Rowing, Racing, and Relaxing: A Hamilton Rower’s Spring Break

By Zoe Neely ‘25

While many people spent this spring break relaxing at home or traveling to tropical places, I had a very different experience. Each year (with exceptions for COVID), the Hamilton College Men’s and Women’s Rowing teams travel down to Clemson, South Carolina for two weeks of spring training camp. Having never picked up an oar in my life until walking on the team this fall, Clemson intimidated me at first. On paper, two weeks with two rows a day sounds very physically intense, and while the work was hard, the training trip was about so much more than just rowing.

Afternoons between rows were spent lounging by the pool much to the amusement of the hotel staff; fifty degrees is warm when you’re coming from Clinton in February. In between shopping for Clemson merch or making Starbucks and boba runs, teammates made friendship bracelets and got glitter tattoos. Our meals were at the Clemson dining hall with other rowing teams, except for the few days we could cook for ourselves in our hotel rooms.

Rowing is not the only sport to have a training trip at Hamilton, but each team has their own unique focus. For us, Clemson was a great opportunity to transition from being on land to getting back on the water and in the boats. In terms of the actual training, our coaches, Jim Lister and Meg Conan, emphasized consistency both at every practice and across the season as a whole. It’s not just about having one fast boat; it’s about making the fastest possible team across the board.

We were also lucky to be joined by two temporary coaches from the Saratoga Springs Rowing Association, Karina and Veronica. Having them on the trip meant we could have more boats on the water and receive more feedback. They brought great energy to the trip, lots of constructive criticism, and a fresh perspective on all things rowing both off and on the water. Additionally, Clemson provided lots of opportunities to practice racing. Unlike basketball or lacrosse, rowing isn’t a game style sport. Our focus is endurance, and our goal is to be faster than all the other boats, so naturally, we have to practice that. We had two races against other teams, the first against Rochester Institute of Technology and the second against Dartmouth (only the women’s team). Both races were successful and provided an opportunity to prepare for the series of regattas our team will attend throughout the rest of the spring season. At the end of the trip, the team went to The Smokin’ Pig barbeque for a family style meal complete with all the trappings of southern food and games of cornhole, bocce, and mini-golf for entertainment. (We’re a multisport team!) While my body was tired at the end of each day, being on the water is the best part of the sport, and it’s great to see such a steep learning curve take place over the two weeks. Outside of the physical aspects, the camp also brought a chance to bond with new teammates and strengthen existing friendships. Personally, Clemson was one of the most unique spring breaks I’ve ever had and will continue to be a valuable part of Hamilton’s rowing program.