Clam Island Coaches

 

Masters Learn to Row and Novice Coach

Conrad Plyler is the Novice Boat Coach and Instructor for Try Rowing and Learn To Row classes.  He rowed for four years in eight-oared shells for the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis and was the recipient of three Varsity Letters.  He was a member of Vesper Boat Club in Philadelphia, and raced in Fours and Double Sculls, including several regattas on the East Coast and the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta. In the early 90’s, he was a member of the Occoquan Boat Club in the Washington D. C. area in double sculls.

He found Clam Island Rowing Club after retirement and took up first rowing and then coaching.  He has been with CIR for six years, and has coached the LTR and Novice Boat for five years.  Full of encouragement and historical knowledge of rowing, Conrad will get you rowing in boat and you will not want practice to end.

Juniors Coaches

Jennie Peterson

I started rowing at Ithaca College in the fall of 2012 and rowed through my graduate year in 2016. After my novice fall in 2012, I was moved up to the Varsity team and rowed in the Varsity 8 for all 4 spring seasons that I was on the team. I also sculled in the fall of 2014 and 2015 in singles, doubles, and quads. I went to the DIII NCAA national championships in the spring of 2013 as well as the spring of 2016. I am looking forward to my second year of coaching the varsity junior squad and helping them to further their skills and continue to become the best rowers and people that they can be!

Ellen Strong

Kate Berni

Sculling Coach

Dave Clemmer My coaching philosophy is to teach what I believe and to help you determine what you believe it means to be a great rower, through your own experience and self observation. I will often talk about the ‘Cycle of Rowing” and the “Cycle of Thinking About Rowing” to help you affirm your own beliefs.

As a skills coach, I believe in teaching the efficiencies of the Thames Waterman stroke, in particular for safety.  Skills coaching focuses on the mechanics of the boat and oars, elements of the stroke, safety, and helping you build up and follow your beliefs towards being a good rower.
 
As a competitive coach, I believe that it is most important for rowers to row the style together that they believe, even if those beliefs are different than mine.  Competitive coaching focuses on the importance of teamwork, and building up your SPEED (Stamina, Power, Efficiency, Experience, and Determination).
 
I started rowing in 1994 after college, and have rowed at various clubs over the years in Austin, Seattle, and London.  Most of the time I have been a recreational rower, but at times have been competitive.  My most influential coaches were Maureen Simpson at Austin Rowing Club for developing a sense of teamwork, and Frank Cunningham at Lake Washington Rowing Club for rowing style and excellence.
 
I have been at Clam Island Rowing Club since 2014, and have thoroughly enjoyed rowing with and coaching with an enthusiastic crew.