Boston College Athletics
Rowing European Tour: Amsterdam
August 01, 2017 | Rowing
The Eagles finished their four-country tour in the Netherlands
The rowing team traveled through Europe for three weeks to four different countries, practicing, competing and learning about different cultures along the way. Student-athletes chronicled the team's journey. The final installment is by rising senior Jacqueline McDonnell as the Eagles finished off their trip in Amsterdam.
The Eagles landed in Amsterdam in the evening and after waking early the next day, we enjoyed a breakfast second-to-none, complete with pancake bites and freshly-squeezed orange juice. Right as we thought the morning couldn't get better, we were greeted outside by a line of maroon bikes that would be our wheels for the next few days. A line of helmeted, shrieking Eagles on bikes were a source of amusement to the locals, who were much easier on the eyes in their business suits pedaling with ease.
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Thursday's morning practice was met with some rigging challenges, such that the bulk of the workout came in the heart-pounding adventure of getting an eight-man boat down from the top rack, which felt like 15 feet up and then back up after practice. It took a village of Eagles to get the boat down plus a few Dutch boys to take it down with ease the next day! On Thursday afternoon we biked into Amsterdam and explored the Van Gogh Museum, bought nifty souvenirs, shopped till we dropped and ate fondue till we popped.
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On Friday, we started the day with the same great breakfast and were up and at it on the bikes heading to morning practice. Practicing in lineups for our race on Saturday, we got work done on the beauty of the Bosbaan.
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Saturday and Sunday were race days! Fighting as hard as we could, we put ourselves out there in every race, facing some very extraordinary talented European teams. We got to watch rowing at near perfection, which captivated and inspired many of us. The competitive spirit was kept alive during the bike ride back to the hotel when rising sophomore Natalie Cortopassi beat Coach Fiske by at least two bike lengths, out pedaling him for a decisive W!
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Somehow, Monday morning rolled through, and we were airport-bound, finding it beyond difficult to say goodbye to one of our favorite cities on Earth. Though arriving at the airport with ample time, we were met with long lines that gave us a run for our money as we sprinted out of the passport check area 15 minutes before our flight took off.
Â
Flying over Amsterdam, giving a "Tot Zo" (a Dutch "See you in a bit"), we Eagles fully appreciated our experiences in the Bike Capital of the World that many can't wait to relive when returning soon!
The Eagles landed in Amsterdam in the evening and after waking early the next day, we enjoyed a breakfast second-to-none, complete with pancake bites and freshly-squeezed orange juice. Right as we thought the morning couldn't get better, we were greeted outside by a line of maroon bikes that would be our wheels for the next few days. A line of helmeted, shrieking Eagles on bikes were a source of amusement to the locals, who were much easier on the eyes in their business suits pedaling with ease.
Â
Thursday's morning practice was met with some rigging challenges, such that the bulk of the workout came in the heart-pounding adventure of getting an eight-man boat down from the top rack, which felt like 15 feet up and then back up after practice. It took a village of Eagles to get the boat down plus a few Dutch boys to take it down with ease the next day! On Thursday afternoon we biked into Amsterdam and explored the Van Gogh Museum, bought nifty souvenirs, shopped till we dropped and ate fondue till we popped.
Â
On Friday, we started the day with the same great breakfast and were up and at it on the bikes heading to morning practice. Practicing in lineups for our race on Saturday, we got work done on the beauty of the Bosbaan.
Â
Saturday and Sunday were race days! Fighting as hard as we could, we put ourselves out there in every race, facing some very extraordinary talented European teams. We got to watch rowing at near perfection, which captivated and inspired many of us. The competitive spirit was kept alive during the bike ride back to the hotel when rising sophomore Natalie Cortopassi beat Coach Fiske by at least two bike lengths, out pedaling him for a decisive W!
Â
Somehow, Monday morning rolled through, and we were airport-bound, finding it beyond difficult to say goodbye to one of our favorite cities on Earth. Though arriving at the airport with ample time, we were met with long lines that gave us a run for our money as we sprinted out of the passport check area 15 minutes before our flight took off.
Â
Flying over Amsterdam, giving a "Tot Zo" (a Dutch "See you in a bit"), we Eagles fully appreciated our experiences in the Bike Capital of the World that many can't wait to relive when returning soon!
Players Mentioned
/ Rowing
/ Rowing
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