From the office to the oars: Reporting.cz heads to Lipno

One of the highlights of the trip was rowing. And it quickly became clear that getting several people into the same rhythm is not as easy as it looks from the shore.

What made the experience even more interesting was the opportunity to try rowing under the guidance of Václav Chalupa, a multiple-time World Championship runner-up and Olympic silver medallist from the 1992 Barcelona Games.

We started with some basic instruction, and then it was our turn to try it ourselves. At first glance, rowing looks simple: get in the boat and pull. How hard can it be?

In reality, you quickly discover that rowing as part of a crew is not just about individual strength. Everyone has to row in the same rhythm and respond to the others.

And as soon as the rhythm starts to fall apart, the boat notices immediately. Fortunately, we managed to avoid capsizing and everyone made it safely back to shore.

Seeing Lipno from a different perspective

Rowing was not the only activity on the water. We also tried sailing and spent some time out on Lipno Lake.

There is something special about seeing the surrounding landscape from the water. The forests, hills, nearby villages and the surface of Lipno create a completely different view than you get on a regular trip along the shore. It was worth stepping away from the office for a while.

And because Lipno lies in the Šumava Mountains at an altitude of around 800 metres, the weather also reminded us that the calendar does not necessarily mean it is summer. It was noticeably cooler than in Prague, but in the end, the weather worked out well for our activities on the water.

More than work

That is one of the best things about trips like this: you get to spend time with colleagues somewhere other than at a desk or on an online meeting.

Whether on the water, out for a walk, over a meal or sitting together in the evening, conversations naturally turn to things we rarely have time to talk about during a normal working day.

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