US Trials Recap #1

This morning the Bandits raced the lightweight single (Ursula) and the lightweight quad (all four of us).  We had a successful morning despite the yucky rain and wind.  Here are links to the results for the LW1x race and results for the LW4x race.  Row2k also wrote a full recap of the racing.

Since trials follows a best two out of three format, we will race again tomorrow morning.  Both the single and the quad will be duel races.  Here are where results of tomorrow's races will be posted for the LW1x, which begins at 8:20 am eastern time and LW4x, which begins at 9:00 am.  Let's hope the weather cooperates!

Arrival in Princeton

The Bellingham Bandits have arrived in Princeton and spent the day getting ready for racing.  Terrible news of Cas Reker's death came this morning.  He was the inventor of the RowPerfect, a machine that has helped all of us improve during our rowing careers and he will be missed. 

Racing for us starts tomorrow with heats for the lightweight women's single.  Ursula drew Heat 2, Lane 1 and will be racing at 10:10 am eastern time.  Results for the racing can be found HERE through Powerhouse Timing.  The lightweight quad begins racing on Thursday morning.  

Thank you to those who have helped support us so far by providing housing, transportation, help with the boats, or simply by wishing us well.  Onto the racing!

Salmon Row!

This morning after practice, Ursula and I walked to the bridge on Lake Samish to watch the start of the Salmon Row.  This race features all types of self-propelled boats: rowing shells, sea kayaks, racing kayaks, standing paddle boards, canoes, and my personal favorite, the six-person wooden boat with wooden oars.  You can kind of see it in the first picture on the left.  These guys were dressed up in black and white striped shirts and looked like they were straight out of viking boats....or prison.

The starting line was hands down the funniest part.  There was one mass start (not the typical start we're used to in fall racing) so you see hundreds of people clamoring to get ahead, crashing into each other, and just having an all-around good time.  

We were in for a surprise when Kevin Bowman, champion of the Sea Kayak division, donated his Salmon Row prize money to our training center at 931 West Lake Samish Drive. Wow - thank you Kevin!

The warm-up to the starting line

The first rowers arrive at the starting line

Welcoming Fall

It's the first day of fall and all of us certainly felt it when we woke up to 45 degree temperatures.  Though this morning was a little bit of a shock, the cold and fog has given way to bright sunshine as the day has gone on.  These photos were taken from the second morning workout:

After our workouts this morning, all the bedroom doors were quickly closed, which is code for "leave me alone, I'm napping" as we rest up for what's to come this afternoon.  We're feeling excited about trials next week and glad that it is finally upon us.  We'll post an update later this week about how to find results on race day.  Thanks again to all the community members who attended the Meet and Greet - we appreciate your support!

Meet & Greet

Today's meet and greet was a big success and we were so happy to meet our neighbors on the lake. Thank you to everyone who came and got to know us.  I think we might have had the youngest rower on a RP3 yet! And I heard her say : "GO USA!"

We are so fortunate to have a community like this one to be part of.

Thank you so much to wonderful sponsors for incredible donations: Hammer Nutrition >  Water bottles, Gels, Bars, Heed, and Recoverite, and USRowing for all the gear they sent us. WOW to say the least! Then thanks to Paleo Brands for supporting us through Robb Wolf. Also a big shout out to Omega Nutrition who have their plant right here in Bellingham! Lastly, thanks to JL Racing! Our new uni's are so sweet!

For those of you who are new to the blog, be sure to check out the older posts on this website as well as the other blogs we have going from this house:
rowstarproject.blogspot.com - Ursula and Abby's blog for the lightweight double
3medalchallenge.blogspot.com - Carlos' beloved blog. A couple days ago, Carlos announced to us (from his spot at his computer) that he was creating another post for his 3 Medal Challenge blog. Ursula responded with, "Of course you are blogging, Carlos.  That's like telling me I'm breathing!" Needless to say, Carlos is a blogging machine, with lots of interesting tidbits to share.  Check it out!


To donate on line please go to < our firstgiving > website. This donations are tax deductible!

Thank you for your support to get this quad to New Zealand!

September Swimming

One of the best parts of Samish is how clean the water is.  Today, after a couple of rows and a tough erg workout/run, the sun had come out and we decided to jump in the lake.

Kristin & Ursula mid-jump

The initial shock after jumping in

Then we convinced Vic that, despite always being freezing cold, she should jump in too

She stood there for a while while we yelled "it's soooo warm!" (it was definitely not)

She finally made the jump...

...and then got the hell out of there!

Foggy Samish

Training has been going well here on Lake Samish as we progress towards U.S. Trials in two weeks.  Our first row today started off with clear weather but by the end of the practice, thick fog surrounded us.  It was clear once again when we went out for our second practice, which featured a motorboat of media personnel...and by that I mean that Joel Rogers, a talented photographer from Seattle, came to visit us and snap lots of photos.  Joining him in the launch was one of Carlos' former athletes from the UW who took lots of video, often just a few feet off the stern deck.  Here's a photo from the first workout today:

Carlos Rides a Bison!

...Well, not really.  He talked about it the whole way to the Bison Farm we visited on the Whatcom County Farm Tour but was disappointed to find out that they were all fenced in.  The Bison Farm was one of three farms we visited this afternoon.  We got to sample locally grown and produced foods, had some fun playing with the animals, and got to make cider smoothies in a bicycle-powered blender!

Below are some photos from the afternoon.  There's some funny video we'll post as soon as we figure out how to do that...

Sampling Bison meats at the first farm

You can guess what he's thinking...

I guess standing next to a cow will have to suffice.

Vic with the cute little goat

Abby on the bicycle powered blender!

Kristin took a turn on it too!

P.S. We miss you, Summers!

My Last Day at 931 West Lake Samish Drive

Today was my last day in Bellingham, so Kristin suggested that I write today's post. I thought I'd put up some of my favorite pics and highlights from my time here! 

Living in this house was ideal for practice...we can walk right across the street and get out on the water in 5' with the boats right there in the bay on the first floor. The house is very lit and roomy allowing everyone their space. 

You can't find a more inspiring place to train...from the dedication, hard work and extremely long rows I witnessed (and sometimes experienced!), all the way to the mailbox where the Olympic rings are painted...

Each morning I felt like I was rowing in the clouds...it was often dark when I got on the water and about halfway into our row the clouds would begin to part and could finally see some sun with Mt. Baker in the skyline. 

A couple of Saturdays we went into town for the Farmer's Market...we usually didn't buy much, but sampled a lot! Flavored almonds, different cheeses, fresh peaches and apples, yogurt fresh from the farm, blackberry honey, vegan cupcakes (they actually are tasty!) and even saw these bicycle powered blenders to make smoothies! 

And after one of our weekly hikes, ventured to the Sound so that Kristin and Carlos could get their fill of salt water with the San Juan Islands just off in the distance. 

Jordan, Carlos' son, and ever full of energy, frequently visited and kept everyone on their toes! He is set to be a future soccer star, with full Barcelona gear and cleats. 

And we might have had a few not-so-lightweight treats along the way... 

I've enjoyed my time so much here! Some may wonder why I was up here...I wanted to take the opportunity to improve in the single and be around those who are much better than I so I know what it takes to exceed at the next level. I have learned a lot and am very inspired! I wish all those at trials the BEST of luck! 


-Summers

Glassy Samish

These photos were taken during one of our practices on Lake Samish this morning.  What amazing water we had - and no motorboat wake at all!!

Abby and Ursula

Kristin and Victoria

The Good Life

After a gorgeous morning row on Samish...

...we had a grand pizza making party

Here's a happy pizza-making Ursh...

...and Ab's ready to go pizzas.

What Does 34 Pounds of Blueberries Look Like?

THIS!

Yesterday Abby and I decided to spend their afternoon picking blueberries.  The patch of blueberries was so amazing that it overwhelmed us.  There were just too many berries to pick! We may have gotten a liiiiittle carried away with it but we figured that we live in a house with lots of hungry rowers that need plenty of healthy fuel for workouts.  At least that's how we rationalized it as we filled up the third bucket...

We were happy to meet and get to know the farm's owner and Abby got to check another thing off her summer checklist!

- Kristin

Blackberry Jam!

After finding hundreds of blackberries scattered on bushes surrounding the lake, Summers decided it was time to tackle the job of making jam.  Yesterday she and Jordan, her hardworking helper, collected big bowls of the fruit from bushes (that they later learned belong to our neighbors - oops!) and bought jars.  This morning after practice, they set out to make the jam and by noon, it was sitting in about fifteen jars on the kitchen counter.  We have yet to taste it but judging by Summers' skills with making other food, it is sure to be delicious.  

Jordan and Summers hard at work

The beautiful finished product!