Shannon Moss ’11
Web News Editor

The weather is cold, rainy, and foggy. Through their rain-streaked windowshields, drivers see pedestrians huddled under umbrellas, windowshield wipers flashing, and…. rowers?

Susan Greenberg ‘11, a rower for 17 seasons at the Saugatuck Rowing Club (SRC), decided to take up the sport after always envying the swift oar motions of rowers she had seen.

Within the next months, she had practices consisting of two hours spent on the water, land excersizes, and countless seemingly unbearable workouts.

Yet, she continued to push through, despite the hard nature of the workouts.

“I love the way a boat feels… I love spending time with other rowers, and I love the feeling of accomplishment,” said Greenberg.

She sums up her relationship with rowing as a “love—hate thing.”

Max Meyer-Bosse ’11 has similar feelings about the sport.  Although he did not initially enjoy it when he started in seventh grade, he eventually became accustomed to the work, and appreciates reward that comes with it.

Meyer-Bosse has had great success in his sport.

As his team’s captain, he was also recognized as the first place winner in the Youth National heavy-weight doubles.  He  also placed as the third place winner at the Head of the Charles, a prestigious rowing competition that takes place in Boston.

Meyer-Bosse and his teammates often strive for 600 minutes of cardio per week on their 3 p.m to 6 p.m. weekly practices.

When unable to train on the water during winter, they simulate the motion of rowing by workout machines called ergs.

Meyer-Bosse credits much of his love for the sport to the team camaraderie component.

Sharon Kriz, 10-year coach of boys’ and girls’ rowing at SRC, also believes that it is important for team members to get along well with, and work well with, one another.

“It is the ultimate team sport. The athletes have to move perfectly in sync with each other to move the boat,” said Kriz, whose experience includes rowing with the U.S. national team for three years.

Above all, Kriz highlights the unique nature of the sport. “We train for endurance, speed, power, technique all at once,” Kriz said.