“DU CREW ON TWO!” rings out across the empty waters at 7 am sharp. Practice on the Cherry Creek Reservoir (“the Res” for short) has ended for the day. This is a crew of dedicated, probably exhausted and slightly sea-sprayed rowers who are training for their spring season regattas.
Today, we sat down with Kylie Van Aken, a current junior and the secretary of the University of Denver Club Rowing team. She touched on some common misconceptions about Crew, her past as a rower, her favorite parts about rowing and the future of the club. DU Club Rowing is a relatively young club, but each year it’s been growing stronger and is always looking to recruit to new rowers!
1. Where are you from? I grew up in Seattle, Washington.
2. What year and major are you? I am a junior majoring in mechanical engineering.
3. What is your position on the Rowing Executive board? I’m the secretary for the club rowing team.
4. How long have you been a rower? I rowed for four years in high school and this is my second year rowing here at DU.
5. Favorite aspect of the sport? The connections I form with the other rowers. They’re the coolest people I have yet to find in my life.
6. What would you like the world to know about DU Crew? Rowing DOES NOT MEAN YOU HAVE STRONG ARMS! More seriously, anyone can do it. The community is amazing and it is worth waking up early for. Coffee is a thing for a reason.
7. What are you excited about for the future of the club? It’s growing so much! I can’t wait for next year when there will be quality varsity boats and hopefully we will be able to travel to new places (west coast, best coast!).
Good luck and all the best to DU Crew as they take on their spring season!