With all the power boat activity on the weekend in the Marina, the seals don't loll around the surface and bark, and that big baby whale that everyone was going crazy about was no where to be seen. Whales are advanced creatures and very big, in general, but what do they have in looks over a lean blond surfer? I just don't get it. Why sit on the hard rocks of a jetty to see some slimy black creature spout some air and show some barnacle-encrusted skin when you can relax on the beach and enjoy the surfers (at least the lean ones) walking around, changing, and just gazing out at the ocean.

What you do see in the Marina, from a rower's perspective on the weekend, other than lots and lots of wake, is at first sight, a bit alarming. Riggs from LARC was coxing a novice 8+ this morning with bow and two seat empty. Craig W. was in Ballona Creek coaching a quad with 2 seat empty. I didn't know you could do that in a quad. As Dennis W. remarked to me the other day, you learn something new in rowing every day.

Hats off to Craig W. for his incredible coaching skills. He took a junior who had been sweeping all year and in just 5 weeks transformed this Dartmouth-bound just graduated high school senior from rough sculler to bronze medalist at the USRowing Junior National Championships. Topher is probably already making plans for this guy. Thanks also to Craig W. for taking the time to educate me on adjustable oars, oar length, and the collar to oar handle length. In one quick movement, Craig showed me that the sculling oars I had favored for the past 6 weeks were mismatched in oar-collar length, and the sleeves were totally worn.