Where I've Been:
rowingevolution.com
I'm not actively coaching these days, so sometimes I feel a bit out of the loop. I
only hear about some events by pure luck, so if you know of somewhere I ought
to visit, someone I ought to speak to, please let me know.
only hear about some events by pure luck, so if you know of somewhere I ought
to visit, someone I ought to speak to, please let me know.
The biggest news is that beginning in 2006, the book has been and will continue
to be excerpted periodically on the website www.row2k.com. This has greatly
helped in allowing me to get feedback from members of the rowing community
worldwide, and it is a great honor. I am most indebted to Ed Hewitt of row2k.
to be excerpted periodically on the website www.row2k.com. This has greatly
helped in allowing me to get feedback from members of the rowing community
worldwide, and it is a great honor. I am most indebted to Ed Hewitt of row2k.
As I continue my research, among the most rewarding things has been the
people who have contacted me from around the world to offer additions to my
bibliography and to read and comment on what I have written so far. I am
privileged to collaborate with individuals from Canada, Australia, Great Britain,
Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.
I have also found newsreel archives in the U.S., Britain and France to be
enormously illuminating in my continuing efforts to reconstruct the techniques of
crews going back to the 19th Century.
There are several other serious rowing history projects in process at the
moment, and I am thrilled to cooperate and collaborate with Chris Dodd, Dan
Boyne, Tom Weil, Bill Miller, Sandy Culver, Joanne Iverson, Susan Saint Sing and
anyone else.
I am in great company on this project, not only with fellow writers and historians
but also with the people who have made the history I write about.
I was privileged to work closely with John Cooke from the 1956 Yale Olympic
Champion Crew in the months before he died. John's teammate, Charlie
Grimes, also gave me his rowing files and spent hours on the phone with me
shortly before he also passed away. I will be forever grateful that I got to
collaborate with both these champions while there was still time.
I got to row with the 1956 Yale Eight during their 50th Reunion at the Yale-Harvard
Race in 2006, and an article authored by me appeared in the November issue of
the Yale Alumni Magazine to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1956 Yale
Olympic Champion Eight. I am privileged to call these people my friends.
In January, 2008, Joe Burk, my coach for a year while I was a freshman at Penn,
passed away a week short of his 94th birthday. I was honored to get to know him
personally as he generously assisted me in my book project for more than three
years. We talked on the phone, corresponded, and I visited him twice in Tucson,
Arizona. As were all those who knew him, I was profoundly touched by Joe Burk.
My new book will be dedicated to him.
people who have contacted me from around the world to offer additions to my
bibliography and to read and comment on what I have written so far. I am
privileged to collaborate with individuals from Canada, Australia, Great Britain,
Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.
I have also found newsreel archives in the U.S., Britain and France to be
enormously illuminating in my continuing efforts to reconstruct the techniques of
crews going back to the 19th Century.
There are several other serious rowing history projects in process at the
moment, and I am thrilled to cooperate and collaborate with Chris Dodd, Dan
Boyne, Tom Weil, Bill Miller, Sandy Culver, Joanne Iverson, Susan Saint Sing and
anyone else.
I am in great company on this project, not only with fellow writers and historians
but also with the people who have made the history I write about.
I was privileged to work closely with John Cooke from the 1956 Yale Olympic
Champion Crew in the months before he died. John's teammate, Charlie
Grimes, also gave me his rowing files and spent hours on the phone with me
shortly before he also passed away. I will be forever grateful that I got to
collaborate with both these champions while there was still time.
I got to row with the 1956 Yale Eight during their 50th Reunion at the Yale-Harvard
Race in 2006, and an article authored by me appeared in the November issue of
the Yale Alumni Magazine to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1956 Yale
Olympic Champion Eight. I am privileged to call these people my friends.
In January, 2008, Joe Burk, my coach for a year while I was a freshman at Penn,
passed away a week short of his 94th birthday. I was honored to get to know him
personally as he generously assisted me in my book project for more than three
years. We talked on the phone, corresponded, and I visited him twice in Tucson,
Arizona. As were all those who knew him, I was profoundly touched by Joe Burk.
My new book will be dedicated to him.
What's Going On in the Near Future:
Event Calendar
10.04
10.04
01.09.05
12.29.04
Spent several days in the research library at Mystic
Seaport
Seaport
In Princeton/Philadelphia area, met with Mike Teti,
Tom Terhaar, Ted Nash
Tom Terhaar, Ted Nash
Went out in launch with Steve Gladstone of University
of California
of California
Interviewed Don Breitenberg, Washington '49
concerning Al Ulbrickson
concerning Al Ulbrickson
Traveled to Boston for Head of the Charles, met with
Monk Terry, Harry Parker, Buzz Congram, Hart Perry,
Gardner Cadwalader
Monk Terry, Harry Parker, Buzz Congram, Hart Perry,
Gardner Cadwalader
 |  |  |  |  |  |
01.23.05
Met Christopher Dodd, Bill Miller, Hart Perry and Tom
Weil, Directors of the Friends of Rowing History, in
Mystic, CT
Weil, Directors of the Friends of Rowing History, in
Mystic, CT
01.28-9.05
Met Thor Nilsen, Mike Spracklen, All Morrow, Alan
Roaf, Volker Nolte and a host of other coaches at the
RCA Coaches' Conference in Ontario
Roaf, Volker Nolte and a host of other coaches at the
RCA Coaches' Conference in Ontario
04.2-3.05
04.9.05
Met with Anita deFrantz, Joan Lind, Rick Clothier,
Zenon Babraj, Stan Bergman, Conn Findlay and Kent
Mitchell at the San Diego Crew Classic.
Zenon Babraj, Stan Bergman, Conn Findlay and Kent
Mitchell at the San Diego Crew Classic.
Met with Joe Burk at his winter home in Tucson.
05.15.05
Met with Chuck von Wrangell at the Women's Eastern
Sprints.
Sprints.
Traveled to Seattle to meet with historian John Lundin,
grandson of a member of the 1897 IRA-champion
Cornell crew, coaches Charlie McIntyre, Stan Pocock,
Frank Cunningham and Bob Ernst, members of the
1948 Washington Varsity and Jayvee crews, Conal
Groom of Pocock Rowing Center, 2004 Olympians
Anna Michelson, Lianne Nelson and Bryan
Volpenhein, and Bill Tytus of Pocock Racing Shells.
grandson of a member of the 1897 IRA-champion
Cornell crew, coaches Charlie McIntyre, Stan Pocock,
Frank Cunningham and Bob Ernst, members of the
1948 Washington Varsity and Jayvee crews, Conal
Groom of Pocock Rowing Center, 2004 Olympians
Anna Michelson, Lianne Nelson and Bryan
Volpenhein, and Bill Tytus of Pocock Racing Shells.
09.18-25.05
10.20-8.05
Traveled to Boston during the Head of the Charles to
interview 1968 Olympic Stroke Steve Brooks, 1972
Olympic Stroke Monk Terry, members of Harvard
crews of the 1960s and 1970s, and members of the
current Harvard crews and coaching staff. Then
traveled to Indianapolis to search the USRA film and
print archives.
interview 1968 Olympic Stroke Steve Brooks, 1972
Olympic Stroke Monk Terry, members of Harvard
crews of the 1960s and 1970s, and members of the
current Harvard crews and coaching staff. Then
traveled to Indianapolis to search the USRA film and
print archives.
I am beginning to turn my attention toward the period from the 1980s to the
present, and a number of individuals are stepping forward to help guide me. I
am especially grateful to John Van Blom, Harry Parker, Ted Washburn, Bob Ernst
and Ted Nash for their continuing assistance.
I am also turning increasing attention to international rowing, and I am most
grateful for responses from such individuals as Thomas Lange, Drew Ginn,
Matthew Pinsent and Steve Redgrave. Steve has been especially generous with
his time and his reminiscences.
I intend to expand this website to include excerpts of the book for visitors to read
and comment on. This will be a priority later in 2008.
I also intend to introduce to the book analysis of force graphs through original
research I will begin as early as this summer. Other than that, as I continue to
write the book seems to guide me as to where I need to explore next.
present, and a number of individuals are stepping forward to help guide me. I
am especially grateful to John Van Blom, Harry Parker, Ted Washburn, Bob Ernst
and Ted Nash for their continuing assistance.
I am also turning increasing attention to international rowing, and I am most
grateful for responses from such individuals as Thomas Lange, Drew Ginn,
Matthew Pinsent and Steve Redgrave. Steve has been especially generous with
his time and his reminiscences.
I intend to expand this website to include excerpts of the book for visitors to read
and comment on. This will be a priority later in 2008.
I also intend to introduce to the book analysis of force graphs through original
research I will begin as early as this summer. Other than that, as I continue to
write the book seems to guide me as to where I need to explore next.
2.3.06
Traveled to the Olympic Training Center to go out in
the launch with Ted Nash of Penn A.C. and meet with
Kris Korzeniowski and Laurel Korholz of the U.S.
National Team.
the launch with Ted Nash of Penn A.C. and meet with
Kris Korzeniowski and Laurel Korholz of the U.S.
National Team.
Traveled to the East Coast and did some research at
the Princeton University Library and met with Curtis
Jordan and Lori Dauphiny of Princeton, Lyman Perry of
the 1960 Naval Academy Olympic Eight, Stan
Bergman, Seth Brennan, Mike Irwin, Chris Simon and
Barb Kirsch Grut of Penn, Charles von Wrangell of the
1948 Cornell Crew, Ed Hewitt of www.row2k.com,
Jason Read of the 2004 U.S. Olympic Crew, John
Pescatore and Dave Vogel of Yale, and Bill Miller, Hart
Perry, Tom Weil and Christopher Dodd of the Friends
of Rowing History. I then spent two days doing
research in Tom Weil's magnificent archive of rowing
books, periodicals and artifacts.
the Princeton University Library and met with Curtis
Jordan and Lori Dauphiny of Princeton, Lyman Perry of
the 1960 Naval Academy Olympic Eight, Stan
Bergman, Seth Brennan, Mike Irwin, Chris Simon and
Barb Kirsch Grut of Penn, Charles von Wrangell of the
1948 Cornell Crew, Ed Hewitt of www.row2k.com,
Jason Read of the 2004 U.S. Olympic Crew, John
Pescatore and Dave Vogel of Yale, and Bill Miller, Hart
Perry, Tom Weil and Christopher Dodd of the Friends
of Rowing History. I then spent two days doing
research in Tom Weil's magnificent archive of rowing
books, periodicals and artifacts.
2.3.06
4.1-2.06
2.5-14.06
At the San Diego Crew Classic, I met with Jason Read
from the 2004 U.S. Olympic Champion Eight, Cal
Coach Steve Gladstone, Long Beach Scullers John
Nunn, John Van Blom and Joan Lind Van Blom.
I interviewed Lou Lindsey, coach of the 1960 U.S.
Olympic Eight, and Sebastian Bea, stroke of the 2000
U.S. Olympic Silver medal Pair.
from the 2004 U.S. Olympic Champion Eight, Cal
Coach Steve Gladstone, Long Beach Scullers John
Nunn, John Van Blom and Joan Lind Van Blom.
I interviewed Lou Lindsey, coach of the 1960 U.S.
Olympic Eight, and Sebastian Bea, stroke of the 2000
U.S. Olympic Silver medal Pair.
5.26.06
Spent the day at the Cal Boathouse with Steve
Gladstone and his Cal Varsity two days before they left
for the IRAs.
Gladstone and his Cal Varsity two days before they left
for the IRAs.
6.9-10.06
Joined the 1956 Yale Olympic Champion Crew at their
50th Reunion in New London. Went for a row with
them at Gales Ferry, and stayed to watch the
Yale-Harvard Race.
50th Reunion in New London. Went for a row with
them at Gales Ferry, and stayed to watch the
Yale-Harvard Race.
8.27-8.06
My wife and I visited Irmgard, the widow of Herman
Beasley, at her home along the Siuslaw River in
Oregon. A friend for thirty years, Herman had
entrusted his rowing film collection and his notes to
me so that I could ensure that they would be
preserved fro future generations of rowers and
coaches.
Beasley, at her home along the Siuslaw River in
Oregon. A friend for thirty years, Herman had
entrusted his rowing film collection and his notes to
me so that I could ensure that they would be
preserved fro future generations of rowers and
coaches.
3..07
Went out in the launch with Tom Terhaar as he
coached the U.S. Women's National Team at the
Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, CA.
coached the U.S. Women's National Team at the
Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, CA.
I need to track down several sources in the Southern California area, among
them Duvall Hecht and Jim Storm. I also need to speak to Bill Maher in Detroit
and Don Spero on the East Coast over the phone in order to complete my
research into mid-20th Century American sculling.
I also have several borrowed books to read and return, a great number of tapes
to transcribe and many films to analyze. The pace of my research has been such
that I have not had the time to fully assimilate and make use of all the information
I have already collected.
Within the next six to nine months, my attention will turn from researching and
writing to proofing and editing. I am in touch with a number of publishers, and the
prospect of finishing this project looms large on the horizon.
When it is finally finished, I am sure I will miss the process. I have been
privileged to work with so many great athletes and coaches, so many individuals
passionate about rowing. I am very grateful to everyone who has contributed.
them Duvall Hecht and Jim Storm. I also need to speak to Bill Maher in Detroit
and Don Spero on the East Coast over the phone in order to complete my
research into mid-20th Century American sculling.
I also have several borrowed books to read and return, a great number of tapes
to transcribe and many films to analyze. The pace of my research has been such
that I have not had the time to fully assimilate and make use of all the information
I have already collected.
Within the next six to nine months, my attention will turn from researching and
writing to proofing and editing. I am in touch with a number of publishers, and the
prospect of finishing this project looms large on the horizon.
When it is finally finished, I am sure I will miss the process. I have been
privileged to work with so many great athletes and coaches, so many individuals
passionate about rowing. I am very grateful to everyone who has contributed.
5.13.07
Attended the Eastern Sprints in Worcester,
Massachusetts, paying my respects, speaking to
coaches on behalf of the San Diego Crew Classic and
making contacts with sources from Northeastern
University.
Massachusetts, paying my respects, speaking to
coaches on behalf of the San Diego Crew Classic and
making contacts with sources from Northeastern
University.
9.13.07
Spent several hours reminiscing with Tom McKibbon,
1969 European Doubles Champion and coach of the
great Long Beach Rowing Association woman
scullers of the 1970s.
1969 European Doubles Champion and coach of the
great Long Beach Rowing Association woman
scullers of the 1970s.
3.16.08
9.13.07
Renewed old friendships and made new ones at the
Friends of Rowing History Forum at Mystic Seaport.
Christopher Dodd has agreed to help me gain
additional access in Great Britain. He and Tom Wiel,
perhaps the world's leading authority on rowing
history, will review the text in its current form as the
book project approaches conclusion.
Friends of Rowing History Forum at Mystic Seaport.
Christopher Dodd has agreed to help me gain
additional access in Great Britain. He and Tom Wiel,
perhaps the world's leading authority on rowing
history, will review the text in its current form as the
book project approaches conclusion.
FALL 2008
3.9.08
I went out in the launch with University of California
Coach Steve Gladstone and spent a morning with
California Rowing Club Coach Tim McLaren, former
Australian Olympic Medalist Sculler and Olympic
Champion Coach.
Coach Steve Gladstone and spent a morning with
California Rowing Club Coach Tim McLaren, former
Australian Olympic Medalist Sculler and Olympic
Champion Coach.
6.30.08 - 7.9.08
I made a trip to the Henley Royal Regatta with the
encouragement of rowing journalist Chris Dodd and
Henley steward Hart Perry. Both went out of their way
to open doors for me and guide me through them.
I interviewed Matthew Pinsent, Steve Redgrave, 1977
World Doubles Champion Chris Baillieu, Oxford Boat
Race Coach Dan Topolski and 1956 Cambridge Blue
John Hall-Craggs. I met in person for the first time
Diana Cook of Richard Way Booksellers in Henley,
who has been most helpful in locating reference
materials and arranging introductions. I met Angelo
Savarino, coach of Newcastle University, who has
been most helpful to me in researching the chapter on
Italian rowing.
After the regatta ended, I spent two days at Eton
College with their coach, Alex Henshilwood. He
showed me where sport rowing was born, and it all
looks remarkably unchanged in 200 years. He also
showed me their new rowing facility, Dorney Lake, on
the grounds of the college, which will host the rowing
events of the 2012 Olympics.
encouragement of rowing journalist Chris Dodd and
Henley steward Hart Perry. Both went out of their way
to open doors for me and guide me through them.
I interviewed Matthew Pinsent, Steve Redgrave, 1977
World Doubles Champion Chris Baillieu, Oxford Boat
Race Coach Dan Topolski and 1956 Cambridge Blue
John Hall-Craggs. I met in person for the first time
Diana Cook of Richard Way Booksellers in Henley,
who has been most helpful in locating reference
materials and arranging introductions. I met Angelo
Savarino, coach of Newcastle University, who has
been most helpful to me in researching the chapter on
Italian rowing.
After the regatta ended, I spent two days at Eton
College with their coach, Alex Henshilwood. He
showed me where sport rowing was born, and it all
looks remarkably unchanged in 200 years. He also
showed me their new rowing facility, Dorney Lake, on
the grounds of the college, which will host the rowing
events of the 2012 Olympics.
6.14.08
I rowed in the 1968 U.S. Olympic Eight from Harvard
University on the occasion of their 40th Reunion. I got
to experience first-hand the famous Harry Parker "Stop
'n Shop" Technique. They treated my wife and I like
family and we are most grateful.
University on the occasion of their 40th Reunion. I got
to experience first-hand the famous Harry Parker "Stop
'n Shop" Technique. They treated my wife and I like
family and we are most grateful.
10.04