Meet Kelsey Pfendler | Ocean Rower

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kelsey Pfendler and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kelsey, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I started prepping for this Solo Row last winter. I had dedicated almost two years previously to a team row I did with 3 other women. We launched June 8 2024 from Monterey California and rowed for 40 days to Kauai Hawaii. Upon arriving with my tea in Hawaii, someone had asked me if I would ever do another row, without a thought I said “in a heart beat” – this was true.
There were moments during my first row that my heart ached from realization that it would all soon be over. That all the work we had put in would live primarily in my memory. I’m not chasing the high of my first row, but I am looking for the pieces of myself that truly only flourish in environments such as these. When you ask your body and soul to become more, and it responds in kind.

I started thinking I wanted to do a second row and asked myself what that would look like. Very quickly I realized I wanted to do a Solo. I loved every moment of my team, we are still very close friends, but there was part of me that wanted to know what i was capable of alone.
A solo on the pacific is a uniquely challenging row. Getting off the California coast as a solo is one of the hardest parts, the wind and current and consistently pushing you south and back towards shore. Because this very few people have completed a solo Mid Pacific. I will be the 3rd women to do so, and the first American woman.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My journey to ocean rowing was through a passion for water. I grew up in upstate NY swimming competitively, I really spent as much time in the water as possible. On my 18th birthday my mom took me on a whitewater rafting trip, i was infatuated. I cornered the guide after the trip to ask how I could become a raft guide. I showed up every day for the rest of the summer and worked for free to get my license.
Rafting took me to Buena Vista Colorado about 11 years ago, I came to work on the Arkansas river. Buena Vista has been my home ever since. I transitioned to working full time In Grand Canyon as a river guide about 8 years ago but have always had my home here.

In the winter of 2019 I got the itch to do something different, I decided to take off the winter and try to do some sailing. My partner Carlos and I flew to Spain and spent a few weeks on the Docks of Valencia offering ourselves as free crew for anyone that was looking to do an Atlantic crossing that winter. Often people are looking for extra skilled crew for large crossing because you need someone always on watch.
We found a position on a large wooden sailing boat called a Brigantine. On our way down the western coast as we prepared for our crossing we stopped in Cabo Verde. There I got to see my first ocean rowing boat in person. They were a group called Monkey Fist Adventures and they were setting up to cross the Atlantic.
The thought of their row boat and ocean rowing in general never really left my mind after that.
Fast forward to the summer of 2022 the Lat 35 Womens team sets the record for the fastest 4’s row from California to Hawaii. After seeing their incredible row I knew that this is what i wanted. And I knew the pacific is what i wanted. There is something about rowing between two American land masses that was attractive to me. A lot of these ocean rows of the Mid Pacific are held by Europeans. Including the the Womens solo record which is held by Lia Ditton a professional Sailor from the UK. There was also a strong attraction to the Pacific because of how few people had rowed the route. My women’s 4 team were still in the first 100 people to do the row, My solo row will still be within the first 10.
My first row was a challenge to even get to the starting line. Everything to do with this sport is expensive and the boats are hard to come by. The boat we ended purchasing needed a lot of work and it became my full time job for about 5 months to rebuild it. I know look back on that as one of the most important experiences of that first row, it gave me so much more confidence in the boat and my understanding of it. The row it’s self was also quite hard, the california coast is cold and unforgiving. We faced 30+ foot waves and intense wind. We capsized and had salt sores where no one would ever want salt sores. But my team and I had trained for this, we believed in our row, and each other. We put in countless hours of physical, mental and as well as relationship building training. We were a unit and we overcame anything that was presented to us.
I learned so many important lessons on that first row that will go directly to informing this solo. What I hope my solo row represents to people is passion and inspiration. Especially for other women, I want to be a push to reach for something bigger in your life. The lat 35 women were that for me.
I want people to remember that life is about passion. We never get as much time as we hope we do, and you only really have control over yourself. Get to know your soul, what it craves. I think if we were all lead more by our passions we’d be a happier world.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love Chaffee County. I am biased of course, but I think it is the best part of Colorado, but we’d explore outside the county.

If they came during the summer-

-I would take them rafting on the Arkansas river, Browns Canyon or the Numbers.
-I would take them to Mt. Princeton Hot Springs (I have a punch pass they offer to locals for a great price <3)
-I would take them to the Mt. Princeton Chalet for an over night trip
-I would take them to the Salida surf wave to try river surfing
-I would take them to Buena Viking burger because it’s an incredible staple resturant in BV
-I wold take them to the Deer Hammer Distillery for a craft cocktail
-I would take them to the Leadville Mineral Belt trail for a bike ride
-I would take them to the Surf Hotel in BV for a coffee and desert ( they have incredible espresso and deserts)
-I would take them to Old Monarch Pass Rd to stand on the continental divide

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My Family, especially my Mom Abby and Father Dan. My Partner Carlos, and all my friends that believe in me and endlessly support me. I have realized through my journey into ocean rowing how absolutely incredible the people in my life are.

Website: https://YouRowKelsey.com

Instagram: @YouRowKelsey

Facebook: YouRowKelsey

Image Credits
Worlds Toughest Row