Look! What a joyous family we are.....

It has been a while since my last post, but after a well-deserved break, it is time to start preparing for the 2011 FISA Junior World Championships in Eton, England. Last year, the United States had an extremely successful showing, bringing home gold in the JM8+, silver in the JW4- and JW8+, and a bronze medal in the JM1x! Additionally, the JW4x made the Grand Final for the first time in United States history! This could not have been possible without the support from our loyal comrades back in 'Merica.

While New England is beautiful this time of year, the occasional northeaster makes it a region that does not prove to be ideal for rowing. Perhaps it is because the sub-zero temperature makes one numb to the pain of arduous rowing sessions. So, in just four days, 24 of our nation's top junior women rowers will be headed down to Austin, Texas to enjoy rowing on what might be the calmest river known to man in the northeast area of Austin... maybe we'll even have the opportunity to taste some of the local specialties, such as the armadillo taco! All jokes aside, this will be my fourth time attending the High Performance Camp and it has been invaluable to my individual preparation for the Jr. World Championships. The southern hospitality I experienced really made my trip both informative and enjoyable.

A special congratulations goes out to Head Coach Liz Trond, who follows in the footsteps of Justin C. Moore. While some have argued that her flowing blond locks were a factor in her acquisition of this position, I can assure you that this is not the case, although it is an additional benefit. Alongside Trond, USRowing welcomes Sandy Armstrong and Kate Maloney as assistant coaches.