Canadian Rowing Team: Lucerne to London 2012

Athlete Perspectives

Over the next few weeks leading to London , we will be sharing  on this blog a few thoughts from some of our athletes who will be representing Canada at the 2012 Olympic Games.  Our first athlete to share his thoughts is David Calder, the bow member of the men's pair.   London will be Dave's fourth Olympic Games and is a silver medalist from the 2008 Olympic Games.  Peter Cookson, HP Director

Rowing World Cup II: Lucerne by David Calder

In my first few years on the team my excitement would build over the last week of training before we left for the Lucerne World Cup. Lucerne is one of the most beautiful race courses in the world and one that all athletes look forward to racing at.  When I first rowed on the senior team in the late 1990s, we'd fly across to Europe only a few days before the regatta started – we were literally thrown into the fire. This trip I have been able to contain that excitement, and now, in the final week of preparation in Europe, I can feel it starting to grow.

By the time racing starts next Friday, we will have been overseas for nearly three weeks. Living out of a suitcase that that long could become destructive in many cases – but not ours. We have established a strong 'base-camp' in Italy. Our surroundings are so familiar that it feels like we have a home-away-from-home. We know what to expect for our meals; we know the lake like it was our own; we know nearly every square inch of the hotel; we know the complex directions from the Milan airport and the side streets of the small town to get us everywhere we need to go. Predictability: it's what helps us prepare to race well in Lucerne.   Over the last nine years Rowing Canada, and our athletes and coaches have developed a relationship with the people who provide us with what we need. As a result we can focus on what's important:


Going as fast as possible. 
Dave Calder