S4E21: Mass. Local Ellen Minzner on HOCR, Para, and Equity in Rowing

Think of rowing and Boston and there’s one name that really stands out: Ellen Minzner. Born and raised in Lawrence, Mass., Ellen has spent more than two decades developing and leading programs in the state, including most recently as the Director of Outreach and then Director of Inclusion and Advocacy at Community Rowing Inc.

Ellen also balances being the co-chair of the Head of the Charles Announcing Committee with her full-time position as USRowing Para High Performance Director, a title she’s held since 2019.

From walk on at Villanova University to 5-time National Team member, to her transition into coaching and program development, Ellen saw the long game: changing the status quo of her clubs, organizations, and communities.

In this episode, she also gives a peek behind the curtains of the world’s premier annual rowing competition - the Head of the Charles - from her vantage point in an announcers booth on the roof of Cambridge Boat Club.

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QUICK LOOK

00:00 - Intro

00:24 - Lead-In Banter

04:45 - Welcome

06:26 - Bio/Olympics Distance

Rowing Week is quiet after getting home from Worlds, looking ahead to para rowing in ‘24 and ‘28

11:19 - The Hot Seat Q&A

18:51 - Walking on at Villanova sophomore year, being a part of Boathouse Row, and finding summer rowing in Lowell, MA

23:39 - Coaching at CRI planted the seeds of a National Team dream. A bumpy trajectory across five national teams in the ‘90s was a lesson in playing the long game.

26:24 - Retiring from the National Team and transitioning into college coaching

28:40 - The teaching magic of the pair

31:50 - Returning to Massachusetts to help bring rowing opportunities to her blue collar community

34:36 - Pairing rowing community accessibility with “what is just and equitable” has driven Ellen’s career

37:15 - The future of para rowing: developing juniors athletes, and supporting collegiate programs that recruit athletes with disabilities

45:50 - Ellen’s early involvement with HOCR, how announcing has changed over the years, and how it makes the sport more inclusive and accessible

49:54 - Watching HOCR from the roof of Cambridge Boat Club, Elliot Bridge, and other great spots

51:58 - Behind the scenes at HOCR

56:56 - Listener Question: "My HOCR coxswain hasn't coxed in several years. Should I be worried?" 

58:50 - HOCR meet and greet for para rowers at Noon in the USRowing tent

1:00:04 - HOCR’s Ellen Minzner trophy, awarded each year to the winners of the  LTA 4+

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To see photos of Ellen and get links to the people, clubs, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website.

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This episode was made possible in part by Barb, Breakwater Realty, Concept2, EB5 Investors, RowSource, and our Patrons.