Week Two and a Rowing Metaphor

This week started out pretty rough. I was still on the Starboard side and it just wasn't clicking. For those unsure of the difference Starboard means that oar is out of the left side (rowers' perspective) of the boat as opposed to Port. I have rowed Starboard numerous times in college but never raced on the side. I just felt that I was unable to perform while concentrating on the new side changes. I felt like a novice rower again and not like a rower with four plus years of experience. I decided to talk to the coach about whether or not I would be given the chance to row port again. He said that there was no worries about being denied a position due to being below par as a Starboard. He said that we are focusing on rowing together and that it would probably serve me better to get comfortable on the new side because in a couple weeks when seat racing comes I could row both.

The next day I took out the scull (2 oars/one rower) for some steady rowing. I also went out that practice with a pair (2 oars/2 rowers)and another singe. It was interesting to see that I could keep up fairly well with the pair. Thursdays practice was in the 4+ (four rowers/four oars/one coxswain). It was an excruciatingly slow practice. It was nice to get the one on one attention from the assistant coach but a workout it was not. The main focus on this practice was getting connection at the catch, more to follow. After a day of feeling like the remedial boat I was back in the scull, where I feel very comfortable, for a long hour+ of steady rowing.

This brings me to Friday evening practice. I was in the eight (eight oars and rowers, one coxswain) sitting still starboard in three seat. This practice we were followed exclusively be coach Warren. This practice the focus was balance and swinging/rowing together. This was possibly the best practice of the week. I learned more about how to move and stay balanced in the boat than I did while rowing at OU. I will save the technique forum for the end. It was fun and a new feeling to be in a boat that moves at 16 strokes and under(very slow) completely balanced (set) and have the oars of the water. Out of this practice also came the Rowing metaphor of the week.

The Metaphor is "Row like a Predator." To move the boat well one needs to be confident and fluid in their movements. Thinking on the difference between predators and prey, you can see the how a lion moves in comparison to a rabbit. The lion moves in deliberate fluid/agile motions. Its movements also look relaxed, and relaxed rowing is fast rowing. The lion doesn't even look as if it is trying as it stalks its prey, they don't even see it coming. However, the rabbit is timid and unsure. This moves onto how conduct yourself in races. Be a predator, row confident and no one can beat you. When you are sitting at the starting line look at your pray, your competition and pity them. Pity them for being foolish enough to enter a race against you, even if it is a national team. That is a powerful thought to have and that confidence can win races.

The week was capped with a tough practice of 4 x 2K race pieces with the other eights. While our boat line-up did not win the pieces there was improvement piece to piece. I also got to experience what it feels like to do a 2K is 6 Minutes and under. It is an amazing feeling to move that fast and to be that controlled. Very freeing.

Now I am going to make some notes on Technique for my own notes and for any rowers who are interested. The big things are to be relaxed yet deliberate in your movements. Rowing is a very simple movement but rowers are in the pursuit of perfection. To perform the stroke perfectly with as little effort as possible. Contrary to what your body tells you it does not help the balance of the boat to tense up to correct the balance. Be fluid and make minor corrections. Other important fact of the stroke are to feel the transfer of weight in the oar from your hands to the oar lock as you move from the finish to hands away to the catch and through the drive. The last point that was stressed this week was connection at the catch. The feeling of suspending through your latisimus and pull the weight of the blade. There are three points of stability in the boat, feet, seat and oarlock. By keeping those connected we form a strong, stable triangle for power. It is also extremely important to the drive to get to the body prep before the knees break to lighten the load by keeping the boat running. This can make the difference between picking up 300 lbs for 200 strokes or only 80 lbs.

Drills to remember: Pauses, Tap, legs only.