'Super cool' trip for coxswain
Jessica Hoy gets to travel around the world and boss around eight huge men - sweet job eh?She is the coxswain for the Harvard eight who challenge Waikato University this Saturday in rowing's Gallagher Great Race on the Waikato River.
The 22-year-old has been involved in the sport for eight years, but made what she called the toughest transition of her life four years ago when she went from women's boats to men's.
"I had to learn how to fake confidence," Hoy said.
From a daunting beginning, coxing men became second nature and now Hoy said the crew felt more like a family. And if they win on Saturday, what will her "family" do? Throw her in the river as tradition dictates.
The majority of this Harvard crew have been together for four years, winning two Eastern Championships and the Ladies Challenge Plate (for men) at the Henley Royal Regatta.
This is not only Hoy's first trip to New Zealand, but to the Southern Hemisphere and gave her impression of the country in true American college tongue; "It's super cool."
"We all love the fact the planners of this trip have given us so many great ideas of trips to take and people have been so kind."
As well as day-trips to many of the district's tourist spots the crew went to Waikato's Ranfurly Shield defence on Saturday, hosted in the Gallagher corporate box.
Being coxswain, and the only seat in the boat facing forward, in-race decisions fall on Hoy's shoulders. She and coach Bill Manning have worked on strategies together for Saturday's battle, but the input of the entire boat was also utilised.
Although the Waikato river's conditions will be new to the crew, Hoy said they have raced in every type of condition imaginable and were soaking up info from their time on the river.
"We know Waikato University have an incredible record in this race and they have the home court advantage, but we're learning what we can."