Born and raised on Vashon Island, WA, Jacob Plihal learned to row in 2012 after a knee injury prompted him to give up his basketball dreams. He climbed the ladder to Northeastern University team captain, the U23 National team, and was named to the 2024 U.S. Olympic team in the men’s single. At 6’10”, Jacob has a clear view of the world’s biggest rowing and athletic achievement: Paris 2024.

Go behind one of the biggest names in boats to talk with Brent Keuch, marketing director for King Racing. He fell in love with rowing when he was just 13 and looking for direction in his life. Rowing helped get him his first job, and introduced him to the woman who would become his wife. Today, Brent’s personal and professional philosophy is all about getting more people in boats, and sharing life lessons learned from rowing.

Like many women who grew up before Title IX, Kathy Frederick spent her young life studying ballet. When, at 42, she learned to row it felt like dancing with partners and she was immediately hooked. Just a few years later in 1993, the loss of a dear friend prompted Kathy to host a fundraising event on the Willamette River. From those modest beginnings Row for the Cure was born.

From walk-on at the University of Pennsylvania to gold in the LM2x at the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, Jasper Liu is an elite-level lightweight rower who’s worked hard on and of the water to learn about all aspects of our sport. With his website - www.rowingdojo.com - he’s sharing the best and most useful information that he’s picked up from some of the best coaches in the country.

When Susan Kinne cracked the bottom of a wooden hull, she never could have guessed that nearly 25 years later she’d be a master craftsman handling boat repairs of all sizes at Lake Washington Rowing Club. Just north of 70 years old, Susan handles everything from setting pitch to building Frankenstein 3x boats, is a powerhouse with tools and in a scull, and is a well of information about Pocock Racing Shells.

In our first-ever fan feature episode, Koen Elbers talks exuberantly about rowing in the Netherlands, parties with Alkmaar’s sister city and club, long distance events, rowing tours, and generally finding enjoyment in your rowing life beyond competition.

In 2016, Steven Dowd suffered a devastating spinal cord injury. With an exceptional personal will and the support of family and friends, Steven today is not only walking, but rowing. We sat down to talk about his journey and motivation, and the EnduRow Challenge, a charity event he launched in 2021.

GCRA was founded in 1984 as a non-profit, volunteer-based organization dedicated to providing its diverse membership with safe sculling and sweep rowing opportunities. Today, it’s home to 145 members across masters and adaptive rowing programs.

In the 1960s, Margie Elsberg was dismissed by a male coach at Boston University. Today she and husband Mickey proudly carrying the torch for I, J, and K category rowers.