The Beach Crew Journals
The sport of rowing is like no other. It takes a large amount of time and effort to make it happen. Many who come through CSULB and experience this program for the first time fail to see the true reason why this sport is what we do and what it can do for themselves. These two ladies were on that track but decided to go for benefit of the doubt and give it their all:
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It was this time last year that I had rowed for about three months and I was not sure what this sport had in store for me. Over the next few months I grew to love the sport and I started to make great friends. This sport has taught me so much about myself. I have never pushed myself to the physical or mental limits and it’s a great feeling knowing that I did it. I still wonder why I wake up at the “butt-crack” of dawn to kill my body, but becomes a refreshing and rewarding feeling. After a great workout in the morning I feel like my day is complete and am ready to forth on the day. Being on the water is such an amazing feeling. Knowing that there are seven other girls in that boat with you, pulling and dying together, it gets me through hard races and practices. The teamwork utilized in this sport and the amount of trust required in each of us brings us closer. I am extremely lucky to have my crew family in Long Beach and excited to be a part of the California State University Long Beach Crew Team.
Pamela Van Diepen
Women’s Varsity Rower
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The first time I heard of “rowing” was during my senior year of high school. My friend was on Long Beach Junior Crew. She would try to recruit me every week. I would say, “I can’t run three miles everyday!” A year later, Beach Crew’s recruits were at S.O.A.R (CSULB’s freshmen overnight orientation event) and they caught my interest. I attended the crew BBQ during Week-of-Welcome and thought I’d give it a shot. I wanted a change of lifestyle. That’s exactly what I got. My first memory of crew was arriving that next morning at, yes, 5:30 AM and my coach saying, “Alright, go run the Stadium.” I stuck it out despite the early wake-ups and the tough workouts. I’m extremely glad that I pulled through. Even though people thought I was crazy for putting myself through these wake-ups and workouts, joining Beach Crew has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I met some of the best people here and made the best of friends. Every now and then, if you take a few seconds, you can hear and feel the water running underneath you as you row with everyone. That makes every moment count. Crew is one of the hardest things I have ever done physically and mentally in my life. I love the sport and what it has done for me.
I love the Beach Crew family and am proud to be a part of it.
Nina Whittset
Women’s Varsity Rower
