www.montereycountynow.com june 6-12, 2024 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 17 crazy for wanting to do this,” Jennifer Hofer says. Instead of dismissing the idea, both friends enthusiastically joined in. Myers shared her excitement about forming a team: “My immediate reaction was, ‘This is amazing! Why haven’t I heard of it before? Let’s do it!’ I jumped on board and haven’t looked back since.” After the meeting, the three became even more interested. They formed a team called the Hericanes—named to sound like the weather phenomenon but also capture their all-women team. Through online message boards they posted to recruit a fourth rower, and they found Kelsey Pfender, 29, from Colorado, who had independently come to the decision that she wanted to row. The timing for them aligned perfectly to get ready to race in 2024. Preparing for a row of this magnitude presents challenges. The Hericanes embarked on a rigorous journey, beginning with the steps of hiring coaches and intensive physical training. Acquiring a suitable boat was also a necessity. “In the initial months, we focused on training, while immersing ourselves in discussions with fellow rowers and coaches to gain insights. Ocean rowing is entirely new to us, so we sought advice from various teams Top left: Kelsey Pfender breaks a Champagne bottle for good luck as the Hericanes name their boat on Saturday, March 9. Top center: The team launches for a training row from the Coast Guard Pier in Monterey, a regular weekend activity since February. Top right: Kelsey Pfender and Kristen Hofer work on their boat. Besides physical training, hours are dedicated to getting the vessel ready for their row. Above: Sierra Myers, Alan Larpthaveesarp and Kristen Hofer attach an oar before heading out for a row. Larpthaveesarp, a local boat mechanic, has been helping the team get the boat ready since it arrived in Monterey in February.
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