This is Austria, Right?
If elite racing is as professional as it gets for our sport, then an international regatta is like going on tour. This week’s venue, Linz, Austria, is showcasing the talents of some 900 athletes strutting for the spotlight in various boats. I’m racing in the women’s pair, an event I’ve raced before and with the same partner, yet I’m as nervous and excited as the very first time.
Perhaps it’s because there are 28 entries in my event alone. Maybe it’s because this is the Olympic qualifying year for boats racing at the World Championships. But most likely it’s because I know we are good and capable of putting away our competition. And as the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility. Let’s start the show.
Our trip to the regatta was relatively easy. After a red eye from Philadelphia to Linz, a peaceful trip through security, a new stamp in my passport, and my bags the first off of the carousal, I sighed with relief. Rowing trips, especially trips with large head counts, usually have a hang up in one way or another. I knocked on wood after hearing my teammate declare that this was “the easiest traveling ever!” The next thing we know, we were shuttled and mistakenly dropped off at a locked conference center, instead of our hotel, in the middle of a tiny Austrian town, with no one in sight. And we all watched in disbelief as our bus driver pulled away.
Quickly, we realized the mistake, and like a rabbit, lightweight four bow man Andrew Bolten took off after the bus to rectify our situation. According to the directions, the hotel was nearby, so the driver joined our search, on foot, in temperatures close to 85 degrees, with luggage in tow, to find the correct place. Then, with enthusiasm, we were led to a youth hostel. “Surely this is hotel?” asked the driver in broken English with a worried look on his face. Not exactly. There, we sat for half an hour while phone calls were made and maps were consulted. Soon realizing that he had other engagements to attend to, our driver left us at the hostel with the promise that another driver would return to take us to the correct location. We joked as we nervously waited, feeling abandoned, tired, and hungry. Finally, the replacement showed up and we found our hotel in time for a much needed nap before our rig and row. Welcome to Austria!
One of the best things about rowing on the national team is that you get travel and see places you’d never see otherwise. I’ve been to quaint villages in Spain, breathtaking lakes in Switzerland, and deep into the countryside of Japan. While it may seem like a great way to see the world, most of your time is spent resting in a hotel room or zoning out on a bus. Don’t get me wrong, I love racing and I am grateful to get the opportunity to travel, but it’s a common misconception that we go overseas as if on vacation. Because of the intensity involved in racing, days leading up to racing are spent using as little energy as possible. This means eating nothing out of the ordinary, not venturing far from the hotel, and keeping your legs as immobile as possible. Sightseeing becomes virtually impossible. Also, most of the events take place in rural areas, so we usually have long bus rides from our hotel to the course, sometimes an hour each way. A typical day involves eating breakfast, going for a morning row, eating lunch, going for a row, eating dinner, then going to bed. Whatever free time is remaining is spent on the internet (if available), calling home (if lucky enough to spot a phone card working) or napping (if acceptable while dealing with jet lag). Needless to say, family and friends find it awkward if not frustrating when they follow us along on a trip. At least the racing provides plenty of excitement for everyone involved!
We’ve been on the water several times now; each time finding a little more comfort in our new hull. This afternoon we did some pulling, in preparation for the four by 2k we’ll be racing this weekend. Just as musicians have a final sound check, it’s nice to do a little work ahead of time to make sure the boat is rigged correctly, our race plan is complete, and our bodies are primed for the pain that it will soon endure. After that, rest becomes the most important thing we can do to prepare. So dim the house lights and lift the curtain, we’re almost ready to play.