As with many of the best things in life, Kelsey Pfendler’s notoriety as a rower and career as a raft guide began as a Groupon deal her mother got for her birthday.
Pfendler immediately loved being on the water and cornered a guide after the experience, asking how to get into the profession. Before that day, she thought she had two options: go to college or into the military. That experience opened up a whole new world.
She showed up for free for the rest of the summer, got licensed, and has been a rafting guide ever since, first in upstate New York, then on the Arkansas River, and now primarily in the Grand Canyon from her home base in Buena Vista, Colorado.
Fast forward to this summer, and Pfendler picked up three records for her solo row from Monterey, California, to the Hawaiian island of Oʻahu. She covered over 2,400 miles in 43 days, 17 hours, 55 minutes, and 59 seconds, making her the fastest ever, first American woman, and youngest woman.
To accomplish this feat, she had to put in lots of prep and planning, carefully charting her course and finding a weather window to reduce the risk of a hurricane.
“I have a healthy respect for each crossing,” says Pfendler. “If you don't respect the ocean, it will teach you to respect it.”
The physical challenge is the easiest part to plan for. She power lifts and does lots of erging. Sleep deprivation and isolation are much harder. Instead, she focuses on her mental toughness and ability to tolerate being uncomfortable.
“The way I look at these things, being tired is no different than being uncomfortable or stressed,” says Pfendler. “That’s how I approach stress in general. I intentionally work on how I react to negative feelings in my life and my internal self-talk.”
Over time, small negative self-talk throughout the day can build up. In her experience, if you get overwhelmed by the small things, you’re more likely to go straight to catastrophizing. This is not an option when you’re out on the open water, thousands of miles from shore.
To practice her reactions, Pfendler does lots of endurance training through long runs. She also does what she refers to as “solo weird backpacking” and tries to be stoked about things that objectively stink.
“The point is to be happy through the hard thing,” says Pfendler. “I’m pretty consistently looking for ways to do that in my life. Be happy in a hard situation, and you’re kinda winning at life.”
All of this paid off for her immensely when she was rowing solo for 18 hours a day. Her own resilience surprised her, and there was never a moment where she thought about not wanting to be there. That’s why she was able to break so many records.
“It’s amazing how our bodies are and how much they can take,” says Pfendler. “Your body adjusts to anything you put it through…almost.”
Physically, she hasn’t had much of a recovery since the row. She trained hard and intentionally, and that very much paid off. What she hadn’t prepared for was the spotlight or the expectation to be on and answering emails.
She’s very torn about her current position. On one hand, she knows her popularity on social media is good for the sport and for the women and girls who have seen her accomplish this very hard thing. She was also able to raise $200,000 for the Whale Foundation, which supported her following a significant PTSD event and provided her with healthcare.
On the other hand, she didn’t set out to become an influencer. She just loves ocean rowing and is conflicted about the expectation to sell as a part of her sport.
For her solo row, she had some small sponsorships, but it was mostly funded by her overtime hours at the hospital. Because she’s lived in a car and now a van, she’s been able to save.
“That's how dreams work,” says Pfendler. “I am just a human being that is not from money, and I really wanted something. I work really hard, save money, and am willing to be less comfortable in my living situation. These things take a lot of money.”
Despite making national and international headlines, she has no expectation she'll be able to make this her only career. She is pursuing nursing school and is continuing to work as a guide in the Grand Canyon.
That said, she does have a big project coming up and is looking for funding as she sets her sights on crossing the Indian Ocean solo.
To learn more about Pfendler and to follow along on her next journey, head to YouRowKelsey.com or follow her on Instagram or TikTok @yourowkelsey.