S3E4 - Koen Elbers: Learn, Explore, Have Fun!

In this first-of-its-kind episode, we invited Steady State Network fan Koen Elbers to join us for a chat.

Koen is a masters rower and the Chairman of Alkmaarsche Roei- en Zeilvereeniging (ARZV Rowing) in Alkmaar, The Netherlands. After learning to row in university, then taking a 15-year hiatus from the sport, it was ARZV’s welcoming community that got him hooked. To give back, he took on the roll of a juniors coach, championing fun and teamwork.

Koen talks exuberantly about rowing in The Netherlands, parties with Alkmaar’s sister city and club, long distance events, rowing tours, and generally finding enjoyment in your rowing life beyond competition.

TIME STAMPS
00:00 - Introduction and welcome
05:30 - Rowing week, on a scale of 1 to 10
09:08 - Rowing at university was all fun and drinking …
13:47 - Transition from equestrian/dressage to rowing and getting hooked on the community
15:05 - Slapping blades on the water
17:00 - Coaching juniors: weekend rowing and flapjacks
19:45 - Coaching while riding a bike
24:04 - The Area of 1000 Islands, Alkmaar canals and tours
28:30 - All kinds of opportunities: organized rowing tours in Holland, marathons, rowing to the ice cream shop
33:18 - C boats for LTR and recreational rowing
33:50 - About ARZV Roei
36:29 - COVID, ZoomErgos, finding community
40:13 - Alkmaar/Bath sister cities, Minerva Bath RC, Patricia Carswell, rowing with hangovers, beer tents, non-rowing regatta stories
47:00 - Rapid Fire Q&A
50:30 - SSN events schedule

 

Steady State Podcast is a project of www.steadystatenetwork.com