- Crew, we've called it a noble madness. It's a magnificent obsession.
- Crew, we've called it a noble madness. It's a magnificent obsession.

- No one wants the alarm to go off at four thirty in the morning, not even me,
- No one wants the alarm to go off at four thirty in the morning, not even me,

but then you get down and put hand in the oar and you shove off, you feel the water,
but then you get down and put hand in the oar and you shove off, you feel the water,

you listen to that hiss under the boat and then it becomes so easy to just give yourself
you listen to that hiss under the boat and then it becomes so easy to just give yourself

to something and give yourself to the day.
to something and give yourself to the day.

When we start practice it's dark, it's cold, it's not very nice to be there, I'm still tired,
When we start practice it's dark, it's cold, it's not very nice to be there, I'm still tired,

but as the practice goes on, usually about half an hour into it, the sun starts to rise
but as the practice goes on, usually about half an hour into it, the sun starts to rise

and we're getting into more intense pieces and harder work and it's just really inspiring.
and we're getting into more intense pieces and harder work and it's just really inspiring.

- You can't discount the fact that you go to breakfast and you've accomplished more
- You can't discount the fact that you go to breakfast and you've accomplished more

before breakfast than a lot of people do all day.
before breakfast than a lot of people do all day.

This year we are blessed and cursed with having the largest division 3 program in the country
This year we are blessed and cursed with having the largest division 3 program in the country

for women, and in some cases the largest program men or women.
for women, and in some cases the largest program men or women.

No matter how many athletes we have we always have a first varsity eight,
No matter how many athletes we have we always have a first varsity eight,

we have a second varsity eight, we have a third varsity eight, and then we have a
we have a second varsity eight, we have a third varsity eight, and then we have a

first novice eight, a first second eight sometimes, and this year we actually have a third novice eight.
first novice eight, a first second eight sometimes, and this year we actually have a third novice eight.

We say that every day is a seat race and what a seat race means is that every day we're watching for a lineup
We say that every day is a seat race and what a seat race means is that every day we're watching for a lineup

that works well or doesn't, and then we move people around
that works well or doesn't, and then we move people around

and see if another one work works well or doesn't.
and see if another one work works well or doesn't.

Jessie is now part of five and six and she's also playing four seat.
Jessie is now part of five and six and she's also playing four seat.

As we're doing this we're looking at strength levels, we're looking at technique, we're looking at work ethic,
As we're doing this we're looking at strength levels, we're looking at technique, we're looking at work ethic,

we're looking at their power and their strength over time, and then we try combinations and then
we're looking at their power and their strength over time, and then we try combinations and then

if a combination works we dissect it. Why does it work?
if a combination works we dissect it. Why does it work?

Why didn't it work? This one worked better than that on.
Why didn't it work? This one worked better than that on.

Some people row well with somebody else and some don't, and we figure that out.
Some people row well with somebody else and some don't, and we figure that out.

The first stroke doesn't have to be a wicked wicked wicked slow.
The first stroke doesn't have to be a wicked wicked wicked slow.

Within all of our practices and all the work we do we have a combination of objectives.
Within all of our practices and all the work we do we have a combination of objectives.

One, to help each athlete row and use their boat as effectively as possible.
One, to help each athlete row and use their boat as effectively as possible.

Not incorrectly to get too much length or whatever but in the strongest position
Not incorrectly to get too much length or whatever but in the strongest position

and in the best way possible for that athlete.
and in the best way possible for that athlete.

But then we also have to blend all of the athletes so that the timing of their strokes is close enough together
But then we also have to blend all of the athletes so that the timing of their strokes is close enough together

so that they can support the boat, the boat will be level, and the boat goes fast.
so that they can support the boat, the boat will be level, and the boat goes fast.

So we coach the individual in their technique, we coach them in ways and we coach the boat
So we coach the individual in their technique, we coach them in ways and we coach the boat

in ways to then bring what they're doing individually in together.
in ways to then bring what they're doing individually in together.

And then we coach the boat on rhythm and power and how to move.
And then we coach the boat on rhythm and power and how to move.

And we coach the Coxswains in how to respond and recognize
And we coach the Coxswains in how to respond and recognize

anything that breaks that rhythm, anything that pulls away.
anything that breaks that rhythm, anything that pulls away.

Sarah is one of those athletes who over the course of time has developed into a
Sarah is one of those athletes who over the course of time has developed into a

fierce competitor a great tactician and someone that the rowers actually you
fierce competitor a great tactician and someone that the rowers actually you

know really trust to tell her exactly what's happening, not sugarcoat it and put it out there.
know really trust to tell her exactly what's happening, not sugarcoat it and put it out there.

Even when you're exhausted, the person whose voice you will listen to that is the person
Even when you're exhausted, the person whose voice you will listen to that is the person

you want in the boat with you and she has seemed to get a really really good response out of our top athletes
you want in the boat with you and she has seemed to get a really really good response out of our top athletes

and out of the athletes that want to and have the ability to go fastest.
and out of the athletes that want to and have the ability to go fastest.

- I definitely didn't view myself as an authoritative figure like coming into
- I definitely didn't view myself as an authoritative figure like coming into

Smith but I grew into the role you have to have confidence, you have to have the authority,
Smith but I grew into the role you have to have confidence, you have to have the authority,

but it's something that comes with you and you know the rowers definitely respect what you say
but it's something that comes with you and you know the rowers definitely respect what you say

and they have to do it you say no matter what you say. I'm the brains and they're the Brawn.
and they have to do it you say no matter what you say. I'm the brains and they're the Brawn.

- So the Smith crew ergathon is an event we do every year to get awareness on campus for the teams
- So the Smith crew ergathon is an event we do every year to get awareness on campus for the teams

since we are always racing off campus, but it also is a chance for us to raise funds for a local charity.
since we are always racing off campus, but it also is a chance for us to raise funds for a local charity.

The past several years we've done the food bank in Western Massachusetts and we have a goal
The past several years we've done the food bank in Western Massachusetts and we have a goal

of raising over a thousand dollars today while we're out here erging we have people with cups
of raising over a thousand dollars today while we're out here erging we have people with cups

collecting spare change from all the people walking by coming to cheer us on, so that's the ergathon.
collecting spare change from all the people walking by coming to cheer us on, so that's the ergathon.

Smith definitely tries to have a world view in terms of how we can affect others and what we can do
Smith definitely tries to have a world view in terms of how we can affect others and what we can do

even in small ways. - We will take all the spare change.
even in small ways. - We will take all the spare change.

- And collecting change, it's kind of a small way that adds up.
- And collecting change, it's kind of a small way that adds up.

- Smith crew has been basically my college experience in a lot of ways I mean I'm a
- Smith crew has been basically my college experience in a lot of ways I mean I'm a

neuroscience major who does a lot of laboratory work I'm doing five credit special studies,
neuroscience major who does a lot of laboratory work I'm doing five credit special studies,

I live in the lab, but i would really define myself as a rower as a Smithie.
I live in the lab, but i would really define myself as a rower as a Smithie.

- Crew is a big part of my life at Smith a lot of my social life.
- Crew is a big part of my life at Smith a lot of my social life.

I actually got a tattoo of the sunrise over the mountains that I see every morning
I actually got a tattoo of the sunrise over the mountains that I see every morning

These are my favorite colors the pink in the oranges.
These are my favorite colors the pink in the oranges.

- It's wild to be part of a sport where people are so passionate about they're actually tattooing things
- It's wild to be part of a sport where people are so passionate about they're actually tattooing things

on themselves but on the other hand it's kind of cool you know it is pretty cool
on themselves but on the other hand it's kind of cool you know it is pretty cool

that it's something that represents something so big in their lives that
that it's something that represents something so big in their lives that

they want to put something permanent on themselves to remind themselves daily
they want to put something permanent on themselves to remind themselves daily

and later that this is something they were part of pretty cool that's certainly not required.
and later that this is something they were part of pretty cool that's certainly not required.

After a winter, especially in New England, when you really are hibernating even if we're here training
After a winter, especially in New England, when you really are hibernating even if we're here training

we're training in the basement or training in the erg room we're not outdoors.
we're training in the basement or training in the erg room we're not outdoors.

That we sort of blossom when we go to spring break and we go out and we are tied to sunlight
That we sort of blossom when we go to spring break and we go out and we are tied to sunlight

and we're tied up to the beginning of the day in a way that's very different.
and we're tied up to the beginning of the day in a way that's very different.

And then you get to see the sunrise we stop and we acknowledge it because in our normal day a lot of times
And then you get to see the sunrise we stop and we acknowledge it because in our normal day a lot of times

we don't have any single moment, sorry I don't know, but we have very many moments where
we don't have any single moment, sorry I don't know, but we have very many moments where

we just sit and where we just acknowledge that we have
we just sit and where we just acknowledge that we have

strong bodies and strong minds and people to share something with.
strong bodies and strong minds and people to share something with.