Zach Nixon has gone from being cut from the TSS rowing program to stroking the First VIII

In year eight, Zach Nixon was cut from The Southport School’s rowing program.

IN year eight, Zach Nixon was cut from The Southport School’s rowing program.

Now, he’s stroke of the First VIII.

Tasked with controlling the rhythm and pace of the boat, Nixon wasn’t deterred by his early snubbing and returned to one of Australia’s oldest boat sheds in year nine where he made the 6th quad.

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As the years passed, Nixon began to excel and this year solidified his spot in the TSS First VIII.

TSS Rowing First VIII Representative Zach Nixon. Photograph: Jason O'Brien

Nixon’s interest in rowing piqued early when he saw his older siblings excel in the sport.

“I was first interested in rowing, due to my older siblings both being good at it before me,” he said.

“I was no good at other sports as I am quite uncoordinated.”

Nixon’s brother used to row at TSS and his sister was St Hilda’s captain of the boats in 2017 and guided their First VIII to their first Head of the River victory the same year.

Even within the confines of his home, rowing refused to escape him.

​“I’ve lived on the Gold Coast all my life, on the Nerang River,” Nixon said.

“Growing on the river, I would always see rowers go up.

“I knew it was something I’d be fond of in the future.”

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Nixon, who plays soccer as well though self-admittedly isn’t as talented at the round ball game as he is at rowing, said the early mornings continued to be a challenge.

“I find myself struggling to stay awake in classes during the day, but it’s something we adapt to, and even on mornings off we find ourselves naturally waking up quite early,” he said.

From time to time, a fish even jumps into the boat which Nixon said is often quite the shock although ‘it’s fun to have some new company.’

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Today, TSS will compete in the second last regatta before Head of the River next month.

“We used the regatta to experiment with a race plan, and we expanded our knowledge on how we race,” Nixon said of the preceding regatta.

“Right now we’ve been working on control in the boat, just focusing on one stroke at a time.”

Racing kicks off at 8am at Wyaralong Dam.