Dylan Lynch '16
Sophomore Ali Hoffman (AH) got her start with Bronco rowing less than a year ago and is already fitting in like a veteran. Santa Clara Broncos (SCB) had a chance to catch up with Hoffman and get an inside look at everything from the rowing team's daily routine to their popular daily Zen minute.
SCU: How long have you been rowing?
AH: I've been rowing since about four weeks into fall quarter of this year—maybe 5-6 months.
SCU: What regatta are you looking forward to this season?
AH: I've heard a variety of things about the Crew Classic, but I believe it's the longest trip we'll be making as a team. This is the first time in a few years that our team has been able to compete with the other teams represented down in San Diego.
AH: During a typical morning practice, we get to the boathouse around 5:45-6 a.m. and start taking the oars down the hill and setting up for the day. We do a Zen minute, managed by one of our lovely coxswains, in order to focus in, take a few breaths as a team and envision that perfect stroke. We sprint the hill to get our muscles warm and then do a stretching circuit as a group. Within a few minutes, we have a brief talk with our coach to get our workout plan and goals for the day and then we get hands-on and get the boats in the water. Many times the pairs are doing competitive 6k pieces, the fours are working on technical elements and the eights are doing head racing or racing starts as we gear up for racing season. By about 8a.m. we're back on the docks and we try to be on the road by 8:25 a.m. or so, after storing the boats and a brief stretch.
SCU: How important is your team's chemistry in your overall success?
AH: For rowing, team chemistry is everything. I don't think one girl on our team would say they would be out on the water in the dark and the cold six mornings a week if not for their teammates. I don't love carrying a gigantic boat up and down a steep hill every morning, but I love my girls, both individually and as parts of the team as a whole.
SCU: Where has been your favorite place to race/row?
AH: Honestly, Lexington Reservoir, our home course. When the sun rises over the ridge that frames the water it makes it worth the early starts.
