Andrew Rae: Head Coach
Originally from Australia, Andrew was a Junior Rower at the Scots College, Sydney from 2006 – 2011, where he raced for his school, and also competed at State and National Championships, coming 3rd in the 2011 Junior Mens 8+ at Nationals. Andrew took time away from the sport to pursue other things outside of school, and ended up moving to Canada in 2015. Now a citizen of Canada, Andrew moved to the Island in late 2020 and accidentally fell into coaching, while looking for a sporting club to join in the valley. Andrew is passionate about youth sport and has been a coach with Maple Bay since March 2021.
Katie Clark: Junior Program
Hailing from Cranbrook, BC, Coach Katie brings her knowledge and experience in international rowing to Maple Bay. Katie learned to row in 2014 to represent the Kootenays at the BC Summer Games. Katie studied Kinesiology at the University of British Columbia and was part of three University National Championship winning teams, highlighted by wins in the 8+ in 2018 and 2021, and a win in the 1x in 2019. Katie represented Canada on the world stage on multiple occasions, including the U23 and Senior National Team. Katie coached at False Creek Rowing Club and Thunder Crew on the mainland during her undergrad. Katie is currently training with Rowing Canada at the National Training Centre on Quamichan Lake.
Nicole Hare: Juniors and Masters
A 2x Olympian and multiple World Cup and World Championship appearances under her belt, Nicole is a seasoned professional! She made her Olympic debut at Rio 2016 in the 2- with Jennifer Martins. In 2019, Hare competed for Canada in two World Cups, one with the 8+ and one with the 4-. In her second Olympic appearance, Hare competed with the 4- that made it to the B final at Tokyo. Now retired from her duties as a National Team Athlete, Nicole gives her time, knowledge and services back to the rowing community. Splitting her time between Shawnigan Lake School and Maple Bay, Nicole provides coaching for youth in the Cowichan Valley in the sport of rowing and Masters at MBRC.
Sam Garber: Masters
Sam took his first strokes in a 2008 Learn to Row on the “prairies” (code for Calgary) and has been on the water one way or another since. With accolades ranging from “2011 Novice of the Year” to “Fish Game Regional Champion,*” he has figured out the hardest way of doing things and enjoys sharing how not to do them that way with others. Since moving to Victoria in 2012, Sam has been steadily moving further away from the busy “big city,”, and now finds himself anchored in lovely Maple Bay. In early 2024 Sam waded on to the shores of the Maple Bay Rowing Club’s beach and the rest is history. With a deep rooted passion for a firm erg, he will row when his arm is twisted and the ergs are broken. Sam enjoys sports where he can remain seated for the entire duration (bowling & golf are out of the question). Sam can be found on the water in boats of all sorts and sizes and frequently dabbles in the “dark side” of self propelled watercraft, namely kayaking and canoeing. He has rowed in every province except PEI and Newfoundland, coached countless crews, and is always happy to strap a boat to a trailer or help loosen a snug wing nut. Next time you see him ask him to tell you about his Concept II pin collection, or have him regale you with his tale about the ill timed 24 hour erg-a-thon in the midst of Calgary’s 2013 flood of the century (“It was a dark and stormy night…”). *self awarded
Adult Learn-to-Row
TBA
Our Volunteer Coaches
Dan Butler, Susan Macdonald, Judy Smith, Kathy Thibodeau
These qualified volunteers provide support to our paid coaching staff.