CofC Senior Student-Athlete Feature: Erik Bowers
2/24/2012 4:45:00 PM | Sailing
CHARLESTON, S.C. - Senior sailor Erik Bowers (Excelsior, Minn.) has been a four-year member of the nationally-ranked CofC sailing team. Last season, he qualified for ISCA Singlehanded Nationals with a second-place finish at the SAISA Men's Singlehanded Championship regatta. A biology major, Bowers plans to put forth an effort for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Brazil. Upon graduation, he plans to work hard on achieving that goal by racing and traveling through Europe this summer.
Q: How did you get first started with the sport of sailing?
A: "I started sailing when I was seven or eight years old. I got into it, because my dad's side of the family were big into racing, way before I was even born."
Q: How did you decide to come to the College of Charleston?
A: "Well, after high school I didn't really know what I wanted to do, but I definitely wanted to keep sailing and racing in college. My criteria was pretty broad. It was a liberal arts college with a good sailing program and a much more mild winter than Minnesota."
Q: What other school were you looking at before you decided on CofC?
A: "I actually applied early to Charleston, and once I got in, there was no point doing anything else with any other schools. Charleston it was."
Q: What has been your most memorable experience and most exciting place you've been to with the sailing team?
A: "My most memorable experience was racing at nationals last fall in St. Petersburg, Fla., and I finished sixth."
Q: How do you plan on finishing your last sailing season at The College and how does the team look?
A: "The team looks very good. I will just go to practice everyday and put in my best effort and keep going hard. Everyone on the team has the same goal, to win a national championship, so it should be a good spring for us."
Q: What is your major and what is your plan post CofC?
A: "I am a biology major. But, I don't really plan on doing anything bio related after I graduate. I actually plan on starting an Olympic effort for the 2016 Olympics in the laser class."
Q: Tell us a little more about your Olympic plans?
A: "I am still trying to figure out my plans. First thing I am going to do is go to Miami and sail in the Olympic class regatta, and hopefully, make the U.S. Development Team. Then from there, hopefully travel to a few events in Europe this spring and summer and continue to get more experience internationally."
Q: What are you going to miss most about Charleston and its world-class eateries?
A: "Charleston has awesome seafood, so I am definitely going to miss the seafood here."
Players Mentioned
