An interview with Alex Twist
How has 2020 been for you, especially compared with what you expected?
It has been a challenging year. I had originally planned to make a push for the World Championships in Bled in the lightweight pair. Bled is somewhere I have always want to race.
Where are you now and how has the corona virus affected your training this year?
I have spent a lot more time training on the ergometers and bike this year, with a lot of the training happening at home. Our living room and hallway has been transformed into a private gym.
How did you start rowing? What has kept you in the sport?
I started rowing at the University of Puget Sound in 2004. I was a typical novice walk on – I had some background in swimming and just wanted to try something new that would help me make friends. I have really grown to appreciate the escape that rowing can provide and the communities it can connect me with. It lets me exercise in a city without feeling like I am in the middle of a dense urban area, and when I travel it becomes a way to connect with strangers and a lens through which to view the world.
What is your most memorable race and why?
My most memorable race was in Aiguebelette at the World Champs in 2015. I was in the lightweight 8+ that year (its last year) and I had really gone into the event with measured expectations. The lightweight men for the US had really been struggling in this event the last few years. We had been working hard, but my confidence was tempered by this history. We ended up beating the prior year’s silver medalist in order to finish 3rd overall. This was my first national team experience and I was in a crew of friends who really felt like a ragtag group. It really felt like we exceeded expectations and did it in one of the most beautiful venues in the world. The final time between us and 4th place was only 2/100s of a second.
How has Riverside helped you achieve your goals?
I have trained at Riverside on and off over the last several years as part of various summer high performance racing efforts - the community has always been supportive and caring as it often is with itinerant athletes. Since becoming a full time member in 2019, I have enjoyed the club’s generosity and camaraderie, including financial support to travel to the 2019 World Rowing Championships, access to top notch equipment and coaching, and moral support and recognition when training is often the most challenging
What are your favorite volunteer activities at Riverside?
I have really enjoyed getting involved with both the Equipment Committee and Safety Committee. Both of those groups have given me opportunities to get to know and work with some of our club’s most experienced leaders and learn how to help get things done. In 2020, I helped sell a few old shells and, along with Keara, helped out with the online rowing log we have been using during the pandemic. These have been nice projects to really feel like I am being a help.
What is your favorite training to do outside of the boat?
Erging, of course!
As an athlete, has there been any upside to a very disruptive year?
I had not originally been planning on making a push for the Olympics, but with the extra year to prepare and with other athletes stepping aside, I think this might be the year for me to have a lifetime peak performance.
What will the next few months look like for you and your crew?
I’ll be training in Florida with Hugh McAdam. We have rented a house near the Sarasota racecourse. Our coach will come down a couple times to help us prepare, and we’ll have other athletes to keep us company.
Which sportsperson do you most admire?
I am and always have been on team Mahe. I love the fact that he has been able to carve out time for a family and continue competing at a high level into his 40s.
How do you prepare on race day?
Race day is really about checking boxes and staying relaxed. I like to crack jokes and make light of the whole situation, keep things in perspective. If I have to weigh in, I have a routine to make sure I hit my target. I also have a very specific set of mobility exercises that I do every day to help me prepare mentally and physically. I always have a bit of coffee and spend some time listening to a pump up playlist in a quiet area.
What do you to relax or have fun?
I really enjoy walking, hiking, and biking. I like to explore neighborhoods and cities and towns and this is a great way to do that while getting some activity.
Photo by SCULLINGFOOL Photography
