Paul Heaton, left, and Austin Blakeslee are passionate about D.C. Strokes. (Photos courtesy the subjects)

The spring rowing season is in full swing for the LGBT-based D.C. Strokes Rowing Club with its competitive and club programs already practicing on the Anacostia River. Its learn to row program will start on April 28 followed by their novice program in June. On June 3, members will host the 25th annual Stonewall Regatta.

This week in the Washington Blade All Star series, we meet two gay rowers who found their way back to the sport and are thriving.

After moving to D.C. in 2011, Paul Heaton noticed dragon boats on the Anacostia River. While he was researching them online, he discovered the local LGBT rowing club. Many years earlier, he had completed a learn to row program in Ithaca, N.Y. and decided to join the D.C. Strokes novice program.

“I fell in love with the team and the sport and bonded with other people who were also just coming into the club,” Heaton says. “My closest friends today are those same people who were in that novice class with me.”

Growing up in Elkhart, Ind., Heaton was a self-described geeky nerd type who was involved in theater and orchestra. While completing his journalism degree at Indiana University, he spent most of his time in the office of the school’s newspaper.

After completing the Strokes’ novice program, Heaton advanced to the club program and began competing for the first time in his life. Heaton rows 4s and 8s and there were certain aspects of the new experience that left him wanting more.

“Everyone on the team is always supportive and trying to help each other get better. When I walked down the dock carrying the boat with my teammates for my first race, there were other teammates cheering us on. I got a little verklempt,” Heaton says. “In 4s and 8s rowing, you are always looking to match your teammates for that perfect stroke — the swing of the boat. Once you get a hint of it, you want it again.”

Heaton, who works in educational fundraising and marketing for a nonprofit, went on to win gold, silver and bronze at the 2014 Cleveland Gay Games. This summer he’ll join his team at the 2018 Paris Gay Games. He has also competed with the Strokes throughout the Mid-Atlantic region in both sprint and head races.

Fully immersed in the club, Heaton is in his second year as race director for the Stonewall Regatta and volunteers as a coxswain for beginner classes. He remains on the club team instead of the competitive team because he enjoys their nighttime practices.

“I love being involved with the new people who join the club every year. Their enthusiasm is infectious,” Heaton says. “Rowing at night is so beautiful and peaceful and melts away any stress from the workday. It’s the perfect way to end the day.”

Austin Blakeslee started rowing the summer after seventh grade and continued through his years at T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria in its fall, winter and spring programs. Even though he didn’t consider himself to have an innate athletic ability, he felt comfortable in the sport and did well.

He joined the club rowing program at Tulane University, but his experience was interrupted when he studied abroad and when Hurricane Katrina hit the area. He stayed at Tulane through law school and moved to D.C. proper in 2016.

He had sculled periodically in years prior to coming to D.C. and was ready to return to the sport.

“I knew about D.C. Strokes and I sought them out specifically because they are LGBT-based. There is a level of comfort when there is no elephant in the room,” Blakeslee says. “The people have been friendly and accepting and I like having the structure of a planned workout.”

Blakeslee, who works as an intellectual property attorney, joined the morning competitive team and rows 4s and 8s. At 6 feet, 4 inches tall, his height is considered an advantage in the sport.

“My first race with the Strokes was the 2016 Stonewall Regatta,” Blakeslee says. “It was exciting to remember and embrace the feelings that come along with racing.”

He has since competed throughout the region with his teammates including at the prestigious Head of the Charles in Boston.

He is also serving as the program director for the Strokes which includes running the aforementioned programs along with the youth program and the adaptive rowing program, Athletes Without Limits. He had some tips tucked under his belt which have helped him in the position.

“My mom was the crew boosters president at T.C. Williams, so I had knowledge on the mechanics of running a boathouse, trailering for regattas and other aspects,” Blakeslee says. “Listening to her all those years gave me perspective on how much goes on behind the scenes.”

Blakeslee points to the great core group that rows with the Strokes and adds that everyone has the opportunity to make it into a competitive boat. He says the goal is to have fun and win some medals along the way.

“This is a low-impact sport that offers a great overall body workout,” Blakeslee says. “For anyone that is coming back from an injury, rowing is an opportunity to find a new sport.”