Hillier Has High Hopes

In the summer of 2015, when he was 14, Yannick Hillier took his first rowing strokes in a two week summer learn to row course offered by the Bermuda Rowing Association. Launching from the BRA’s boathouse on White’s Island, Yannick gained his rowing spurs rowing in singles and doubles. He had been encouraged to join by Saltus math teacher Ms Rachel Smith, a member of the BRA. At the end of Grade 10, when considering a boarding school for Grades 11 and 12, Yannick choose Brentwood. From the sunny, warm waters of Hamilton Harbour, Yannick had to adjust to new conditions on Canada’s West Coast. Nine months later, over countless miles on the water and ergometer, several head races, and a handful of regattas, Yannick learned to sweep and refined his sculling technique. Most recently he was selected to bow the Junior Varsity 4x+ at the Brentwood Regatta. In that event, which hosts 1500 athletes, Yannick and his teammates won gold. “I really enjoy the cyclical nature of rowing. Both the slingshotting of the shell through the drive and the glide on the recovery. When this is done in synchronicity with crewmates, you feel the boat jump” reflected Yannick. Leading up to that, Yannick focussed on training in the single in an attempt to qualify for the Youth Olympics. He and his coach, Olympic oarswoman and coach, Ms Laryssa Biesenthal, our Head of Rowing, travelled to Chile for the Americas Qualifier. Building on this international experience, Yannick is training in the single to race at the World Championships in Racice, Czech Republic from August 8-12. Yannick will be training out of the BRA boathouse through the month of July. Yannick will return to Brentwood in September to complete his Grade 12 year.