Gold!

Watch our race here.

other articles:
http://www.worldrowing.com/display/modules/news/dspNews.php?newid=324850

http://www.usrowing.org/News_Media/PressReleases/detail.aspx?nws_lKey=842

Thanks to everyone for your cheering and wonderful support!
More soon!

racing continues...

Just a quick update to let you know that all is going well over here in Slovenia.  We are learning a lot each race and are spending every moment as focused as possible.  Won the heat yesterday, won our semi today, and tomorrow is the final.  Hard work and more fast rowing ahead!
I will post some pictures and another update after tomorrow's race....for now, more focusing!  :)
We race at 9:55am** tomorrow morning. (**They just moved our race two hours earlier, previously 11:55)


Go USA!!!


...and a favorite start line quote from yesterday's starting announcer, as a swan leisurely made its way across lane 6...5....4......3...2...1...just as one of the afternoon's LW2x rep got locked in:  "Don't worry girls, we wait.  Swan passing by."

Chop and chocolate

Feels already that we've been here for longer than just three full days!  Everything is going well and it is always fun to see all the rowers from other countries arrive as racing approaches.  The wind has been impressive, though.  Total glass in the morning, but then by around 12pm the wind picks up and for the last three days there have been white caps by 2pm!  Above is a picture of the start this afternoon...not white caps yet, but we're still hoping we don't have to start our race in that chop.


For us lightweights, the food is perfect.  Lots of fresh salad and fruits! However, we do have to walk by this beautiful chocolate sculpture every time we go to meals.  :)


Not much more to report yet!  Just keep sending fast thoughts our way as our first race approaches on Friday.  23 boats in our event, and the draw for heats should happen by tomorrow evening, as we prepare to dive into three days of intense racing!


We got a mention in World Rowing News...(LW2x)
http://www.worldrowing.com/display/modules/news/dspNews.php?newid=324842


I'll post more when racing gets underway!

This picture is from the web, but it's even more gorgeous in person!

Here we go!!!

Thanks for checking out my blog!  Maybe this time I'll actually make myself get into the habit of keeping it updated!  :)

Spring racing has begun in full force, and after only a week of solid training in Princeton after winning NSR2, (National Selection Regatta), I've found myself in the incredibly gorgeous town of Bled, Slovenia.  I'm here to represent the USA and race in a World Cup with my awesome double's partner, Ursula Grobler.  This is a very important race for us, because if we place in the top four, we will officially earn a spot on the 2010 US National Team, as well as an entry to row in the World Championships in New Zealand in November!

We're up against some heavy competition, including all last year's medalists as well as the Chinese who are always very fast.  There are 23 boats in our race...but we say the more the merrier!  This is a great opportunity to see where our speed is at currently, where we can improve, and how to go about the rest of the Summer.  

We're settling in quickly, thanks to careful planning (waking up VERY early while in Princeton so the time change wouldn't be such a shock), and a gigantic "feed bag" for the plane full of fruits and veggies.  The hotel is right on the water and the entire team has bikes that we use to ride to and from the boathouse.  I need to come up with a good name for mine, and I think "Clunker" could be suitable.  Let's just say, going uphill is not an option, and that there is no need to lock it up.

The boat's rigged, we've figured out oars (found out last-minute that our oars couldn't go on the plane!), and now the rest of the week is all about staying calm, focused, rested, and professional as we prepare for our first race on Friday.

Follow news and results at:

www.worldrowing.com