Faster with Bill Chambers

In this episode I chat with the amazing masters crew that set the masters record at the Head of The Charles Regatta (HOCR). The Wallingford crew of Mike Edge, Pete King, Steve Pearson and stroke, Richard Smith – coxed by Sara Ball , won the 2016 regatta by 30-seconds, with a new course record of 17mins 5 secs.  The crew share how they trained and prepared for the race. Everything from engagin...

My guest today is James Goodwin, Head of physical performance and science for the Swiss Rowing Federation.  This episode is an extract from the Live Strength & Conditioning Masterclass, where James is presenting strategies and approaches to strength training for Masters Rowers. Join my free newsletter, and receive exclusive access to tools, tips and resources directly from Bill. Click her...

My guest today, is Wendy Miller, from Mosman Rowing Club in Sydney Australia. Wendy competed in the 2019 Head of The Charles regatta, and gained 3rd place in her first attempt in the single sculls event. I first met Wendy in 2019, as she was travelling through Europe on holidays on her way to Boston. She gave me a call to ask if she could drop by Switzerland, (as you do:-) to do a spot of training...

Excited to share my conversation with Tom Bishop, former Olympian (1976) and multiple winner of the Head of The Charles Regatta (2017, 18, 19). Tom shares some amazing stories about his persistence in being selected in the quad, and the challenges he overcame to represent his country. Being coached by Mike Spracklin, and what it takes to prepare for and win the Head of The Charles in the 70+ age g...

Since its inception in 1965, The Head Of The Charles Regatta, also known as HOCR, is a rowing head race held in October each year on the Charles River, which separates Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts. I thought it would be interesting to find out from the organisers, and rowers, what makes the HOCR so special, and what attracted them to fly half way around the world to race on the Charles Rive...

Charlie is a Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science at Oxford Brookes University and well known for his publications on Rowing. The Complete Guide to Indoor Rowing and Advanced Rowing. This Master Class , will present attendees with interesting information about the relationship between common rowing training practices and their effects on  performance measures (e.g. aerobic funct...

Dr Valery Kleshnev, is a best selling author, 'Biomechanics of Rowing: A Unique Insight Into the Technical and Tactical Aspects of Elite Rowing', and considered an expert in Rowing Biomechanics, helping some of the world's best rowing teams to prepare. In this brief chat with Valery, he talks about what you can expect to learn from attending his Master Class. How different technique and diffe...

Excited to share my latest episode of the Faster Podcast, this time with Dr Charlie Simpson. Charlie is a Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science at Oxford Brookes University and well known for his publications. The Complete Guide to Indoor Rowing and Advanced Rowing. In this episode, Charlie and I talk about how masters can train with intensity to improve their 1k sprint and head distance r...

My guest today is well known in the world of sports science and considered an expert in this subject. Originally born in Harare, Zimbabwe, he grew up in South Africa, studying Medicine and Exercise Science. He is the author of several books on exercise and nutrition, including the Lore of Running and Challenging Beliefs and has over 750 scientific articles, being cited over 19,000 times. In 2008,...

Peter (Pete) Hardcastle , is well known in Australian and World Rowing. Pete represented Australia at the Sydney, Athens and Beijing Olympic Games in different boat classes. After the olympics, Pete moved to the UK in 2008, where he coached at Dulwich College, Emanuel School and London Rowing Club, and coached the men's four at the Coupe de la Jeunesse in 2014.  In 20...

My guest today is James Goodwin, Head of physical performance and science for the Swiss Rowing Federation. In this episode, James and I will be answering questions related to strength training for Masters Rowers. Best exercises for Masters Rowers Benefits of strength weights vs. light circuit style training How to best recover after weights training This episode is supported by Precision Hydration...

Anne-Marie Howald is well know in the rowing world, having represented Switzerland at the 1987 & 88 World Championships as a lightweight, and now as the Head Coach of the U23 and Junior Squad. In 2018, Anne-Marie was awarded the “Swiss Olympic Coach Award” for the impressive achievements of the junior national team at the European Championships in Krefeld and the World Championships in Trakai....

Former FISA Secretary General, Director of Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and CEO of the Australian Sports Tribunal shares his thoughts on what rowing needs to do to stay relevant and thrive vs. survive. John Boultbee AM , is well known in Australian as a lawyer and leading Australian sport administrator, particularly in relation to rowing and football. I...

Former FISA Secretary General, Director of Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and CEO of the Australian Sports Tribunal shares his thoughts on what rowing needs to do to stay relevant. John Boultbee AM, is well known in Australian as a lawyer and leading Australian sport administrator, particularly in relation to rowing and football. In 1990, he was appointed...

In this episode I connect with Istvan (Steven) Nemeth of Bont Rowing. Istvan, is a masters rower and cyclist, Director at Bont Cycling & Bont Rowing, workaholic, designer of Bont Cycling and Bont Rowing shoes. Bont Rowing is committed to producing the world’s best rowing shoes. Built around innovation, research and passion for the sport of rowing. Bont rowing shoes are used by World Champions...

Noel Donaldson is widely acknowledged as one of the world's most successful rowing coaches, building and leading teams to win multiple world championships and olympic gold medals over 3 decades in two different countries. In this episode, Noel and I explore his approach to building and leading world beating teams in a sport where money is not the reward, and what business leaders can learn from th...

Lead up to Tokyo with Edouard Blanc, Head Coach, Swiss Rowing Federation. I am excited to reconnect with Edouard today, and to hear what he has been up to since we last spoke in April this year. I've been looking forward to this for some time. It's not often, one has an opportunity to gain insights, into a world class team, and in this episode, Edouard share with us, how the Swiss Rowing Team has...

Really excited to share with you, my conversation with Noel Donaldson . Noel is widely recognised, as one of the world's most successful rowing coaches. He has held posts as the head coach at the Victorian Institute of sport winning countless King’s Cup races, Elite Development, Head Coach and high-performance director at Rowing Australia, as well as the head coach fo...

Really excited to release my follow up interview with Greg Benning . With 19 wins at HOCR, 4 course records, and  7 wins at SilverSkiff,  I just had to get him back on the podcast, to share with us his approach to training and preparing for an event. Anyone that wants to get insights and inspiration, into how a multiple champion athlete, prepares and trains to win, you will not want to m...

My guest today is well known in both World Rowing, US Rowing and business. He is a competitive master-level rower, with 19 wins at HOCR, 4 course records.  7 wins at SilverSkiff.  Half dozen FISA Veteran or US Masters Nationals with 6+ wins/regatta. He is the Vice Chair of US Rowing, captained the 1984 crew at the University of Pennsylvania, former President of Cambridge Boat Club and co...

My guest today is well known in Australian rowing and surf lifesaving, competing and winning over the last 40+ years in both still water and surf boats. He has served as the President of Mosman Rowing Club in Sydney. Along with his wife, and Olympic athlete Gillian, awarded coach of the year. He is a highly successful entrepreneur, owning the original RowPerfect Indoor Sculler and a highly success...

My guest today is Mick Miller.   “I believe in challenging people so that they can grow and evolve, and change the world for the better.” Mick has seen it all. He's worked with elite athletes chasing Olympic glory, world champions, professional Rugby League teams, America's Cup campaigns, and up-and-coming youth champions. He's seen athletes through good times and bad, through victory and meltdown...

After hearing Drew Ginn OAM, talk about the GB 8+ approach to performance, and the simple rule that they created "Will it make the boat go faster" , I was curious to speak with the man that brought the crew and the team together to win in 2000 and to uncover some of the insights and approaches that led to the crews success. Martin McElroy is probably best known for guiding the British Olympic Team...

Aram is an innovator and high-performance rowing coach, continually in pursuit of best practice in all aspects of rowing. Aram is best known for his online video analysis and the founder of the world's leading 'high-spec' indoor rowing machine, the 'Biorower. In this the second of our conversations, Aram and I talk about the Biorower in more detail. Find more about the Biorower at www.biorower.com...

Aram is an innovator and high-performance rowing coach, continually in pursuit of best practice in all aspects of rowing. Aram is best known for his online video analysis and the founder of the world's leading 'high-spec' indoor rowing machine, the 'Biorower. This is the first of a two part interview with Aram. In the second interview, Aram and I talk about the Biorower in more detail.  You can fi...