Kobe’s on the move

Marlborough oarsman Kobe Miller will continue his burgeoning rowing career in the United States.

The 22-year-old, who got into the sport at Marlborough Boys’ College in 2016 in a bid to stay fit for basketball, has been on the national rowing production line ever since.

In 2019 he earned his first national call-up, travelling to Japan with the NZ under-21 side. COVID caused the 2020 season to be canned but he was back in black a year later, again in the NZ under-21 set-up.

In 2022, Kobe travelled to Italy as a member of the NZ under-23 team at the world champs, where he rowed in a single scull. This year he also made the U23s, chosen as part of the quad which competed at the worlds in Bulgaria.

His undoubted potential earned him a spot in the 2022-23 NZ elite development squad, rubbing shoulders with the country’s top rowers at Lake Karapiro over the summer months.

However, the young man who has already completed a three-year Bachelor of Applied Science (Sport) degree at Otago University has decided to spread his wings.

Kobe set off from his Blenheim base last week to begin a two-year rowing scholarship at the historic Northeastern University, near Boston, opting to further his sporting progress at a top US college, while adding to his academic qualifications. Over the next two years, Kobe hopes to complete a Masters in Sports Management.

He explains the reasons behind his bold decision. “I was in the elites over summer, plus it was my last year in the under-23s, so I felt I was at an age and at a point in time where I should look for further education during this Olympic cycle. I was approached by the head coach [at Northeastern] who came over to watch the North Island rowing champs in January and he pretty much just offered me a rowing scholarship on the spot.”

When the national selectors suggesting he was not on their short list for the 2024 Olympics, Kobe thought “actually, I am still young and have a lot of time left in the sport so why don’t I do something different and have a change.”

He is joining a very successful rowing programme at Northeastern, becoming part of a strong group of returning athletes, plus arriving internationals rowers, including medallists from the world U23s.

He will join five other Kiwis at the Boston college, which caters for 44,000 students and whose sporting teams are known as the Huskies. They include NZ U21 team-mate Cole Brann, plus Ed Lopas, who was in the U23 quad.

Although he has spent most of his time propelling singles and quads lately, Northeastern is all about big boat racing.

“It is all eights over there,” said Kobe. “I am hoping to make the top boat, called the 1V. The season culminates at the IRA national champs, so my main goal is to get into that boat for that regatta.”

Although fully focussed on his new challenge, Kobe feels he has unfinished business in the black singlet.

He described his latest national stint, with the U23s in Bulgaria earlier this year, as “bitter sweet”.

“We had high expectations but we didn’t get the result we wanted so I have still got that urge … I want to prove myself.

“So hopefully I can go [to the US], get my Masters, come back and make the elites again, then try for that next Olympic cycle [Los Angeles 2028].

“I have had a lot more experience through the Rowing NZ system now and I will come back with more maturity … knowing what needs to be done now to nail those little one-percenters, prevention of injuries and sickness, just to be able to put in five hours of training every day, then really perform on that world stage.”

Asked what he enjoyed most about such a demanding sport Kobe did not hesitate. “I just love winning,” he said. “Winning is the best feeling. When you are at the top you feel unstoppable. It is such a huge confidence boost.

“Also, conquering your goals alongside your friends, that is such a great achievement.

“Then, when you are selected and your family get to watch you racing overseas – I find that pretty rewarding. And, of course, when you win it is even better. Family has always been a big part of my journey.”

Kobe also mentioned the support he received from the Inspire Foundation Marlborough, who helped fund his trip to the States.