Back in His Element

For Bob Kaehler, returning to his passion of rowing and conditioning endurance athletes has proven to be a natural transition. 

“The timing was right,” said Kaehler, a three-time Olympian and four-time world champion. “I’ve had many years to explore new areas in human performance, health and endurance. I was ready for new growth in my life.”

Armed with nearly 20 years of experience as a physical therapist, strength and conditioning specialist and elite athlete, Kaehler launched his endurance conditioning business last fall. He is currently training athletes of all levels, ranging from juniors to seniors, masters athletes to current world and Olympic champions.

In 2008, Kaehler helped condition the U.S. men’s eight crew to its bronze-medal finish at the Olympic Games in Beijing.

“It’s what I really love doing,” said Kaehler. “I’m passionate about it. I get to share my expertise with my clients.”

Kaehler’s clients currently include some heavyweights in the world of rowing. Mike Teti, Bryan Volpenhein, Chris Ahrens and Jamie Koven are just a few of those who have enlisted Kaehler for his conditioning programs. 

Volpenhein, Ahrens and Koven are currently training with Kaehler for the 2009 Royal Henley Regatta as part of the Brown Alumni Rowing team, while Volpenhein is also using Kaehler’s program to train his team of elite lightweight rowers at the Pocock Rowing Center in Seattle, Wash. 

“Bob brings back knowledge of his era,” said Volpenhein of Kaehler’s return to rowing. “He’s trained with Mike Teti, Mike Spracklen, and Igor Gringko, to name a few. He’s been through the system. He knows what works and what doesn’t.”

Kaehler has also launched a series of rowing camps targeting rowers of all levels from across the country. Current stops include Seattle, Wash., Orlando, Fla., Austin, Texas and Bucks County, Pa.

The two- to three-day events include Kaehler’s structural evaluations, which he uses to determine an athlete’s strengths, weaknesses and muscular imbalances. Based on the results, Kaehler then prescribes a series of remedial exercises to strengthen the areas and prevent injuries.  

Kaehler’s camps also include lectures on strength training and injury prevention. The lectures outline the muscular system involved in the rowing stroke and explain how strength training improves performance. The lectures are followed up with a group training session and an evaluation of stroke technique.

Aside from training and conditioning, Kaehler wants “to give back to the community,” and develop rowing opportunities near his home in Bucks County, Pa. To that end, he and partner Dr. Dave Mauro founded the Bucks County Rowing Association (BCRA) in the spring of 2006. 

Based in Core Creek Park, Pa., BCRA is currently a sculling club, with eventual plans to expand the facility and offer sweep rowing as well.

“We want to establish a club where anyone from novice to elite can learn, train and compete in rowing,” said Mauro.

Starting in the spring and continuing through the fall season, Kaehler will offer a variety of rowing camps at the Bucks County facility. 

To add to his growing involvement in the masters rowing community, Kaehler was recently appointed to the USRowing Masters Committee as an athlete representative for 2009. 

“Ever since I can remember, I’ve been constantly working to advance my knowledge in nutrition, conditioning, endurance – basically all aspects of athletics and human performance,” said Kaehler. “It’s been a way of life for me.

“Now, I’m looking forward to tying all these pieces together. I want to help others achieve their maximum potential in athletics, and enjoy a lifetime of fitness and health.”

For more information on Kaehler’s rowing camps, lectures and upcoming events, contact coachkaehler@gmail.com or visit www.coachkaehler.com.

For more information on Bucks County Rowing Association, visit www.buckscountyrowing.com.

Click here to view a video clip of Kaehler's structural evaluation at Transcend Sports Facility.