TERRI & BOB GLIDDEN

Course & Safety

LONG BEACH ROWING ASSOCIATION, Long Beach, CA

How did you come to get involved with the Hooch?

Hailing from the Long Beach Rowing Association (LBRA) in Southern California, Terri and Rob Glidden have made the Head of the Hooch an annual Fall vacation tradition. Their enthusiasm for the Hooch began with Rob’s first head race here as a single sculler in 2008, facilitated by Terri’s childhood friendship with Chattanooga resident and Lookout Rowing Club member Shannon Baucom.

What inspired you to become a Hooch Volunteer?

That first visit became the template for successive trips: Shannon and Terri set course buoys and guided boats on the docks, while Rob raced and pitched in wherever needed between events. Over the years, they’ve helped set up boat trees, performed safety checks, directed launching and recovery traffic, moved shells, and driven launches. Terri has also served as a freelance cox for crews attending from Newfoundland, Washington, and Florida. The work is fun and gratifying, and time flies – especially when meeting and getting to know many of the LRC and ARC organizers and volunteers.

In your opinion, what are the Hooch’s best qualities?

Since 2008, Rob has competed in major regattas across the continent, including FISA Masters in Canada, the Head of the Charles, and San Diego Crew Classic. As one of the giants, The Head of the Hooch stands out for its ideal setting and efficient organization. The picturesque venue attracts world-class competition and offers a wide, relatively straight course with gentle currents, and plenty of space on the shore for staging and launching boats. The organizers and officials of the event expertly manage the heavy traffic. But the best part about the Hooch is the warm hospitality of the entire volunteer staff. You know you are someplace special when you row up to the start of the race and the referee positioned to direct traffic prefaces his instructions by telling the gathered competitors, “We’re glad you’re here.”