Washington Rowing Hosts Chinese Entrepreneurs
September 22, 2015 | Women's Rowing
SEATTLE – UW women's crew head coach Bob Ernst hosted a group of 16 of top Chinese entrepreneurs in a week long rowing training camp as part of a 12-day stay for the group in Seattle, teaching them the basics of the sport and helping them experience the culture of rowing and the city.
“The group we have here at the UW is very special,” said 16 year-old Owen Xu, founder of a water conservation and reuse company called MicroH2O. “This is a group of China's most elite. It's been a truly remarkable experience. Rowing is a very special sport. It requires the collaboration of all eight people to put aside any differences and follow commands. There are several barriers to overcome, and doing that together has really helped us build relationships in a short period of time.”
The camp, entitled “Deep Dive,” was put together to help the group of entrepreneurs experience a new culture and improve their English speaking skills. The trip was organized by Mr. Wang Shi, the owner of the largest private real estate company in China. He visited the Huskies earlier in 2015 and is also an avid rower, having joined his local rowing club while studying at Cambridge. Mr. Wang Shi is the current President of the Chinese Rowing Association and sees this as a way to build the sport in China.
“This is a different and probably the most structured athletic experience that they've had,” Ernst said. “What we've been doing hasn't been all that difficult, but it's very technical. They have had to focus and pay close attention as we've added a little more every day, but they did well.”
Ernst taught the group the very basics of rowing, including warm ups and moving boats. The group spent time on the ergometers learning to row in unison in preparation for time on the water.
“One of the most difficult parts of rowing is balancing the boat,” said Yang Rouqi, chairman and co-founder of a venture capital finance company. “It's an activity that looks really easy, but it actually takes a lot of trust and collaboration to pull off.”
In addition to rowing, the “Deep Dive” included daily English classes and visits to Boeing, Starbucks, the Gates Foundation and the 25th Anniversary Banquet of the Peace Climb.
“These people went back to life as a student, learning a new language and experience local food and a new place,” said Israel Wu, the group's coordinator. “They had a chance to deep dive into their heart. They also deep dive into a new culture. We have a very diverse group here – some do real estate, some athletic training, some are in technology. We came here to help them develop relationships and experience new things, as well as build more of a rowing presence in China.”
