Regatta Season--OMG! What should I pack?  

written by LuLu

With our first race upon us--We thought this would be a good first topic to blog about. What tips can you provide to our team to be prepared for a successful regatta weekend? Post your comments below in the "comment" section.

Thanks! Have a great day!

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Mens Masters Go Camping & Whitewater Rafting  

written by Coach DW-P


This past weekend, Men's Masters took to the great outdoors, camping at the Scarlett Knob Campground and rafting the Lower Youghiogheny River.
Our fun was a true team effort led by Supreme Organizer & Firewood Gatherer Matt Loughren.

Weekend photos can be viewed courtesy of Official Photographer John Buck, a.k.a. Omelete Chef Extraordinaire, Admiral White Gas Firestarter & Captain of Firewood Placement "for later in the night".

Almost everything about our weekend involved WATER -lots and lots of water (appropriate for a rowing team no?). Despite several incredible booming thunderstorms, complete with fantastic displays of lightning, we stayed both warm AND dry thanks to Campfire General Herb Cohen who masterfully and strategically "directed and delegated" all operations involving our campfire (except, of course, anything to do with the work involved w/ gathering and preparation of the woodpile). Herbie also brought the Cohen Family Canopy, without which our time spent together would have been drastically different. Without the Cohen Family Canopy, we might just have had to...well, i'm not exactly sure what we would have done, but I can guarantee it likely would not have involved staying at the campground much less cooking dinner and sitting around the campfire.

Speaking of which, the team ate well thanks to Asst. Quartermaster Steven Carr's organic appetizers, Chief Quartermaster Steven Irwin's main course contributions (not organic) and Dinner Chef Extraordinaire Bill Anderson, a.k.a. Master Firewood Pile Assembler. Chef Bill whipped up a meal, the likes of which we've never seen before on Masters Rowing Outings. Needless to say, everyone was happy with full bellies and no one went to bed hungry. Much to the camp's delight, our bed of coals provided all the heat for s'mores (toasted mellows betwixt graham crackers w/ a chunk of chocolate) provided by Ass. Firewood Gather/Firewood Pile Assembler/Campfire Lieutenant Donald W-P.
We also were, at no point EVER during our trip, in any danger of being dehydrated thanks to the cases and cases and cases upon cases of water procured by Special Agent Waterboy, Jeff Boldt. Many beverages were consumed, the bulk of which provided by Special Forces "I rode my mtn. bike 75 miles uphill both ways" Tom Hudak; the tastiest of which was Gator McCoy's (of the world renown Surreal McCoy's) special Woodford Reserve Bourbon.

Sunday we were joined by General Nostradamus "there's no way we're going to fall out of this raft" Chris Ryan for an exhilarating whitewater experience down the Lower Fork of the Youghiogheny River. Let's just say that when we launched, the water level was 8.3 feet. When we finished, the river was above the legal limit for guided rafting of 10.0 ft. With normal trip duration of 3-4 hours, we finished in just under one hour. We were like a national team octuple, roaring down the river right up until the very last rapid. Just prior, Steven "Gator" Irwin switched to "point" (that seat at the front/bow of the boat where one takes the brunt of all waves rapids and walls of raging waters) with Chris "Nostradamus- we're not going over" Ryan. Coming into the last rapid, the last enormous wall of water smacked Irwin like a domino, lifting him up off his seat and swooshing him, along with DWP and Ryan behind, unceremoniously into the Yough. It was absolutely FANTASTIC.

Well done men- excellent times had by all!

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New Coaches for the Masters Women's Team  

written by Jen B

Head Coach Don Heckenstaller (right) and Assistant Coach Jeff Lowe (left) are the new coaches of the Masters Women's team. Well...they're not that new - they've been coaching the women since January 2008! They are filling the shoes of Donald Webber-Plank who served as the women's team coach for 7+ years and still coaches the Masters Men's team.

Don Heckenstaller has 30+ years of rowing experience and 14 years of coaching experience. He most recently was the assistant coach for the varsity & novice women at the University of Pittsburgh during their 2006/2007 season. Prior to that he coached at North Allegheny High School from 1993 – 2006. During his tenure, his boats have achieved numerous gold medals at prestigious national regattas. In 2006 he coached a Junior Women’s quad to a win at the Junior National Trials and they represented the United States in the Junior Worlds in the Netherlands. As a rower he received many medals including three Gold Medals in the Lightweight Single, and four Gold Medals in the Mixed Double at Master’s National regattas. As a college rower he was a member of the Freshman 8+ at Florida Institute of Technology that won a Gold Medal at the prestigious Dad Vail regatta.

Jeff Lowe has 20 years of coaching experience. He was the Head Coach for the Duquesne University Women's Team in 1986, when the program was established as a club sport, through 2002. He is responsible for shaping that program into the highly successful & competitive program it is today.

The women's team is proud to have Don & Jeff as our coaches. We are looking forward to working with them for many years to come!

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*** Hello HOTO! ***  

written by Jen B

The HOTO website is up and running!

Please take a look! Let me know what you think and/or if you see anything that doesn't look quite right or is broken in your browser.

Thanks to those who sent me photos for the slideshow. Credit has been given on the Contacts & Credits page.

The 22nd Annual Head of the Ohio Regatta will be held on Saturday September 27th, 2008.

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This week's Fun Friday 5/9  

written by LuLu

Does anyone want to join me in a double this Fun Friday? I signed out a double for Friday. Send me an e-mail and let me know!

Lu

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Fun Friday, May 2, 2008  

written by Coach DW-P

Nice rowing for all those that participated yesterday. We had a fairly large contingent with 10 shells on the water. Surprisingly, there was a lot of smack talk from the women this week, accompanied by some fierce competition and speed.
Top shell on the water for the morning was the mixed 2x with Zuzanna striking a ferocious stroke rating with Coach Don H gleefully matching her fast hands. As they charged down the river, moving people out of their way, no doubt the entire women's contingent couldn't help but wonder if maybe Zuzanna & Don shouldn't handicap themselves with a more "measured" rating accompanied with some reasonable pause drills.
Fierce competition continued from 2007's season between the 2x duo's of Carlson/Folan against the Suplick/Goldblum. (Suplick/Goldblum somehow not only snagged the coveted "Jane 2x" but also showed up rowing their NEW C2 Oars WOW!!!
Katie Spiker showed the entire group, for second week in a row, that women can indeed dominate with a 1x.
Jeff and Jason, in the 2-, evidently had a faulty battery with their onboard GPS unit as their course was "varied & adventurous" at best. However, they confidently left no part of the river unexplored
In men's 1x, much to the delight (and a hint relief) of Chris Ryan, Steve Carr, selflessly, tested the water temperature. Finally Steve Martino continued to leave a blazing trail of fire in his wake.

Rowers:
women's 1x: Katie Spiker.
men's 1x's: Steve Carr, Steven Martino, Chris Ryan & Donald W-P.
women's 2x's: Jenn Brogan & Megan Kuehm, Luanne Suplick & Jackie Goldblum, Susan Carlson & Sally Folan.
mixed 2x: Zuzanna Matouskova & Don Heckenstaller.
2-: Jeff Boldt & Jason Monnell.

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