Camper Quotes

Quotes from Craftsbury Sculling Campers

"Each time we have trained at Craftsbury we have either come away with a world championship or Olympic gold." -Bent Jensen, Coach Danish National Team (Gold and Bronze Medals at Atlanta), 1996

"You have proven that a 48-year-old with no previous sculling experience can acquire a solid foundation in 6 days. Thank you for a memorable and expanding week."

"Craftsbury made us better rowers and galvanized our crew. We then went on to win gold medals at the Provincials and at the Henley. There is no doubt that any crew training for the Canadian Masters next year would receive a significant boost to their competitiveness by starting the season with a week at Craftsbury."

"Great coaches, great people, great food. Thank you!"

"... extremely informative and a great vacation."

"The coaching was phenomenal. I can't begin to tell you how much my stroke has improved."

"The coaching is outstanding."

"... more rowing and instruction than I expected."

"The coaches are really wonderfull people with a great attitude towards the novice."

"Can I take the coaches with me?"

"A most rewarding and enjoyable experience!"

"Coaches are excellent"

"Lots of coaches on the water = different eyes, differnet opinions and help."

"The coaching was great, with a variety of philosophies and practice that played well off each other and provided everyone with new insight and knowledge."

"I enjoyed learning to scull!"

"The coaching was exceptional and I really liked the small groups."

"The on-the-water coaching was outstanding. ...great coaches...the videotaping was also very, very helpful."

"Loved the boats, the water, everything was great for me."

"I felt that after the weekend I could try sculling on my own."

"I did better than ever expected."

"Gifted coaches and teachers!!!"

"I had a great time; fantastic sculling and I know I'll be able to go further with my sculling thanks to all of you."

"Great way to relax and stretch after a day of rowing."

"Great way to stretch after sculling -- Wish it had been every day."

"Yoga was excellent."

"The yoga session was great after 3 outings on Saturday."

"Yoga - great!"

"The instructor was great!"

"Very helpful and enjoyable."

"I really enjoyed the yoga and that was a surprise."

"The yoga session was alot of fun!"

"Yoga was good for stretching and relaxation."

"Loved the yoga class. Woke up Sunday feeling fine."

"Yoga was excellent...great instructor."

"The boats were great. The food was spectacular. The rooms were great for sleeping."

"Yoga and massage - very good."

"Excellent coaching, atmosphere, food, staff."

"Biking and yoga were wonderful!"

"Coming here was the best decision I've made in 3 years!"

"Yoga and biking were great!"

"The mountain biking was a great break from the confines of a boat."

"Yum! Another row, another meal, another row another meal...."

"Best coaching I have ever had in any sport, ever."

"I learned more during five days at Craftsbury than I have during five years at my own club."

"A+'s to all the coaches on all fronts."

"Such a positive approach that you never felt like a schlub."

"Food is outstanding. Flavorful, creative, & abundant!"

"I will do this again."

"The weekend was a blast! I wouldn't change a thing! It was wonderful to rub shoulders with the best - and to have fun too!"

"This place is fantastic. I'm totally impressed."

"Love the informality, enthusiasm for the sport, and the group of rowers who came here this week."

"From top to bottom, this is a first rate program. A perfect balance has been achieved."

"The coaches are amazingly responsive and knowledgeable. Just a joy for me to be coached by such great people."

"The highlight of every year for me. It's a genuine pleasure to be with such good people, in such a challenging yet supportive environment, and in such a beautiful setting."

Regarding the coach education track: "These sessions exceeded my expectations in learning how to approach different personalities, expectations and aspirations."

"I started sculling the summer before I came to Craftsbury. I was a little hesitant because I was concerned that I didn't know that much about the sport. All I can is that it was a great experience in every respect. Vermont was like a post card. The coaches were outstanding. I am a better sculler because of it. It will be my sabbatical for some time to come."

"It was FUN to learn. The coaches provided a wonderful balance of positive reinforcement and things to work on."

"The coaches were the best part of the week. They were patient, good-humored, so knowledgeable and helpful."

"I feel that I leave here a better rower and more educated in the field of rowing."

"The environment and setting is ideal for rowing, blessed with a superb body of water and natural surroundings."

"A great facility: friendly and very, very professional."

"Coaches seem to really care and be attentive about the needs of each camper - no matter what level."

"It's hard for me to believe that 4 days have left me feeling so at home (and comfortable) on the water."

"Coaches were the most knowledgeable and willing to communicate that I've met. Craftsbury is definitely worth the trip."

"This is truly a value-added program - a life changing experience. See you next year."

"Probably the most important thing I saw/noticed was the positive feedback - so valuable and really encouraged me to keep this going."

"I cannot believe I learned to row in 3 days!"

"Great experience. Can't wait to come back. Wish it didn't have to end."

"Great group of rowers. Coaches very supportive and encouraging. Glad I brought my sons also."

"The facilities are immaculate! For as many athletes as come through here, the grounds and buildings are clean and well-planned. Food is wonderful!!"

"The coaching is phenomenal - very proactive and knowledgeable. I love the structure, focus, and camaraderie of the program."

"Craftsbury is the BEST!!"

"Your meals and excellent staff are marvelous!"

"Spectacular program. It was serious fun."

"Wish I had access to so many coaches at home!"

"I refound the pleasure of sculling."

"I have achieved more than I thought possible."

"I have heard some fantastic ways of putting across technical info this week (and I will certainly be pinching some phrases for back home at the boathouse)."

"I learned more this week than I would have in a year or more at home."

"Staff's obvious love of sport comes through with appreciation for our various levels of skill."

"I learned tons about stroke mechanics and will be going home with lots to work on."

"The boats and water were all spectacular! It's hard to leave!"

"I thought the coaches, without exception, were great: very knowledgeable, patient, thoughtful, and funny."

"Thanks for helping me go fast!"

"You guys have it together, period!"

"I would highly recommend this experience to others."

"Been here, done that, loved it, comin' back! YES!"

"I can say that I am walking away from camp with either a drill, a saying, a skill from each coach. How cool is that?"

"In a world that has so many things that pretend to offer value, but really don't, this week really stands out as one of the most genuine and fulfilling programs I have been involved in. I applaud the incredible coaching, simple but comfortable accommodations, great food and incredibe setting. What a wonderful combination."

"After last year, I was determined to come back. Great mix of coaching styles, wonderful organization, and super staff. I got the drills I needed and the observation I usually don't get. Plus, it's always helpful to get new ideas for coaching techniques."

"Everyone had different ways of teaching the same thing, which was great - a different approach to each issue was useful. I loved it and will definitely be back next year."

"Every single staff person I came in contact with made me feel welcome and taken care of. Thank you!"

"The coaches were consistently top of the line."

"As a novice, I found the camp format very helpful in giving me prompt feedback. I felt like I was directed repeatedly into good technique before I could establish bad habits."

"Every time I went out a coach kindly and productively gave me some cogent piece of feedback about my rowing that was perfect in the moment."

"This is a super program in every way. Rarely have I been to a place that was this friendly."

"Everyone was so helpful and gave great instruction and was very patient. I really liked the dock demos and the on-the-water one-on-one as the coaches were dispersed along the water."

"I'm going home with a lot of information to keep practicing. I came away with a lot more confidence and had so much fun gaining it."

"My goal was to make it into a racing shell by my last day and I did it on my second day!"

"The program exceeded expectations - I learned a lot and had a blast."

"Each different form of teaching was important, as was having different coaches with different styles. Please change as little as possible!"

"Extremely well-rounded and well-run program. Well scheduled - packed with activity and just enough down time."

" I leave with a renewed sense of joy in the sport."

"I was amazed that I could make the strides I did in one long weekend. Thank you!"

"Each coach made a point to seek me out and offer guidance."

"The one-on-one attention both on the water and in the video review sessions made a big difference."

"Thanks for making my stay here the best week of rowing, and of summer, I have had!"

"Each of the staff were able to identify key aspects of my stroke that were causing problems. Each was able to give me constructive suggestions that enabled me to understand the source of and then FIX long-standing problems. This has been a hugely constructive and helpful week for me."

"The coaches were all amazing rowers, amazing teachers, and amazing people."

"I learned so much about body mechanics, and how to use muscles and arms/back/legs effectively. What a difference that knowledge has made!"

"Going into the weekend I was afraid that my ability would be much lower than everyone else's since I haven't rowed so long. However, I soon realized that it didn't matter. Everyone - rowers and coaches - was so encouraging and kind."

"I learned a lot of new ways to help explain rowing concepts to members of my team - mission accomplished."

"I love this rowing camp. I tell everyone they need to come here!"

"I felt genuinely cared for as an individual."

"Coaches were almost all very personable and willing to talk about your rowing ideas and questions at any time."

"I liked how the coaches tailored their feedback to my goals rather than taking a general 'boilerplate' approach."

"The training and coaching is absolutely out of this world. This is sculling heaven. I will return and bring other rowers next time."

"It was beyond my expectations! My clubmates are already jealous!"

"The meals were stupendous. Without a doubt, the reputation of awesome food stands tall and proud."

"The best week I have ever experienced, bar none."

"I had some excellent conversations with the coaches, all featuring many 'lightbulb' moments."

"I especially enjoyed the yoga in combination with sculling. The instructor did an awesome job with yoga geared to sculling."

"I was hoping to fall in love with rowing again - this early spring I just wasn't getting the flow. Now I'm back in the groove and looking forward to the season!"

"I loved everything! Best vacation in a real long time!"

"The older I get the more I realize that life is about community and connection. I found both here. It's a very special place."

"Meals were fresh, nutritious, tasty, varied. I feel spoiled."

"Unreal! I had no idea I would be coached by Olympic medal winners and team members."

"I feel very fortunate to be able to work with coaches of this caliber."

"Your coaches are wonderful. Patient, kind, constructive criticism, so encouraging! I had a wonderful time. Thanks to everyone."

"There aren't enough words to express how great the entire staff has been."

"I want to move here."

"Inspiring. insightful. Encouraging. Why aren't other coaches like the ones at Craftsbury?"

"I hope Craftsbury Outdoor Center will continue as it is. The simplicity and community aspects are becoming more and more unique."

"It is an enormous and awesome privilege to be coached by Olympians and National and world Champions. Thank you so much."

"I learned more in my first afternoon here than I have in the 1 1/2 seasons I rowed with my club."

"I am sorry that I did not start coming here years ago."

"In less than a week I was able to go from barely being able to row a single to racing 2800m across Big Hosmer. From video review to dock talks to chats over dinner, the coaches are always there to share their experience in rowing."

"Would absolutely recommend Craftsbury to both novice and experienced scullers. Really great experience! Thank you!"

"Being a first time sculler, the camp appeared intimidating at first but that feeling was soon dispelled by the welcoming reception by the head coach and the exceptional staff. Each coach was particularly dedicated, knowledgeable, and passionate about their sport."

"This is a beautiful spot. The food was great, the coach-student ratio was great, the instruction was very helpful, and the opportunities to swim, kayak, run, bike, and relax all contributed to an exceptionally relaxing and enjoyable week. Thanks!"

"The expertise of the coaches was surpassed only by their obvious concern that the athletes learn, and most importantly, enjoy the process of learning."

"A life changing event this week."

"For someone who came to camp with very little rowing experience, I can't believe how much I learned! I had been very nervous about setting foot in a racing shell and can't believe how comfortable I now feel."

"Don't know how many more times I can say fantastic."

"The progress made in one weekend is amazing!"

"This place is heaven on earth for rowers. I love it that it is accessible to anyone, from someone with little rowing experience to elite rowers. It is very inspiring to come here."