Longtails Rowing Club Growing In Size
[Written by Stephen Wright]
The Longtails Rowing Club’s youth community is expanding quickly, with membership rising to 18 young rowers and the number of volunteer coaches increasing to four.
The club was launched in August by 12-year-old Zoe Oduntan and operates under the Bermuda Rowing Association [BRA].
Oduntan began sculling — the rowing style used in collegiate and most international competitions — two years ago after attending the Orlando City Boat Club’s summer camp in Florida. She previously trained with the Bermuda Pilot Gig Club, often as the youngest rower in the boat.
Coach David Stubbs
Coach Erik Gotfredsen, far left, and coach Amir Thomas, far right:
“In August, we hadn’t started any rowing sessions and only had one volunteer coach, our main coach, David Stubbs,” Oduntan told Bernews.
“Since then, we’ve added three other volunteer coaches and 18 rowers who are registered and are taking lessons on the boats regularly, mostly during the weekends and erg training during the weekdays.”
A student at Saltus Grammar School, Oduntan captured a bronze medal in the double and a silver in the quad at the Halifax Regatta in Daytona, Florida, last summer.
She credited coach David Stubbs – a former Brown University and University of Oxford rower – as a key influence in the club’s development.
Nina Gotfredsen and Zoe Oduntan:
“He’s the one who reached out when I had won the regatta in Orlando back in July,” Oduntan said.
“I was able to convince him to not only train me but to train members that I was hoping to join Longtails Rowing Club.
“Coach Stubbs and I have talked about going to schools to bring awareness to the sport, but to do this, we need a full-time rowing coach and equipment.”
Another coach lending his expertise is Dirk Hasselkuss.
Coach Dirk Hasselkuss:
“Even though he’s retired, he’s competed in the Ironman a couple of times, he cycles and runs too,” Oduntan said.
“Coach Dirk is very detailed in his coaching, taking one technique at a time. He often sends us YouTube videos to review before our rowing sessions, and he has been consistently coaching us once a week.
“He’s great, he’s also been coaching me for a few weeks now, one-on-one as well.”
Erik Gotfredsen is also assisting the island’s young rowers.
“Like the other coaches, he brings a different dynamic,” Oduntan said.
“He will notice things like the foot stretcher needs to be adjusted for this rower, and details that are important for rowing safely and to have longevity in this sport.
“Coach Erik’s dad [Leif] rowed for Canada in the Tokyo Olympics in 1964, and he himself started rowing at the age of six.”
Another coach, Amir Thomas, joined the programme after a bit of online detective work.
“My mom and I found coach Amir by doing a LinkedIn search ‘Bermuda and Varsity rowing’ and he came up in the search,” she said.
“So, it’s great to see that contacts can be made that way. Coach Amir rowed at Bates College [in Maine] and brings that experience to our erg training during the weekdays.
“He’s attended almost every single session that we’ve had to date, helping out the other coaches.
“The boats are big for some of us to move in and out of the shed, so he’s been incredibly dependable.
“His commitment is invaluable, and having him every single session helps us to move quickly with setting up and packing boats away as well.”
Oduntan added: “In addition to the above coaches, we’ve had the BRA president, Andre Perez, and vice-president, Barbara O’Shaughnessy, also assist our coaches, and they consider how some of our rowers can be ready to represent Bermuda in rowing in the near future.
“In addition, we’ve been fortunate to have twice Under-23 United States national rower, Daniel Perez, coach a few sessions; he was great.
“Having him also helps us to understand how rowing can bring opportunities for college admissions.”
Let’s get more Bermudians and residents do work outs ! Nice to know membership is up.
I love this! GIRL POWER! Keep up the good work I love ladies that are in niches sports we need more people like Zoe and Nina. These girls are going somewhere! Good Job to the coaches especially Erik amazing to hear his family story and how he is continuing the legacy of his dad with his son Tadhg.