Behind the Scenes of "The Boys of '36"

We asked current University of Washington oarsmen about their experiences rowing a wooden racing shell for the American Experience documentary, "The Boys of '36."
Special thanks:
Jacob Morton
Luke Khoury
Phil Walczack
Sam Helms
Spencer Shultz
University of Washington Rowing
Rowing Archives
The Ulbrickson Family Collection
Additional Camera and Interviews: Helen Russell

[@avenavillus]

When I first rowed in college (1978), people said our boat had been in the 1936 Olympics. At the time I thought it was a joke, but now I'm not so sure. We were a ragtag startup team at WVU. We kept our shells in an old tractor-trailer truck behind the lumberyard. That thing was so heavy that our old coach made the men carry it for us!

[@ricksindars4810]

My cousin Joyce Simdars was married to Joe Rantz.
Here is a photo you may be interest in at this link below.
facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=805957612752934&set=t.100000161082518&type=3&theater

[@willmpet]

I rowed my little boat around the lake, later I was able to row with the Minnesota team of eights, and I got to out in a scull at the same time, it was wonderful. You reached top speed after only two strokes!