GSLR BOARD MEMBERS
Meghan Saunders - President
Meghan began her rowing adventure 7 years ago through GSLR and dove straight in. Growing up in landlocked Alberta, Canada, didn't provide a chance for rowing, but she was always intrigued by the sport. She loves being involved in the club community. Meghan began coaching soon after joining the club and enjoys helping others learn and grow in rowing. In addition to rowing, Meghan works as an industrial designer, loves to travel, and dabbles in pottery, climbing, stand-up paddle boarding, and soccer.
Irene Lysenko - Treasurer
Irene fell in love with rowing while living in Connecticut some fifteen years ago. What was supposed to be a recreational pastime quickly turned into a six-day-a-week training schedule and competitions up and down the East Coast. As much fun as she has competing, she finds her greatest joy comes from teaching and coaching and watching others fall in love with the sport.
Karen Brown - Secretary
Karen grew up in Salt Lake City. She had always thought her two boys (now in college) should join a crew team in high school and wished it was something she had done. Then a friend told her that they have an adult rowing club on the Great Salt Lake (who knew!). After several years and in her 50s, she decided you are never too old to try something new and took her first lesson in 2019 where she fell in love with the sport. Not a bad mid-life crisis! She loves the calmness, the full-body workout, the community, and the tranquility of being on the water.
Malaika Homo - Vice President
Malaika is originally from Elkhart, Indiana, but her love of the great outdoors led her to Utah in 2005. After spending over a decade racing triathlons, she got hooked on rowing by taking a series of beginner lessons through Great Salt Lake Rowing in 2018. Malaika enjoys testing what her body can do and helps others discover the joy of movement through her work as a Certified Personal Trainer and Endurance Coach. In addition to rowing, Malaika spends time hiking, trail running, swimming, snowshoeing, snowboarding, playing racquetball and kickball, reading, and gardening.
Michael Shiplet - Equipment
Michael, or "Ship" as he's known, has spent most of his life as a track & field and cross-country runner, competing at both the high school and college levels. But after four years of racing 8Ks in the mountains of Virginia, his knees finally threw in the towel and refused to go another mile. The next few years saw mixed success with barefoot running and other forms of cardio, until his partner, Paige, turned him onto rowing. It took 2 years on an erg and a pandemic to convince him his knees would survive the sport, and by the time he finally got into a single on the Great Salt Lake (flipping twice on his first day), he was completely hooked. He's now set on (safely) climbing the competitive ranks both on the water and indoors along with Paige at bow and Willow, their Dalmatian, as coxswain. When not rowing, he's a software engineer, adventurer, guitarist, illustrator, and all-around tinkerer.
Paige Willey - Community Outreach
Paige discovered rowing nearly 8 years ago when she decided it was time to face her fear of the water. Little did she know that she'd find one of the great joys of her life. Now an avid and dedicated adherent to the water, there are few things she loves more than getting out on the Great Salt Lake and finding her rhythm. In fact, she's been known to say, "Just as long as it doesn't interfere with my rowing season," as an answer to most questions asked between January and April. Out side of rowing, Paige is a software engineer who loves to go on adventures with her partner Michael (Ship), and her Dalmatian, Willow.
Alice Wind - Membership
Alice grew up in California and Utah with a love of being out in nature. After wanting to learn to row for years, she had the opportunity to take beginning lessons with GSLR in 2018. Up until that time, she had never been on the Great Salt Lake and immediately fell in love with its peacefulness and beauty, especially at sunset. Alice is a retired engineer with 5 daughters and 3 adorable grandchildren. Besides rowing, she loves road biking, hiking, watching thunderstorms, reading a good book with a mug of hot cocoa, and planning trips to National Parks with her husband Steve.
Nicole Kawakami - At Large
Nicole grew up in American Fork, Utah. After watching people row up and down the river outside her flat in Nottingham while she should have been studying, she wanted to try it when coming back home to Utah. She took learn to row lessons with the club and loved everything about it! She became very involved with the club; became a member of the board, got her coaching certificate and started coaching quickly after. She enjoys teaching and seeing people enjoy it as much as she does. When not rowing, she teaches 2nd graders, loves traveling over the summer, and enjoys cooking and baking. She really likes the look people give when she tells them she sculls on the Great Salt Lake.
Andrew Wallhauser - Communications
Andrew has spent most of his life in New Jersey, living right by the ocean. He picked up rowing while in school, and was fortunate enough to experience racing in a variety of sweep and sculling boats during that time. He moved out to Utah in 2020, and eventually stumbled upon GSLR! He was beyond thrilled to have such an awesome place to row, and such an awesome group to row with. More than anything - Andrew enjoys helping others progress in their own abilities by sharing his experience and enthusiasm for the sport. When he isn't out rowing, Andrew is a die-hard surfer, and will almost certainly be imagining a potential surf trip / getaway on any given day. He is also a landscape photographer by hobby, and loves hiking, camping, and finding other ways to spend time on the water however he can.
Contact Us
801-319-1828
Equipment Breakage/Repair Needs
Members: If you are aware of equipment repair needs, please record it in the log book AND contact Michael Shiplet at shipletm11@icloud.com
Private Lesson Coaches
Meghan Saunders - meghan.saunders@gmail.com
Marina Contacts
Harbor Master: harbormaster@gslmarina.com
Marina Phone: 801-209-9142
Website Maintenance
Andrew Wallhauser - gslrorg@gmail.com
Website sponsored by XMission.
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