Hi Everyone,
With the 2022 World Rowing Championship underway in Racice, Czech Republic, and some brisk (though maybe windy) fall mornings ahead of us, I wanted to update the Club on the High Performance Program. But first, everyone should know that a recent HPP athlete, Audrey Boersen, is racing at the World Championships in the LW4X. On behalf of the current HPP athletes and coaches, we all wish her the best!
We began our journey towards the 2023 US National Team selection events right after Labor Day. The athletes had most of August to take a break from rowing, do some travel, get mentally and physically refreshed, and consider what their performance goals are for the upcoming year. To be certain, the HPP exists to get PBC Members and select others on the membership waiting list to the National Team. This is a multi-year journey, so it is important for the athletes and coaches to consider the road already traveled as we look ahead.
This fall HPP has welcomed several athletes from inside the Club and added three new athletes who are in the process of applying for Club membership. Our newest athletes hail from Seattle, Charlottesville, and New Haven. Today our roster has 11 athletes who range in age from 18 to 40. We train six mornings a week, launching at 6am on Monday through Friday, and around 6:30 on Saturday. Afternoon or evening practices are critical to building the endurance, strength, and durability needed to race against the top in our sport, so you may see HPP athletes on the erg or getting their second row in after the work day. Many of us are at Friday coffee on the porch, so that's another good place to look for us.
This fall we have three main events on our calendar. October 2nd is of course the Head of the Potomac, and each HPP athlete will be racing at least twice. Later in October three HPP athletes will be racing in singles at the Head of the Charles. Andrew Weinstein and Jim Gallagher will be in the lightweight single, and Will Meeker will be in the club single. In early November we will reach our first event of the 2023 selection process, the Fall Speed Order at Lake Mercer, in New Jersey. That event, in front of many of the National Team coaches, will be a great test of the work put in thus far.
This fall I am joined in the coaching launch by Peter Schmidt, PBC member and five-time US National Team member. His experience making it to the world stage and his training insights are incredibly valuable to our athletes. The third member of the HPP coaching staff is Joe Federici. Joe worked with Matt Madigan last spring and helped coach the Georgetown University lightweight men's crew to bronze medals at Eastern Sprints and IRAs. This fall, in addition to working with the Hoyas, Joe develops and supervises the HPP strength training program. This level of attention to weight lifting and strength training is new for the HPP, and I'm excited to see the gains our athletes will make as a result. Peter and I both rowed our fastest when strength training was significant part of our training regime and not just an afterthought.
I will provide periodic updates as we move through the fall season, and if you'd like, you can follow the HPP on Instagram, our handle is pbchpp. In addition to seeing you on the dock (or on the ergs...or in the weight room), keep an eye out for some low key gatherings on the porch. Those will be an opportunity to meet the HPP athletes, hear about their training, and if you are so inclined, contribute towards our fundraising goal. More about that in a future update.
In closing, a big "Thank You" to all of the Membership who have provided advice and support over the last few months. HPP depends on the Club's support, and we are grateful to have it. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about the program. I love talking about HPP, our athletes, and the work they put in.
-Rick