Asheville’s Rebel Rowing Set to Make a Comeback

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Nov 22

Written By Rachel Freedman

Rebel Strength and Rowing founder, Adam Smith.

Rebel Strength and Rowing before it was inundated by the flood waters of Hurricane Helene.

Rebel Strength and Rowing, located in the River Arts District of Asheville, NC, was completely destroyed in flooding caused by Hurricane Helene. Owner Adam Smith is determined to reopen.

This episode was made possible in part by Breakwater Realty, iCrew, RowSource, and our Patrons.

In 2024, Rebel Strength and Rowing was named to Entrepreneur magazine’s list of the top 150 independently owned and operated small businesses in the United States. Then in late September – like hundreds of other businesses in Asheville, NC – it was inundated by the flood waters of Hurricane Helene.

In this episode, we talk with owner Adam Smith, and member Jason Mogen, about founding a small business, growing meaningful community, and sustaining it all through incredibly challenging times.

GUESTS
Adam Smith, Founder
Rebel Strength and Rowing

Jason Mogen, Rebel member

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QUICK LOOK

00:00 - Episode intro
01:38 - Nermine's rowing origin story
03:35 - Rowing Week 1-10: training for the 2025 World Rowing Indoor Championships
05:39 - The Hot Seat Q&A
09:24 - Competitive horse riding came to end with a knee injury
11:00 - Rowing as spiritual and sacred time
13:36 - Rowing provided renewed body confidence
14:31 - Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro on her 40th birthday
17:23 - Challenges of racing when there are so few masters women rowing in Cairo
22:53 - Flat water rowing on the River Nile, coastal rowing on the Red Sea
27:53 - Rowing bucket list

Steady State Podcast is written, produced, hosted, and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor coordinator. Rachel manages the website, social media, and e-newsletter. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper.