Speed 5 with Alex Selvig of Filippi Boats

[lt.wolf]

RE: Speed 5 - -
http://www.EliteRowing.com/



So Alex we have heard thru the grape vine that Filippi is now one of the Boat Suppliers of the US Rowing team. How did this come about?

Filippi is honored to be the Official Equipment Supplier. The US team now has a fleet of 18 Filippis to train in before they go overseas. They can then jump right into the same world-class equipment for international competition. Now they won’t be outgunned as far as equipment goes.

How does Filippi plan on supplying the boat for New Zealand this year?

As you know, the NZL and AUS teams have been very successful in Filippis. We’ve been shipping boats all over the world for twenty five years. New Zealand? No sweat.

Are there any new designs for 2010, last year we did see the "fluid" type rigger on a Filippi boat, what brought that about?

Filippi’s engineers and researchers developed an amazingly stiff, carbon fiber bow-mounted rigger. The “Aliante” was raced by elite heavyweights Iztok Cop of SLO, Alan Campbell of GBR and Ondrej Synek of CZE with great success. There are a three of them here in the US, two in the hands of elite athletes, and I confess that I kept one for myself. We’ll make them available soon. As you would expect from Filippi, they’re awesome AND gorgeous.

What is your rowing story and how did you get into the boat business?

Back in 1984, a skinny, Marlboro-smoking, “euro” party kid walked onto the BU Frosh team, and fell in love with the sport. I rowed all through college, and then trained for the National Team at Boston Rowing Center for a few years. While I was there, teammates of mine in the W2- raced a Filippi, and they suggested that I become the rep because I grew up in Italy and speak Italian fluently. I wrote a letter, and the rest of it was twenty years of hard work with a great product.

Recently you entered the world of local politics did working in the boat business or with the rowing community have any influence on his political interests?

The determination and “never give up” mindset was invaluable during my campaigns for Boston City Council. Apparently, I have some vestigial fitness from years of training: I could canvass all day, sometimes wearing out my campaign workers. A strong love for the Charles River definitely helped frame my environmental agenda.

Why should people choose Filippi over an American or Canadian brand?

People choose a particular brand for a variety of reasons. It could be comfort and fit, the quality of workmanship, international results, price, and many others. There are two pre-eminent boat builders chosen for the highest levels of our sport. Filippi has worked hard to be one of them, and will continue to do so.

Extra One
What are the key elements one should look for in purchasing a boat, any boat?
Are you comfortable in it? Will it hold its value? Is it durable, and will it need repairs or parts? What’s their reputation? It’s really subjective. Some boats are more appropriate for recreational rowers, and some win medals at Worlds every year.

And how did you get the guys in the Great Eight into a Filippi?
In London, they won the Head of the River in a Filippi, and then decided to compete in the Head of the Charles. In the lead up to the race, they were “encouraged” in a variety of ways to use the Charles’ sponsor’s hull. The guys in the Great VIII have been around the block, and know what kind of equipment they need to win. They stood their ground and insisted on the Filippi F41 8+. We had one specially shipped from Italy, and got it here just in time.

[FASTERthanYOU]

Great segment as always!

I am glad to see the Mens side of the NT finally getting into some equipment that will help them rather than the not hurt. Huge fan of the filippi small boats. I like the use of the word encourage as far as using the official hudsons. I think hudson is in a bit of trouble. Granted the USA set the WR in one. Since then the women used an 8 once, finished second at the wc, then went back to the empacher, Canada sent theres back because of a bad hull, and instead of getting a new hudson they just went right to the empacher. Finally the Polish M8 switched out of a Hudson after finishing last in their heat at the WC, and into an Empacher for the rep, won the rep, and ended up just missing out on a medal.

All in all I like Hudsons commitment to innovation and improvement, but going to Fillippi is one of the best moves at USRowing in a long time

[GreenHat]

I rowed my fair share of Filippis (1x, 2x, 4x, 4+) as a junior... everyone on the team loved the boats, and clearly the club brass did as well. We were really impressed when, after winning our heat at Canley, Alex approached us at the dock and personally gave his support and asked if we needed any technical help with the boat. That type of personal service is really great to have in a sport with such a small community. I know that this story is not the only instance of this kind of thing. Thanks, Alex. Keep it up!