Advertisement. Advertise with us

Rowing gains popularity on Otsego Lake

by PHOEBE SMITH • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com

Former Olympic rower Andrea Thies demonstrates proper technique during a class Friday, June 18, on Otsego Lake. (Phoebe Smith/AllOTSEGO.com)

Rowing opportunities have been expanding on Otsego Lake the past few years and a two-time Olympian has been a big part of bringing the sport to Cooperstown and Otsego County.

The Otsego Area Rowing program, under the guidance of Oneonta’s two-time Olympian, Andrea Thies, has been expanding for several summers now as people take up the water sport.

A rower from her collegiate years at Cornell University, Thies aims to offer access to the sport regardless of age, ability or experience.

OAR was established in 2017, in conjunction with the Otsego Land Trust and Brookwood Point, with an emphasis on adolescent rowing opportunities.

The not-for-profit offers classes and opportunities for all ages and abilities. Although many of OAR’s programs were restricted last year because of the coronavirus pandemic, this summer’s rowing opportunities are in full swing with various adult and kid camps.

There is also a scholarship to help fund an adaptive rowing opportunity, via the Eric D. Dettenrieder’s Memorial Fund in conjunction with Pathfinder Village. The EDD Memorial Fund strives to provide adaptive sports opportunities to individuals of all ages with physical, cognitive and developmental disabilities, similar to Pathfinder Village’s endeavors towards those with Down syndrome.

Thies said making sports, especially rowing, available to those who are disabled or physically restricted remains important, as it “increases sport activity in the future.”

A two-time Olympian in 1992 and 1996, and a medalist at the Pan-American Games, Thies said she did not consider herself an athlete prior to getting into college rowing.

However, her style now is of a traditional coach who talks about the values of teamwork and hard work. Her skills derived from a highly competitive level of rowing have aided her transformation to an increasingly recreational level, in which she uses the sport to “keep her going” and stay active, she said.

Thies called her involvement with Cornell’s team and subsequent Olympic teams as a “chance moment.”

Without the accessibility of rowing equipment and resources offered at Cornell, Thies said she believes she would not be the rower she is today, or a rower at all.

As OAR continues to gain momentum, Thies said she foresees the utmost success for the project on small and large scales, with individual participants and through expanding opportunities and accessibility within the sport of rowing in the area.

Go to www.otsegoarearowing.org for more information.

Posted

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Related Articles

BFS, Lake Organizations Announce Otsego Lake HAB Testing Strategy

BFS, Lake Organizations Announce Otsego Lake HAB Testing Strategy By WRILEY NELSONSPRINGFIELD SUNY Oneonta’s Biological Field Station announced its 2023 Otsego Lake Research and Cyanobacteria Monitoring Plan as part of the ongoing effort to study and control harmful algal blooms in Otsego County. The sampling strategy will focus on variations in temperature, nutrients, algal and cyanobacteria abundance, and toxin concentration along depth gradients in the heavily-affected north end of the lake. Additionally, the BFS has increased watershed stream monitoring and the state Department of Environmental Conservation will conduct its own lake sampling.…

HAPPENIN’ OTSEGO: 06-06-23

HAPPENIN’ OTSEGO for TUESDAY, JUNE 6 Share Your Stories Of Baseball In Oneonta BASEBALL STORIES – 6-8 p.m. Local fans are invited to share their stories about Oneonta’s baseball history. Hosted by Bob Brzozowski and Chris Vredenburg at the Oneonta History Center, 183 Main Street, Oneonta. (607) 432-0960 or visit oneontahistory.org/visit/ PLANTING – 1-4 p.m. Join Otsego Land Trust to beautify the gardens at Brookwood Point, 6000 New York 80, Cooperstown. (607) 547.2366 or visit otsegooutdoors.org/event/volunteer-day-at-brookwood-gardens/…

HAPPENIN’ OTSEGO: 06-10-23

HAPPENIN’ OTSEGO for SATURDAY, JUNE 10 Explore Hall, Park, & Local Organizations BLOCK PARTY – 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Celebrate the start of the summer season with local organizations from Hyde Hall and Glimmerglass State Park to the Otsego Boat Deputy, Otsego Outdoors, and Springfield Center Library. The Rolling Meadows clydesdales will be on hand to greet visitors, the Susquehanna SPCA will have opportunities for adoptions, and Hanzolo will be performing live from noon to 2 p.m. Hyde Hall, 267 Glimmerglass State Park Road, Cooperstown. (607) 547-5098 or visit hydehall.org/block-party-on-june-10-with-hyde-hall-glimmerglass-state-park/ BAG SALE – 8:30 a.m. Find a wide variety of clothing,…

Putting the Community Back Into the Newspaper

Now through March 30, new annual subscribers to “The Freeman’s Journal” and AllOtsego.com (or subscribers who have lapsed for two or more years) have an opportunity to help their choice of one of four Otsego County charitable organizations.

$5.00 of your subscription will be donated to the nonprofit of your choice:

Cooperstown Farmers’ Market, Cooperstown Food Pantry, Greater Oneonta Historical Society or Super Heroes Humane Society.