Timing & Selection procedures
The World Toughest Row 2024
The World’s Toughest Row, one of the toughest sporting events, which annually brings together endurance athletes and adventurers from around the world. They test themselves against the forces of Mother Nature and compete against each other to row thousands of miles across the Atlantic Ocean.
Why a four-man boat?
Mark holds the world record for solo and duo. However, the four-man and overall world record is still missing. When he was at the race start in 2022, he decided to form a team of four to attack the world record
When started?
The team started training in January 2023. However, three team members were dropped due to circumstances. It is striking that the level of commitment could not be provided by them and that this was a reason to stop the adventure.
How do you get the team?
Recruitment started in September 2023 to find the suitable endurance athlete. These candidates had to have rowing experience and an endurance sports background. They also had to pass a resilience test and be able to handle the level of commitment (including at least 20 hours of training per week). All candidates took a 5 km rowing test and a selection was made on that basis. After the selection interviews on October 4, the selection team consisted of:
What does the selection team do?
The selection team receives a personal training plan every week from Mr Borja Martinez Gonzalez, assistant professor at the University of Kent. They must follow these carefully, train daily, the correct times, wattages, etc. Once every two weeks, the entire team trains together for two hours on the ergometer or on the water. There are monthly team calls with the entire team and a monthly team training day. The final selection will be announced on January 13.
What is done during a team training day?
That is different. On November 4, the team went to the Rijnland Rowing Club. In the morning they rowed a marathon together on the ergometer and in the afternoon the team rowed a marathon on the water in the pouring rain. These types of days provide team building and mental toughness.
On November 25, the team rowed two marathons together on the ergometer. On December 16, the team participated together in a 53 km competition on the water. The last team training day is scheduled for January 13, after which the final selection will be announced and the team will eat together. This concludes the selection and training will rise to the next level.
The SELECTIon
Mark Slats
World Motivator
“I, Mark Slats, am an adventurer at heart. I strive to make the impossible possible. Not alone, but for and with others. I want to live life to the fullest, to do things that have not been done before.
Leon koning
Fulltime lawyer & Parttime adventurer
I am Leon Koning, 33 years old, full-time lawyer and – as much as possible – part-time adventurer! In 2022 I cycled from Northern Italy to the North Cape (Northcape4000) and thought: this gives me energy! During ultra-distance events, you get to know cool, inspiring people, you help each other, discover new places and push your boundaries! Participating in the Worlds Toughest Row has it all for me: new sport, new adventure and groundbreaking! I did the Northcape4000 unsupported and solo, now we are going for a team effort! Together we form the strongest team imaginable (ever!), train together and cross the Atlantic Ocean together as quickly as possible! Let’s do it!
Mijndert dijkstra
Ocean Lover
I am Mijndert Dijkstra, 42 years old, and after previous wanderings in the Caribbean and Asia, I now live with my wife Krista and two children (5 & 7) in Naarden. My sporting background is diverse: football, cycling and triathlon, with highlights such as Ironman New Zealand, KOM Taiwan and the TransAlp.
I am attracted by the vastness of the Ocean, and the idea of being able to bridge this epic distance between continents with muscle and willpower. Great things are possible with planning and perseverance, but especially with action.
During the 1000+ training hours for TWAC, everything on my playlist comes up, podcasts about rowing, cycling, the French Revolution, but when we really get going I choose David Guetta’s Titanium!
Maarten diepeveen
Crossing the finish line with a smile
Why do I want this? I love challenges. This journey actually started years ago when the 4-person Atlantic Ocean record caught my eye after a friend told me about The World’s Toughest Row. Unfortunately, that did not get off to a good start at the time. Looking for a challenge, I signed up for an IronMan 70.3 in Panama. Unprepared, I discovered that renting a racing bike was impossible and I was forced to cycle the race on a mountain bike.
When I got home from my Panama trip and was looking for a new challenge, I signed up for an entire Iron Man in Maastricht, with 8 weeks to prepare I threw myself into the preparation. With some longer cycling training sessions at the weekend and a run during the week, the race again went well and despite the fact that it was not a top time, I crossed the finish line with a smile.
Looking for a race that would really challenge me, I found The Brutal Double. A double Iron Man on a mountain with more than 6000 meters of altitude on the bike and 2500 meters of altitude while walking. Enjoy after 40 hours and the people around me couldn’t get a smile off my face during this race either. Luckily a friend sent me Mark’s call the weekend after The Double Brutal. Mark Slats is looking for a team. Hopefully I now have a physical challenge that keeps me awake at night, gives me the creeps, one that I really have to do my best to succeed. One that can take the smile off my face.
tristan steegman
Design engineer
I am Tristan, 31 years old, and I work as a design engineer at a method engineering company. I am mainly involved in offshore wind projects, and I design mechanical tools to realize wind farms. I studied aerospace engineering at TU Delft, and during my studies I started rowing at DSRV Laga. I love sporting challenges, so I rowed the ring canal, a 100km race, ran the Rotterdam marathon last year, and participated in several other small challenges. Nowadays I row in Rotterdam at RV Nautilus, and it is high time for a new over-the-top sporting challenge! What I think is cool about this challenge is that you work hard as a team for a year with the same motivation and then set a world record during the race!
RESERVES
amos keijer
Until 2021 I was part of the national rowing team for 5 years. My experience allows me to row impart technical knowledge to the team. In a rowing boat I am completely in my element and I can give instructions and motivate team members. One of the challenges for the team is to find the most efficient rowing movement possible for the specific circumstances. In addition to the weather conditions, boat weight, relative ease, imitability, desired speed or wattage and of course intensity duration must be taken into account. I’m very happy to help the team move forward.
