Men's Team Season Update 
By Head Coach Gabe Winkler

We had brought a coxed 4+ to race in the Champ 4+ event along with the best in the world. In seemingly every category, from the juniors all the way down to the 70+ masters, everyone looks at the line-ups and says a lot of the same things. “This rower was in {insert boat class} at the {insert Olympic/World Championships} and pulls {insert erg score}!” I love that. There is an overabundance of rowing talent in seemingly every boat on the course. They even have a parent/child double where line-ups could have a father who rowed at the Olympics paired with their daughter who won the NCAA championships.

 

I exchanged high-fives from the Oregon State Alums that continue the love of the sport and each other as they competed in the Alumni 8+ event. The same one-liners that old friends have shared for seemingly decades never get old in “The Basin” during the warm up area before the start line. Is rowing supposed to be this fun?

 

I do not think there is another sporting event like it in any realm. It would be like if there was a basketball tournament and the 1992 Olympic Dream Team with Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson (and many other NBA legends) played just before the 2024 gold medal USA basketball team at the same time that the best junior teams in the world warmed up for their games. To be witness to such an event is a gift. This is what the Head of the Charles does.

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The moment that really sealed it for me this year was when Tom George, half of the silver medal 2- from GB at the Paris 2024 Olympics, agreed to take a picture with our squad of 5 and chatted with them for a bit. He was incredibly kind and witty about his accomplishments and how the race went. To have this opportunity is very unique to rowing and to the regatta.

 

These moments excited me and I think it also excited the 5 athletes that raced this weekend. What I learned is that Oregon State is right in the mix with the best teams in the country and also that there is no real secret to boat speed. “The Sinkovic brothers from Croatia really aren’t that big!” one of the guys explained. It is funny how your idols can sometimes be larger than life. This nails home the fact that in rowing, anyone can find a way to get faster no matter how old or how tall you are.

After graduating 14 seniors (some of whom raced this past weekend in various boats from various clubs), this team has a new feel to it. The energy is very high along with their expectations. There are positive vibes and lots of laughs as we do the hard work. They seem to really enjoy the process and to enjoy being on this team. As for me I wonder, should coaching be this fun?