COM Faculty Uses Science and Passion to Perfect Love of Rowing
Kristina Lindquist has had a knack for rowing since her junior year of high school growing up in New England.
Lindquist, the Director of Instructional Design in the 91制片厂 College of Osteopathic Medicine, recently competed in the Masters National Championships for rowing at Lake Merritt in Oakland, Calif.
Over the weekend-long race schedule, Lindquist competed in six 1,000-meter races. More than 100 rowing clubs participated from across the country.
鈥淩owing is a great recreational sport. When I was finished with my races, I hurt in places I didn鈥檛 even know I had,鈥� she joked.
With a background in Kinesiology and Exercise Science, Lindquist utilizes her knowledge to help her on the water.
鈥淢y Master鈥檚 is in Motor Learning and Behavior, which helps with my routine when I get out there to row,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t helps me decide how I鈥檓 going to practice, what kind of things I鈥檓 going to practice, and the parts of my stroke I鈥檓 going to practice.鈥�
Lindquist said motor programming is key to becoming a successful rower, something the rower doesn鈥檛 even realize is taking place.
鈥淧eople think you just go out there and stroke, but that鈥檚 not what it is at all,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou have to develop your motor program, which means your brain sends signals to your muscles, and the sequence of those signals help you perfect your strokes. When you鈥檙e racing, you don鈥檛 have to think about it; you just do it.鈥�
Teamwork is vital to the success of any rowing club, she added, including both communication and understanding. Staying in shape is another vital component to the success of any rowing club, something she鈥檚 all too familiar with.
鈥淗aving the kinesiology and personal training background helps me talk to my team about rowing in a more educated way,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 can help them with conditioning, nutrition, and other things that will help us perform better as a team.鈥�
She wants to participate in next year鈥檚 5,000-meter 鈥楬ead of the Charles鈥� international race in Boston, not too far from where she grew up. Until that race, however, she鈥檚 ready to keep going out on the water in her own boat on Lake Las Vegas.
Lindquist rows with the Lake Las Vegas Rowing Club and encourages those who are interested in rowing to sign up at .
鈥淚t鈥檚 extremely calm rowing in the morning, and it鈥檚 a great way to get centered,鈥� Lindquist said. 鈥淚t makes the day feel like less of a grind.鈥�
