Rob Sleamaker

Rob Sleamaker started his career in 1982 after graduating from University of Arizona with a Masters degree in exercise physiology. After moving to Burlington, Vermont, he began training endurance athletes and also assisted with research on the effects of exercise during pregnancy at the University of Vermont Medical School. His first 2 books, SERIOUS Training for Serious Athletes, and second-edition, SERIOUS Training for Endurance Athletes (co-authored with Ray Browning, Ph.D.) became classic resources for coaches and athletes. One of Rob's passions is using his creativity to solve problems, invent products, and innovate to serve others. He's the founder of Vasatrainer.com where he uses his grandfather's wisdom: "Quality Costs Less". Rob lives with his family in rural Vermont, where he enjoys cross-country skiing in winter and many other outdoor activities for the rest of the year.

10 Questions for Vasa’s Owner, Rob Sleamaker - from the Vasatrainer.com blog post:

https://vasatrainer.com/blog/10-questions-for-vasas-owner-rob-sleamaker/

How long have you worked at Vasa and what is your job title/what do you do?

I started the company in 1988, so 32+ years now.

How do you keep active – what is your favorite sport, and why?

My favorite sports are cross country skiing, mountain biking, hiking, and playing any ball sport with my son. Lately, we’re really into passing and catching a football on our front lawn (and in the house!).

What is a fun, random fact about you?

In graduate school, I was assigned to teach hiking & backpacking in the Sonoran desert climate. Coming from a life in rainy New England, that was fascinating and great fun.

What do you like most about working at Vasa?

Opportunities to use my creativity, to innovate, and to turn ideas into viable products that serve our customers well. If I could, I would do only that every day!

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in New England, and from age 11, in Vassalboro, Maine. There is a local saying about my town, spoken with a down east Maine accent: “You can’t get they-ah from he-ah!”

Where did you work before you came to Vasa?

University of Vermont Medical School – for several years, I assisted with research on the effects of exercise during pregnancy with James Clapp, M.D. What an honor to work with him! During that same period, I worked with the US Biathlon team sports medicine group.

If you could visit any place in the world, where would it be?

Sardinia, Italy or Greece to learn and experience why those people live so well, so long and so happily.

Before working at Vasa, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?

I was a commercial salmon fisherman in Alaska for 3 summers during my Graduate school summers.

Motto or personal mantra?

Problems are opportunities to use your creativity. When I embrace that notion, I pinch myself and say “I get to do this fun stuff!” It’s very entertaining.

Tell us three things most people don’t know about you…

I am an Eagle Scout;

I hitchhiked from Maine to Alaska for the year between college and Graduate school;

Since age 16, I’ve had a crush on Isabella Rossellini and always wanted to meet her.

My mom was a classic southern belle. (OK, that's 4 things!)

Three words to best describe you:

Creative, perseverant, inquisitive

Top 3 life highlights?

Becoming a father to my 2 incredible children; getting to know so many great people through Vasa and my books; traveling throughout the world.

What book did you read last?

Silverfin. (about young James Bond) read it with my son, which we enjoyed immensely.

5 things you personally like:

Positive people with a can-do attitude;

The beauty and wonder of Nature;

Snowflake Chocolates of Jericho, Vermont - their dark chocolate covered toffee with almonds is incredible and so are their sea salt caramels!

Observing how people in other countries do their everyday tasks and live their lives with each other as contrasted to the way we Americans do things.

A great cup of coffee in the morning with my son's "lumberjack breakfast".

3 things you don’t like:

Loud, overbearing, rude people;

Human beings’ complete disregard for Nature;

Unwillingness to try new things / closed-minded people.

How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?

25 – still full of curiosity, vitality, and naivety.

What’s on your favorite playlist?

Happy by Pharell Williams

Favorite movie or TV show?

Movie – Lasse Halstrom’s “My Life as a Dog”, TV show – Modern Family

If you could be a superhero, what would you want your superpowers to be?

James Bond with a superpower to “McGiver” anything.

What are your favorite and least favorite foods?

Favorite: wild sockeye salmon roasted on a spit over an open fire minutes after catching it

Least favorite: Lutefisk

Favorite quote:

I have 2 favorites:

From a great Vermonter, Calvin Coolidge: “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not…Genius will not…Education will not… Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”

From Eleanor Roosevelt: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”