Like father, like son? Nope. Reverse that

By Lisa Miller

Off the water, Robert Sneed specializes in sales, is married and the father of two children, one of which rows competitively with Dallas United Crew (DUC). After watching his son row and race for many years, he decided to jump in a boat himself. He mentioned that learning a new sport at nearly 50 was a bit daunting at first, having to work on his strength and endurance, but also precision, balance and focusing on small improvements. Robert said: “It’s all about getting one percent better every practice as our coach, Amber, tells us. I’m better today than I was yesterday, and tomorrow I will be even better.” 

As he became more proficient, Robert began racing at regattas with DUC’s Masters adult team, and fell in love with it, further solidifying his understanding of why his son was addicted to the sport. When the opportunity arose to race with his son at the USRowing RowFest Masters National Championships in Oklahoma City last month, he didn’t hesitate. 

Yet, with just six weeks before the race, Robert and his son Denty, a recent graduate of Woodrow Wilson, class of 2024, saw reality set in, and they had to get to work. Although Robert had never rowed in the smaller, more technically demanding sculling boats, he saw this as a unique opportunity to share in his son’s world. 

Despite his initial nerves and inexperience, as the race began, any fears went away, replaced by the adrenaline of competition and then the joy of winning together.

For Robert, the experience was a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to learn something new. Denty, with six years of competitive rowing under his belt, has a depth of skill and understanding that surpasses his father’s. Robert embraced the role reversal. He realized that had he started rowing sooner, he might have had even more time to enjoy this sport with his son before leaving for college to continue his rowing career at Marist College. However, the opportunity to compete side-by-side was invaluable, proving that age is no barrier to taking on new challenges and sharing meaningful experiences. “The best time to learn a new skill maybe was 10 years ago. The second-best time is today,” he reflected. 

Winning the bronze medal was a proud moment for both, but the real victory lay in the memories they created together — memories that will last a lifetime. Rowing offered something rare, a chance to participate in a sport with his child. 

In today’s world, where parents often find themselves on the sidelines of their children’s activities, Robert cherished the opportunity to be in the boat with Denty, both literally and figuratively. The experience not only strengthened their bond but also allowed Robert to witness firsthand the dedication and skill that had driven his son for years.

Robert and Denty weren’t the only ones to bring home the hardware from RowFest National Championships. DUC youth athletes scored five gold medals, three silver medals and bronze medals. 

DUC is the largest rowing program in North Texas. Meet the teams at DUC’s community open house Saturday, Aug. 31 from 9-11 a.m. at 417 E. Lawther Drive. Fall season registration is open for Middle and High School students, with a free two-week trial, and Masters Adult Learn to Row starts on September 9 and runs for six weeks. No prior experience needed. 

Visit dallasunitedcrew.org for more information.