight 4- (Chris Davidson, Iain Brambell, Jon Beare, Gavin Hassett). These shots are of them leading up to the Sydney Games in 2000. I trained and rowed with these guys in 1994...it's hard for me to imagine training more or less full-time like that for six more years. The dedication of these athletes is simply incredible.


  • Me learning to row, 1989. Too much body angle (which reduces leg compression), and also the blade should be in the water at this point in the stroke cycle...common technical errors made by novice rowers.


  • A messy shot of the St. Catherines Lightweight 8+ at the Head of the Charles in 1994. The shot was taken as we were depowering port and powering up starboard to make the corner under the Weeks Footbridge, shown looming. We got the bronze, in spite of the form shown here (our time was about 14:50 - 14 seconds slower than the first-place US National Team). I'm in 3-seat (3rd from the bow), Brambell from the 4- photos above is in front of me in 4-seat.


  • Kent Mitchell Rowing Club (KMRC) throw-together for the Head-of-the-Foster-City-Lagoon Regatta 2002. Kent Mitchell (cox); Dave C. "Brutus" Brown (stroke); Sean Heffernen (3-seat); Me (2-seat); Jessie (bow).

    Last update: July 22, 2002