Dunstan High School's quartet of Paige Furrie (15), MacKenzie Ealson (15), Malia Banks (14) and Sophie Smith (14) know that better than most.
They made up the two double sculls teams which were awarded joint-winners of crew of the year at the Otago rowing awards.
Paige and MacKenzie proved unbeatable in the under-16 grade, claiming Maadi Cup gold and bagging silver in the quad.
Malia and Sophie were equally dominant.
They spearheaded Maadi Cup golds in the quad and octuple, and were edged by 0.31sec in the double.
Notably in the national club championships the two crews - racing for the Dunstan Arm Rowing Club - claimed gold and silver in the intermediate double sculls against older rowers.
On that occasion the under-16 duo won.
It is an impressive record for a small-town school competing against the powerhouses of the North Island.
However, it was the competition at training that coach Simon Smith believed made them so strong.
The four to make the top boats were exceptional athletes and worked very hard, but there was a whole squad pushing them, he said.
Competition for spots was fierce and that forced them all to keep working to get better.
"They're really dedicated, they work extremely hard and we can make some amazing crews,'' Smith said.
"It's not just those girls. The reason they're so successful is they've got some fantastic kids behind them pushing them.
"I always say the medals they've won aren't just their medals.
"They're medals they've accumulated because they've had so much pressure on them to make that crew and be really good.''
That push to work hard could not be underestimated.
Smith said rowing was a sport in which work would beat natural talent and that was evident in the group.
Not only was competition for spots within each grade high, the crews from the different grades were constantly trying to beat each other.
"They'll be absolutely tooth and nail to beat each other.
"It's an amazing environment - sometimes I feel we go to regattas and it's almost easier.
"There's so much internal pressure in the squad, it makes them mentally strong and gives them such an edge when it comes to those races.''
Winters were cold in Central Otago, but that didn't stop the rowers getting on the water.
Alongside gym training and a winter training programme, that would keep them in shape.
Meanwhile, they would take to their winter sports as well.
Smith believed the four crew-of-the-year winners all had big futures in the sport, if they wanted it.
All will have another chance to continue their success - Paige is in year 12, MacKenzie and Malia are in year 11, while Sophie is in year 10.
