Steve Wade introduced our speaker for the day, Erik Zehender. Eric was born in Germany but has dual citizenship here in the United States. He went to Lake Leelanau School and has family ties to Fountain Point. Erik currently runs the Lake Leelanau Rowing Club. The Rowing Club teaches Traverse area high school and middle school students and community members of all ages the joy of rowing. In the United States, rowing is often referred to as "crew". It is based on propelling a boat (racing shell) on water using oars. The sport can either be recreational or competitive. The sport requires strong core balance, physical strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular endurance. In sweep rowing, each rower has one oar held with both hands. This is generally done in pairs, fours, and eights. In sculling, each rower has two oars – one held in each hand. This is generally done in singles, doubles, and quads. Racing boats (shells) are long, narrow, and broadly semi-circular in cross-section in order to reduce drag.

The Rowing Club is based out of Fountain Point Resort on the northern end of South Lake Leelanau. This allows for 10 miles of rowing south or 7 miles north. The lake provides ideal conditions for this sport. The fleet of boats includes over 30 shells. There are eights, fours, a quad, doubles, singles, and single trainers. It is the largest fleet in Northern Michigan.

Erik brought two Traverse City High School quests with him today who are members of the L2 Rowing Club. Maggie Dupuie is a senior at T.C. Central and Haylee Judge is a senior at T.C. West. They both participated in multiple sports growing up, but once introduced to rowing they found it to be their greatest love. Maggie will pursue rowing next year at the University of Kansas, and Halley will do the same at Louisville University. Erik said that the University of Michigan Women's Rowing team comes to Fountain Point Resort every year to workout. He said members of the men's team frequently teach with him during the summer.

The Lake Leelanau Rowing Club also has programs for the blind and for cancer survivors. Dr. Nancy Reye, a primary care physician, helps with these programs. Daniel James Brown, the author of THE BOYS IN THE BOAT, came up to view the facility in October 2013. Anyone interested in rowing definitely needs to read this book. The address for the Club is:

990 South Lake Leelanau Dr. Lake Leelanau, MI 49653

www.L2Row.com

(231) 256-0877

Lake Leelanau Rowing Club Video