Solid strokes

The USA LM4x out for a paddle on the course yesterday.  If it's not obvious - the course is hot even when overcast, gotta stay hydrated! Photo Credit Coach Mac

We're getting our feet under us here.  It's three days to the start of our racing, and we are ready.

This morning we did a scrimmage with the USA Light Men's Four, an opening 1000m piece.  Pretty fun stuff, the regatta staff/officials were giving the crews practicing on the course today official starting commands, with the red to green lights and everything!  A Netherlands men's heavy quad joined us as well for the first 40 strokes or so.  We still have room to improve, tuning the details, going from 99% to 100%.  Coach Mac has been working with us each row to make improvements, and the work is showing.  I'm excited for what we will do.

Back at the hotel now, post-lunch, lounging around while Colin our 3-seat works hard at his laptop.  Not all of us have the luxury of being able to kick back while at these regattas!  With the USA Light Men's Eight in the hotel, finally, we're surrounded by more friends and familiar faces, including Dorian Weber my old Riverside Boat Club pair partner from 2010, and coxswain Michael Hwang MIT and fellow Lakeside School Alum.  Good to see those you know.

The food is great as always.  With only a few days until racing I'm very much looking forward to our trips down the course, full-tilt.

Thank you SO much to my friends and family and other supporters who have been so generous in supporting our efforts here.  If you'd like to join them, check out http://natrowing.donorpages.com/SeniorNationalTeam2013/LtwtMensQuad2013/

Go USA.