Riverwood surgeon finds wellness benefits on the water

Pictured third from right is Dr. Susan Moen with Daisy Crew members and their rowing boat.

When she is not caring for patients, Dr. Susan Moen, orthopaedic hand and wrist surgeon at Riverwood Healthcare Center in Aitkin, enjoys rowing workouts with the Daisy Crew of the Brainerd Lakes Rowing Club.

The Daisy Crew, a group of women from diverse backgrounds, comes together for an hour of rowing in a long, narrow shell—a canoe-shaped boat that spans 62 feet in length and 36 inches in width. They meet to row the waters of Gull Lake at Madden’s Resort on Friday mornings and before dusk on Mondays.

Rowing an eight-person shell involves a seamless dance of coordination. Each member grasps the handle of an oar, fixed to the boat by oarlocks, and places their feet in specialized rowing shoes secured to stretcher boards. The rhythm of their strokes is expertly set by the coxswain, the ninth crew member who commands the cadence from the back of the shell. Together, the rowers glide the boat gracefully through the water.

Moen shares her enthusiasm for the sport, “I love the rowing club! Rowing is an amazing workout. It is a full body exercise and uses all the major muscle groups. It also requires focus and technique to coordinate the stroke and keep the boat balanced. I love the combined physical and mental challenge that it presents.”

“There is also the team element that is like a sisterhood. Everyone in the boat needs to be working together to have a smooth stroke. If I’m having an off day or life is stressful, rowing doesn’t allow me to think about anything else for that hour I’m in the boat.”

Moen’s journey with rowing began during her college years at the College of St. Benedict, where she rowed for four years. She continued her passion on the club team in Akron, Ohio, while completing her orthopedic residency.

Moen adds, “I joined the Brainerd team in 2021 and have been loving it for the health benefits and the positive and encouraging environment. Most women on the team had never rowed before joining the club. It is a remarkable group of women from all over the area, including some from Aitkin. Every year the team has been growing and I love watching new people fall in love with the sport.”

In July 2023, Moen and her Daisy Crew teammates competed in the Duluth International Regatta. Despite finishing last, the experience was about more than winning. Participating in their first regatta was a triumph. The July/August 2024 issue of Lake Country Journal featured a story on the Daisy Crew and their first regatta experience.

Moen participated with the Brainerd Lakes Rowing Club in her second Duluth regatta again in July 2024 where the team came in third out of four boats. She comments, “It’s a wonderful experience, one that brings together people of all ages, from junior rowers to masters in their 70s, highlighting that rowing is a lifelong sport. Everybody there is cheering each other on. It’s a competition and everyone is rowing their hearts out. We all love the sport and want to see it thrive.”

For more information on the Brainerd Lakes Rowing Club visit www.brainerdlakesrowing.org or email info@brainerdlakesrowing.org Rowing classes are offered for students, men and women.