S4E15 - Indianapolis Rowing Center: From LTR to National Championships

Start your engines! Get to know Indianapolis Rowing Center, host of the 2023 USRowing Masters National Championships. We talk with IRC board President Janet Francis, Masters Head Coach Zach Christopher, and recent LTR grad Lisa Stickley. Developed in the 1980s, the race course at Eagle Creek remains one of the country’s premiere venues, host to PanAm Games, World Rowing Championships, NCAA Championships, and a lot more. Get an inside scoop on Vendors Village, course strategy, and IRC, Indy’s only rowing club.

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QUICK LOOK

00:00 - Intro/Lead-in
02:35 - Welcome and The Huddle
05:06 - Rowing week and local tornado
07:00 - Hot Seat Q&A
12:13 - Rowing origin stories: Zach, Lisa, then Janet
17:50 - Rowing into our 80s
20:19 - Janet’s role as IRC president, current challenges and plans/ initiatives 
24:13 - A local’s perspective on Eagle Creek
27:25 - IRC is the only rowing center in Indy, and offers programs for all ages
30:41 - Volunteering for Masters Nats
31:11 - Recruiting new members
33:18 - Rowers sure do love talking about rowing…
36:46 - the development of IRC at Eagle Creek for a premiere rowing venue
39:55 - committees and community partnerships make big events possible
41:37 - Vendor village, the beach where there shall be no swimming, beer garden, and coxswain tosses are approved.
43:41 - First Masters Nationals experiences
48:51 - IRC Course trade secrets
50:44 - Sign off

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To see photos of Janet, Zach, and Lisa, and to get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website.

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This episode was made possible in part by RowSource, Barb, EB5 Investors, Concept2, and our Patrons.