By Sam Cortes, Communications Coordinator
Maybe it’s the calm of being out on the open water at 5:30 a.m. on a Winnipeg summer morning, or the challenge of chasing that perfect stroke that draws in a rower – whatever it is, rowing is one sport that will bring out both the competitor and outdoor enthusiast in you.
Just take it from Janine Stephens, Provincial Team Coach for the Manitoba Rowing Association and Olympic silver medalist at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, and Meghan Montgomery, Assistant Coach and bronze medalist at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, that there is so much to love and respect about the sport.
A Strong Duo
This summer, Manitoba Rowing Association (MRA) athletes immersed themselves in the sport as Janine and Meghan teamed up for a second year in a row to coach local rowing athletes for six weeks in Winnipeg.
Although there were some necessary adjustments made to training due to COVID-19, these coaches found ways to share their passion and knowledge and modify their programming to continue developing athletes from the Learn-to-Row level to high performance.
First getting to know each other when they competed together in the women’s eights for Team Manitoba in 2001, Janine and Meghan have cheered each other on in their careers ever since.
“There are lots of coaches out there, but what Meghan and Janine bring to the table is they know what it takes to win and to win big,” said Andrea Katz, Executive Director of the Manitoba Rowing Association. “That’s everything from hard work to dedication, to having a positive mindset at every practice. They’re inspiring.”
World Stage Experience
Over the past two decades, Janine and Meghan have collected experience as athletes at the national and international level that has shaped them as coaches.
“To be able to draw from your experiences and knowing that yes, I’ve been through the selection procedure and race anxiety, everything from nutrition to sport science – there’s always more to learn, but the ideas aren’t new to me, because I’ve had to do them all in my own training,” said Janine.
Meghan said her own rowing journey has allowed her to empathize with the athletes.
“I’m naturally someone who observes things, so I’ve spent time when I was at world championships watching what was happening, the techniques, and listening to other athletes and their experiences. This shapes how I coach people. Listening to where people are struggling and trying to fill in the gaps,” said Meghan.
Practice, Practice, Practice
At an hour while many of us are still sleeping, the high performance group of 13 rowers would meet at the Winnipeg Rowing Club before sunrise to push off the dock, six times a week.
Getting started with a 2 km warm-up, they’d then dive right into whatever the day’s work was, sometimes rowing to Bridge Drive-In (BDI) and back for a total of 14 km.
The afternoon practices that took place three times a week focused on continuous rowing, technical drills, and one-on-one time for Meghan and Janine to catch up with the athletes on an individual basis.
With COVID-19, rowers cannot be in any crew boats and so they stick to singles and doubles, which is a challenge. Normally, crew races test how the athletes are doing, but one positive is you can really feel the boat more in a single scull.
Practices demand commitment, time and energy. But Meghan, who is originally from Winnipeg and resides in BC where she works as a teacher, wouldn’t have wanted to do anything else during her visit.
“My mom and dad are bugging me and asking me why I’m not taking more time off, because I’m off work and living the teaching life, but it really does make me happy to be at practice,” she said.
Beyond the Water
Like all teams, the success of a rowing team means connecting with your teammates and coaches in ways outside the sport. That’s why the athletes took part in off-water team bonding get-togethers that made time solely for hanging out, enjoying each other’s company and developing friendships.
“Off-water opportunities give the athletes a chance to know each other, and for me to see more of them as well,” said Janine.
Because of COVID-19, the team wasn’t able to do what they’ve done in the past, like going to Goldeyes games, Valour FC games, or Activate Games, but instead met up to do socially distant activities outdoors.
So, Why Row?
Rowing is one of the oldest sports in our province, so there must be something to it that continues to capture the interest of generation after generation.
One reason might be that you can learn it at any age.
“It’s a late entry sport. I started at 17. You can start at 40 and row for the rest of your life. You’re never too old to start. For a lot of sports, if you haven’t started by the time you’re young, you’re out of luck. Rowing is not that,” said Janine.
It also gets you out in the fresh air, is an opportunity to be part of a team, and constantly pushes you to challenge yourself.
“I’ve always been a competitive person. I love the competitive aspect of it. I love the beauty of the rowing stroke, of being on the water and being outside. I like the competition everyday. Whether you’re competing against yourself or a teammate, it’s always a challenge. I had someone say ‘Oh, you’ve been in rowing for 20 years now, you must be an expert’, but I don’t feel that way. I feel like I’m learning all the time, so I enjoy that challenge,” said Meghan.
Meghan added she would encourage anyone to try it, no matter who you are.
“I walked in those doors thinking that I wasn’t going to be able to do it because of my disability, and all I found was people who saw my abilities. I think the environment at the Winnipeg Rowing Club is welcoming to everybody and anybody, so I’d encourage people to do it. There’s nothing to lose, but everything to gain. It’s a tough sport. It’s challenging. But it’s also so, so rewarding.”
Looking Ahead
As the season winds down, Meghan has returned to Vancouver Island where she will teach math this fall and coach rowing at Shawnigan Lake School.
As for Janine, she will continue working with the Manitoba and Winnipeg athletes until the coaching pair can reunite next summer to prepare the team for the 2021 Canada Summer Games in Niagara, Ontario.
Interested in rowing?
Remember that anyone under 21 is eligible for Canada Games next summer, and rowing is still lacking in male athletes! For beginners, the Learn-to-Row program at the Winnipeg Rowing Club is on until October.
For more information on rowing in Manitoba, visit the Manitoba Rowing Association website or contact rowing@sportmanitoba.ca.
