Alaina Hellum-Alexander Juniors Coach OarAlaina@gmail.com (360) 705 - 9139 Jim Bertolini Masters Sculling Coach jbertoli@nwifc.org Home: 943-5580 Work: 438-1181, ext. 355
Jim rowed at Fordham University from 1975-1979 and rowed and sculled at the New York Athletic Club from 1978-1984. He served as an assistant coach at Fordham from 1980-1982. Jim has completed the USRowing Level II coaching certification.
Marika Bertolini Sweep Coach - Masters Women meeka60@gmail.com Home: 943-5580
Kiirsten Flynn Coach - Men's Sunday Sculling Group captainkk409@hotmail.com Cell: 360-359-2968 Kiirsten Flynn was introduced to OARA through a friend of another OAR member and rower-Gretchen Steiger in February after moving back to Olympia from Portland, Oregon in January. Kiirsten originally from the east coast began rowing for her prep-school team as a freshman and rowed through all four years of high-school participating in both spring seasons and fall seasons; training for the Head of the Charles. She continued rowing for a year at the University of Vermont, but the remainder of her college years -ending at Evergreen- focused on marine science and were spent sailing. From 1995-2004 she was running and developing boat-based marine science education programs for a variety of organizations. These programs ranged in length from day programs to 8-week long college programs focusing on marine and nautical science for school children, college students and adults; and included team-building programs for youth at risk on large traditional sailing and motor vessels. From 1998-1999 she was the licensed Coast Guard Captain for the Schooner PIONEER; a 102-foot schooner built in 1885 owned by the South Street Seaport Museum in New York City for both coastal and blue water sailing. A more shore side position was needed after having her son Ian in February of 1999 and is what brought she and her family back to the west coast: Portland, Oregon. From 2000-2002 she was the Program Director and relief Captain for the boat-based educational organization, offering programs aboard a large historic wooden tug along the Willamette and Columbia Rivers. In 2002 she entered Portland State University and began two Masters programs; completing one, Masters of Environmental Management prior to her family relocating to Olympia in January of 2005. She began working with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife with their aquatic nuisance species program in April. While most of her time was spent sailing or on larger vessels than rowing shells there were spots of rowing since college with other community rowing organizations as it has always remained a big passion. Kiirsten was thrilled to become a part of OARA the spring of 2005 as a rower and even more thrilled to be able to coach the Junior Novice that fall to once again work with and educate people and share her excitement and dedication to the sport. Kiirsten has completed the US Rowing Coaching Level I Certification and is scheduled to complete Level II the winter of 2005-2006.
Weikko Jaross Sweep Coach - Masters Men weikko@myuw.net Cell: 360-303-7321
Weikko Jaross, from Everett Washington, through his high school years was actively involved in athletics, swimming instruction and life guarding. During his senior year at Cascade High, he was excited to try rowing following his father's novice season with the Everett Firefighter's at the Everett Rowing Association. Following Weikko's novice season at Everett, he trained and raced (1992-1993) in the first freshman eight coached by Jiri Zaplatal at the University of Washington, where he studied forestry and engineering.
Following an unfortunate back injury late that first racing season at UW, Weikko had extensive physical therapy for several years, with hopes of again sweeping in eights. During this time, Weikko was encouraged by an awareness of more holistic concepts to training than just jumping in an eight and pulling hard, which included diet, cross-training, endurance, flexibility, and posture. While working on his Master of Science Degree in Forest Engineering at UW, Weikko began sculling and trained for several years at the Pockock Rowing Center in Seattle Washington with the Northwest Sculling Program coached by Emil Kosev, whose philosophies on the rower's life are about accomplishing life's goals as a complete athlete.
Weikko came to the Olympia Area Rowing in the spring of 2006 as a coach to share his athletic experience with his community. Weikko's coaching philosophies are based on seeking balance in our busy lives by improving our overall health and longevity, keeping in mind that rowing is not a sport that can be mastered in just one or two seasons. He believes that by building a strong foundation, we will succeed in developing our technique and quickness over many years of enjoying the challenges of rowing.
RaeAnne Loper Assistant Coach - Juniors raeanne_loper@hotmail.com (360)359-1377
Rick Peterson Sculling Coach candrpeterson2@comcast.net (360) 866-8329
Gretchen Van Dusen Sweep Coach - Masters Women vanramseydusey@hotmail.com (360)956-0643
Joy Michaud Head of the Sculling Committee joypm@envirovisioncorp.com
Aaron Starks Evergreen State College Crew Head Coach astarks@evergreencrew.com Home: 357-4932