S4E7 - The Crew of San Diego Crew Classic

We head to California and go behind the scenes of the San Diego Crew Classic, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

Crew Classic Executive Director Bobbie Smith – also a masters rowers and coach in San Diego – for the past year has been planning this event with Associate Director Megan Kalmoe. Megan, who is currently training for an historic fifth Olympic team, began her racing career at Crew Classic as a novice walk-on at the University of Washington. Coxswain and Head Beach Master Lex Switzer also joins the conversation about this West coast regatta that kicks off sprint season in the United States.

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QUICK LOOK

00:00 - Intro
01:44 - Episode lead-in
02:46 - Team Huddle: get to know Bobbie, Megan, and Lex
07:49 - Rapid Fire Q&A
17:00 - The guests reminisce about being college walk-ons
24:19 - For Bobbie and Megan, Crew Classic was their first 2k race
27:48 - Lex explains the diagonal line optical illusion that coxswains see on the Crew Classic course
30:30 - What first-timers can expect at Crew Classic
32:55 - Tara and Rachel’s Crew Classic memories, 2k vs 1k racing, and making use of a “flutter”
37:03 - Celebrating 50 years of Crew Classic and its evolution from collegiate only to today’s inclusion of youth, masters, and novices.
45:51 - The work behind the scenes to plan and host Crew Classic
50:04 - 50th Anniversary celebrations and special happenings

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To see photos of the Bobbie, Megan, and Lex, and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website.

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This episode is made possible in part by Breakwater Realty Group, Concept2, Live2Row, and our Patrons.