Helgeland, along with junior Remy Hitomi, serves as the team captain for the No. 1 ranked Bears. She has helped lead the varsity eight to its second straight Jessop-Whittier Cup and its first Pac-10 title since 1979. The Bears are undefeated going into this weekend's NCAAs and are looking to cap off an incredible year with a national title.
Name: Martha Helgeland Position: currently 7 seat in v8, co-captain Favorite... Movie: As Good As It Gets and Shawshank Redemption TV show: Alias Athlete: Marion Jones Sport to watch (on TV or in person): Biathalon Food: Pasta and Sushi Band/Artist: I like most music except techno
Q: How did you get involved in crew? A: I met this really cute guy the summer before high school, and decided to join the rowing club because he was a member.Q: Why did you choose to come to Cal? A: I wanted to go to a school with both a good rowing team and a good academic program. And I had a friend on the men's team,and since I couldn't go on recruiting visits, it felt safer to come to Cal. I also talked to Dave on the phone, and he seemed like a very good coach, which ultimately was the most important thing.
Q: At the beginning of the season, what is the one thing you most look forward to? What is the thing you dread the most? A: I like working out, I'm not just looking to racing. Racing makes me nervous. But I like to win. What I dread the most is erging, although this year it wasn't so bad.
Q: What is your pre-race routine/superstition? A: Nothing really. I like eating seedless grapes, because I'm scared of getting hungry on the water, and I can't really eat anything substantial when I'm nervous. This year I've gooten in the habit of clutching 6 seat's (Laura Terheyden) foot right before the start, and now I feel like I have to do it. I guess that's kind of stupid.
Q: What are the last 3 CD's you bought? A: I don't really buy cds anymore; I like to burn my own.
Q: If you were stranded on a desert island, who would you bring with you, and what 3 things would you want to take? A: I would bring Ghandi or someone else amazing to tell stories, and then I would bring a radio transmitter, a cell phone and one of those red things you shoot up in the air when you're in trouble. That way I could make sure to get back home when I was tired of tanning and swimming and stories about saving the world.
Q: What is your greatest achievement in crew? A: I think when we placed third at NCAA two years ago, I was really happy. But I guess my biggest acheivement was when I won junior worlds in the double scull in 99. but it's a long time ago, and I'm looking to do somthing this year to be proud of.
Q: What do you do in your spare time? A: Most of the time I eat and sleep, but I also like to play hearts over the internet.
Q: If you could trade places with anyone (celebrity or not) who would it be? Why? A: I wouldn't mind to get rich , but I think I'd rather trade places with someone who workes in the UN, perhaps Kofi Annan's secretary or something. That way I could learn a lot and travel the world and hopefully do something good.
Q: Who/what inspires you? A: A lot of things, but I have to say that disabled kids are amazing. I used to travel with this girl who was in a wheelchair and couldn't do anything on her own, but she was on the national team for boccia (a paralympics event) and always laughed. That was inspiring.
Q: What is the one song/type of music that you think should be banned from the erg room? A: Monotonous techno
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