Gig Rowing & Me: Kane Underwood

Motivated to share his connection to gig rowing, Kane Underwood shares how the sport has helped him build confidence despite the challenges of living with vitiligo.

Since I was 2 years old, I’ve had a skin condition called Vitiligo, which is caused by a lack of pigment in the skin and results in areas of skin losing their colour due to a lack of melanin. By the time I was a teenager, I had large areas of patchy skin that became very obvious in the summer, when the ‘normal’ skin was tanned, creating a contrast with the white areas—much like a cheetah!

I wasn’t very confident growing up; I found it hard to make friends and was picked on because I looked different. This made me withdrawn and quiet; I hated the way I looked.

I started gig rowing at the age of 14 with the Cotehele Quay Gig Club. Growing up, I often went to regattas with my mum, who’s also a rower. After spending so much time around the sport, I finally decided to join the club’s junior section and give it a try myself.

Photo credit: Kane Underwood

I quickly fell in love with the sport, and rowing every Saturday morning became the highlight of my week. I loved making progress, being out in the fresh air, and rowing on the river, but I still found it hard to talk to people. Everyone was really friendly, and it was great to have something in common with people my age, so I gradually began making friends. I improved quite quickly and won the club award for ‘Most Improved Junior Male,’ which really motivated me. I started enjoying the challenge of getting fitter and stronger to become a better rower.

I then started rowing in the adult crews. It was really daunting at first, but they were friendly and welcoming, and we just got on and rowed. I started training on a rowing machine and lifting weights in the gym, which continued to boost my physical and mental health. Every time I achieved a goal, I felt better, and soon I rarely thought about my skin or how I looked. People didn’t even seem to notice the patches on my skin, and it really helped my confidence.

Photo credit: Laura Lane

I was selected to represent Cornwall in last year’s U17 and U18 crews, as well as this year’s U18 crew. This introduced me to many young people from other clubs, and through it, I’ve met some of my closest friends. A few years ago, I probably would have struggled to even talk to people my own age who I didn’t already know. Earlier this year, I went to the World Pilot Gig Championships for the first time, rowing with our Open A crew, which was the most amazing experience. I loved being surrounded by people who made me feel so welcome.

Everyone just accepts you for who you are, simply doing a sport that you love, no matter what you look like.