Wednesday, July 21, 2010

The CanAmMex Experience

I just got back from watching another segment of our development program in action, the JRM Development Camp and their CanAmMex athletes and the JRW Camp and their CanAmMex athletes. Without exception, they all came a long way during their month of high level training and the racing results speak for themselves. Seeing these developmental athletes race against the college athlete in the Intermediate events during Club Nationals then have the opportunity to race their peers from Canada and Mexico, their climb up the long ladder of elite level, international racing has truly begun.

The CanAmMex experience that 13 boys and 13 girls had the chance to take part in was a great opportunity to not only see how you stack up with neighboring nations' high level junior athletes but is the first chance to hear 'USA!, USA!, USA! shouted from the shore and then have your medal photos taken in front of your country's flag! It was special moment for everyone and the smiles told the real story. The training week leading up to the racing was a lot of fun (all carefully choregraphed by Coach Andrea Buch) that included a kick-off welcoming reception on the deck overlooking the starting area, a Friday night dance party at a local Knoxville establishment, and finished up with a post-racing awards ceremony and real Southern Style BBQ! And, I almost forgot, there was lot of racing going on every day as part of Club Nationals that allowed the teams to work out final line-ups in prep for the CanAmMex racing....and yes.......you knew it was coming....it was very HOT!

All-in-all it was great week, the racing was fantastic with the most exciting race award being given to the JRM 4X with a nail-biting finish and the USA 4x coached by Pat Quinn grabbing the gold! We are already looking forward to the CanAmMex 2011 that is being planned by our neighbor to the north!

On Monday I head off to the Racice in the Czech Republic to get things ready for the 64 athletes and coaches that will be arriving the end of next week for their final week of training prior to the start of Worlds. I will add to the blog daily with 'racing insider stuff'' and I will be collaborating with Doc Walkley (the Team USA Doctor) to give you a daily insight , through photos, and possibly some video, into the venue, the surrounding area, Prague and, of course, our athletes in action!

Stay cool.......

Monday, July 12, 2010

What a training venue!

Stepping into the RaW boathouse is simply amazing; the history, the rowing memorabilia, the most helpful and courteous staff imaginable and a rowing/training venue that is breathtaking! The athletes all seem to be having fun, learning a lot and doing well....despite the heat....I know.....the theme continues......I just record the facts.

Coaches Cass, Boris and Wendy are doing a great job of bringing along our 'Junior Teamers in the wings' group and this has been important ingredient in the shaping of our international-ready athletes. From last year's JRW HP Group, 5 are on the JRWNT this year and just looking around here at the athletes we have gathered up, it will be a trend. This is the first year for the JRM making the trip and after witnessing 2 straight fours navigate 18 km on a series of rivers and canals as they are making very important technical changes.....we will definitely continue this program as well.

This afternoon the athletes are off and have decided to do a few hours of sightseeing in Berlin and then back to the training and prep for the scrimmaging with the German Junior Team tomorrow. They will have their hands full as the German Junior program is the best in the world but this a time for our athletes to learn what international boat speed really is what it will take for them to challenge them at Junior Worlds next year.

Off to Berlin to meet up with the team.....more in a couple of days after I get to see all of the various boats in action.




Saturday, July 10, 2010

On the road again

It is only fitting that this post comes from Gate 3 of the Delta Terminal at JFK airport since it seems like most of our camps are on the move this weekend as well.

The JRM Selection Camp is down to their last few practices to arrive at the final roster/boatings by Monday then they will be moving on to their training phase...where the search for serious boat speed begins. The JRW sweep portion of the team is now all set after Spilsbury and Benton were named to the team after some solid racing in the 2- trials on Thursday. Now Coach Moore is down to naming the 8+ and 4- on Monday as well.

The JRW Dev camp wraps up tomorrow and from all accounts it was a very successful experience with many lessons learned and we look forward to seeing their progress throughout the coming year as they work their way up the pyramid.

The JRW CanAmMex Camp is down to 18 rowers and 2 coxswains and will travel to Oak Ridge on Monday, compete in Club Nationals during the coming week and ultimately select the sweep rowers that will represent the US in The CanAmMex Regatta on Monday, July 19. Their counterparts at the JRM Dev Camp, and the CanAmMex Team, will be heading south as well on Tuesday and they are looking forward to the racing for sure!

The JRM and JRW HP group are getting settled in to their routine in Berlin and I am looking forward to working with them tomorrow. Olivia Smith's blog describes the venue in detail but seemed to ignore the part where it is going to be approximately 110 degrees tomorrow.......OK..... I promise to not bring back the whole 'it's hot out' whining.

All in all, things are progressing as planned, athletes and coaches alike are working hard while having fun and we are seeing the future develop right in front of us.

More from Germany tomorrow.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Lots of good stuff happening!

Sorry for the delay in my my update but over the last few days I had chance to see the complete spectrum of junior development and all I can say is that the there a lot of good things happening! I am impressed by the spirit and drive of all of the athletes and equally so with the quality of coaching and mentoring the athletes are receiving.

Over the weekend I spent time at the IDR in Philly and saw the JRW Sculling Dev Camp lead the way in many of their races and some of the JRW Sculling Selection Camp working hard to establish their positions in either the Junior Worlds' or CanAmMex Quad. And man was it hot!!!

The JRM and JRW Selection Camp boats represented well and now know much more about their base speeds and things to work on as they gear up for some fast racing in Racice where I doubt it will be able to rival the heat that the athletes are facing at the present.

Upon return to training camp, the JRW 4x and CanAmMex 4x was named and is posted on the site. Good luck to both of those crews as they continue to train for their respective races ahead!

After a long hot day in Philly, I thought it would be a great idea to jump in the car with Laura Simon, our new Coxswain Coach, and take a roadtrip to Pittsburgh, home of Three Rivers Rowing and the site of the 2010 JRMNT Development Camp....and amazingly enough I found it was HOT there too! We spent the next 2 days riding in launches watching some very motivated athletes making lots of changes in preparation for Club Nationals, CanAmMex and a shot at next year's Junior World's Team. Once again I am extremely proud of the coaching and educating that is going on by a committed group of coaches headed up by Rick Brown. This is their second year of dev camp hosting and although last year was a great opening effort, they have managed to make this year's even better. And one way of measuring success is the attitude and spirit of the campers...which was awesome...but also that 14 of Rick's campers from last year found their way into the mix at this year's JRM Selection Camp! I also had a chance to ride along with Coach Pat Quinn, an assistant coach at Malvern, who is coaching the CanAmMex scullers and after seeing the focus and determination of those four athletes, I am excited to now see them race for the USA at CanAmMex in a couple of weeks.

And did I mention it was hot when we left Pittsburgh this morning...only to arrive in Princeton to find it hotter! We had a chance to jump into the JRM Selection Camp launches and observe practice and you could definitely see the effect of the heat as they wrapped up the second practice of the day. My understanding is that they will do final selection by the weekend and then the team will begin to find their individual boat speeds.

The HP Teams are off to Germany tomorrow. I am looking forward to heading over there on Saturday to see them in action and get a chance to work with the athletes as they now get to add the international training component to their rowing resume and experience rowing at a new level.

Tomorrow is also the 2- Trials for the JRW and there should be some interesting racing for sure and I will update everyone on Friday when the dust settles....and we all know one thing for sure already....it will be HOT!!

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Team is beginning to take shape

As the July 4th weekend approaches, the team is beginning to take shape. In addition to already knowing who will represent the US in the JRW1x, JRM1x, JRM2x, JRW2x and JM4-, by the end of this week we will also know will be on the JRW sweep team with boat designations to be named by the 12th. This is the first year for the JRM HP Team and I am looking forward to seeing their progress in Germany. The JRW HP Team will be named tomorrow and they all know that although they did not make the JRNT this year, they are on the doorstep and many valuable lessons can be learned when they take off to Germany.

We will see a preview of potential boat speeds from both the JRM, although still selecting, and JRW as they will both be racing a number of sweep and sculling events at the IDR in Philly this weekend. I will be traveling to Philly to watch the racing and then will make the trip
to Pittsburgh to see the JRM Dev Camp in action and see how the next wave of talented young athletes are coming along! More on Monday!

Friday, June 25, 2010

Looking forward to great summer!

Hi all,

So that we can keep you up-to-date with the all of the Junior National Team camps and racing, I thought we would use blogs this summer. I'll keep everyone updated on the over all Team happenings like general travel plans of the camps, thoughts on how the training is going overall, reports for the HP training in Germany and ultimately Junior Worlds.

I will also be asking a camper in each of these to join me in keeping you up-to-date from the athletes' perspective and that should be a lot of fun to hear what they have to say about their summer journey!

Off to watch Trial 2 at the JRNT Sculling Trials...more great racing for sure!