There are some things a rowing coach never wants to see.

This is one of them.

Everyone was okay. Shaken, chilled, and stirred.

But okay.

(The sound you can hear in the background is coxbox feedback, still working under water.)

Lesson learned, “Don’t drop those hands at the catch, boys.”

As coaches and rowers we spend tons of time focusing on where our rowing is going. We train, plan, and focus on the future.

And that usually works well.

However, one tool that might help is a perspective on where rowing has come from.

The past, as much as we like to ignore it, does often has a significant impact on the future.

Isn’t there a little bit of you that is interested in where rowing has come from? I have written humorously about the history of rowing but there is a resource that can really help you get an idea of where we, collectively as rowers, have been.

The Friends of Rowing History site is full of great photos, articles, results and stories of the olden, golden and not-so-golden days of rowing. Although mostly US-focused anyone interested in rowing history can find something intriguing.

Where we have been just might give us an idea of where we are going.

Worth a look.

Recently Rob submitted this question:

Hi Mike,

I have a question regarding rigger heights. We are a men’s masters crew and as you would expect there is a wide variance in body shapes and sizes.

How would you set up the boat? Would you work on an average height or set up each individual rower?

For example our stoke is 6 ft 3 inches but the average height would be 5ft 10 inches. From my perspective I am 5 ft 9 with short legs and long body, so I sit quite high in the boat and find drawing up to my sternum at the finish difficult at times. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Rob, good question. Here is what I suggest:

I would certainly have rigger heights set per the person, when you get to the stage of knowing who rows where. Easiest (and best) way is to do a height check when you first launch. Following are those steps:

• Have bow 4 set boat
• Stern 4 go to finish position, blades square in water
• Make sure that the blades are buried as you want the finish to be set
• The outside arm should be parallel to the surface of the water. If the wrist is above the elbow, probably too high. If the wrist below elbow, probably too low.
• Then have stern 4 set, and check the bow 4
• Adjust riggers accordingly, and take a test row.

Yes this sounds super simple, and for the most part it is.

Measuring your riggers in the boat bay works well but it doesn’t account for the crew’s average weight not being the same as the average weight that the builder made the boat to carry. This simple Height Check accounts for that and has proven itself over the year.

Good luck, and Row Slow!

This post is another in the Basic Rigging Video series of how to take basic measurements of a shell.

Knowing how long your oar is, and the length of your inboard, are two very important pieces of information that you need to have to rig your shell properly. Without that info you really put your rowing efficiency and effectiveness at risk.

As important as having the measurements is, knowing how to measure them correctly is just as important. Although simple to do, many people have difficulty with getting correct readings.

The short video below shows how I measure both oar length and inboard. The audio is a little low in spots. Still, I hope you find it helpful.

Have suggestions on ways to improve this, or your own way of measuring? Please share in the comment box below.

The Head of the Charles Regatta, in Boston, Ma, has caused more than one coach to be stressed. The stress not coming from races, but instead from deciding whether or not to attend the event.

Between the cost of transportation, housing, meals, hordes of people, and the entry fees it is very easy to look at an event like the Charles and say, “Too expensive, I’m not going.” Or, “Too far away.” Or, “Too many people.” Count me out.

I know, I did just that.

For the past two years I haven’t come to the Charles after many years of racing there. All of the above reasons came into play.

But I came this year (prompted by my wonderful assistants) and the moment I arrived at the regatta I realized that for the past two years I missed out.

I missed out on some of the most important things that the Charles has to offer. I’m not talking about the racing, but some special things. Let me give you four examples of why I’m glad I’ve come.

The Crowds

We are a sport that teaches to excel in small, cramp quarters. I mean look at an eight. In what other sport do the athletes work so hard so close together. They are almost on top of each other, in each other’s way, sometimes fighting each other (”Why is it always on starboard”), and yet we excel at it.

The Charles on a good weather day (and the weather is good now) is the epitome of this. Talk about close. Stacked up a mile deep. But we do great at it. People use their manners, smile, help each other out. Yes, it happens at almost every regatta, but at the Charles everyone is so close and there are so many that it is the ultimate test. And rowers pass it very well.

Amazing Organization

Not only does the LOC (local organizing committee) nail this, but so does the city and park. Everywhere you turn the organization is super impressive. I like it because it sets an example for me to strive for. This image of a sign at one of the return docks emphasizes what I mean. This sign is for the coxswains ON the water looking for their dock home. Now that is organized.

Flash Dance

We need more flash in rowing. So often I hear, “Why don’t more people watch rowing?” Or, “It is never on TV.”

No kidding.

Besides some excitement now and then there is not much to attract people outside of rowing to rowing. What about some flash? It is almost in every other sport now. Here is an example of what I’m talking about. Resolute has done some neat things with their boats.

Flash. Why not.

New Ideas

Put a bunch of rowers together in one place and you are bound to come up with some really geeky ideas. But some of that stuff might just be really cool, or the next thing. Sculling on an erg. Why not.

And what might be just around the corner?

What do you think?

Still wondering if you need to be giving some thought to possible changes in your rowing travel plans, as I mentioned in the first part of this post.

The following article was taken from the NY Times, written in 1917. Worth a read back then, and also worth a read now.

WAR MAY PREVENT COLLEGE REGATTA

Rowing Stewards Meet Tomorrow to Discuss Effect on Poughkeepsie Classic
The New York Times
March 27, 1917

The war’s effect on intercollegiate rowing in the East, and more particularly on the Poughkeepsie regatta, scheduled for June 21, will be the principal topic of discussion at a meeting of the Stewards of the Intercollegiate Rowing Association tomorrow morning in the office of the Chairman, Charles Halsted Mapes, the Columbia Steward.

Although it was indicated unofficially last night that the Stewards in no manner wanted the impression to go broadcast that the regatta would be canceled this year positively, the possibility of no race will be discussed and other rowing plans, which are virtually held in abeyance under the war cloud, will be considered.  No official statements have issued from the three member universities represented on the Board of Stewards, Columbia, Pennsylvania, and Cornell, whether athletics would be halted immediately on a declaration of a state of war by the country, but it is known that sports, and particularly the crews at Harvard and Yale would probably have to be dropped because of the number of athletes who would answer call to arms.

The Stewards tomorrow morning will also discuss the crews to be invited to compete this spring in case the regatta is held as scheduled.  None of the board would state last night whether Syracuse would get an invitation as usual, but it has been the opinion of many rowing experts for several weeks that no objection would be raised against Jim Ten Eyck’s eights when the time for considering invitation came due.
It is likely that invitations will be extended to California, Washington, and Stanford University, the three Coast crews.  In letters to The New York Times about three months ago the managements of each of these Far Western crews stated that if victorious in the Pacific Coast regatta, representation would be made at the Poughkeepsie classic.  The date of the Pacific Coast regatta has not been set definitely, but it will be help either on April 7 or April 14.

Hopefully we won’t be needing conversations like this due to the economy. However, planning now may save major headaches later.

For the next installment of our Basic Rigging Videos we present how to measure the stern pitch.

Stern pitch is basically the angle the oarlock pin has towards the stern of the boat. Since most oarlocks today come with pitch in them we measure the stern pitch with the oarlock on the oarlock pin. This is done, measured, with a pitch meter.

There are many pitch meters available, and I plan on a review of some of those in a later post, but for this video I use a meter made by Bill Leavitt. Bill has made some very handy rigging tools and is a wonderful coach (since retired). If you have a chance to try one of his pitch meters, I suggest you take advantage of it. They are simple, and work well.

There are a few steps you should take before measuring to help you get the best readings:

1. Put the boat in a safe spot, in good slings, so not to worry about it falling over
2. Make sure the oarlock is clean and not worn
3. Take the measurements in a place where you have enough light, and space, to read the meter and move at your own pace.

I’ve measured the pitch in a wide variety of places, and even with the boat upside down. You can do that (although you probably don’t want to make a habit of it) and get a good reading but it takes a steady hand and experience. If you are just starting out find a quiet place that is has good light, and take your time. Double check your work.

You do not need to worry about the boat being level from bow to stern, it can be at an angle. But for accurate readings the boat should be level from side to side.

The video explains the basics.

If you have questions, please leave a comment, or go to the Submit Question page.

Hope you find it helpful.

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A Sunday special post

photo by luismi1985

Coming back from a race yesterday, I got worried—really worried.

It wasn’t about the team or the race results.

Instead it was about something haunting. The future. Specifically, money for the future.

During the regatta, as I watched one of our races go by I struck up a conversation with a parent of one of my rowers. The theme of the conversation was how bleak the economy looks right now, and how discretionary money in people’s budgets are drying up.

We both wondered what tomorrow would bring.

Why is no one talking about this at our level? Continue Reading »

One of the tools that I’ve been using for the past year is a camcorder made by Pure Digital. The specific model is the Flip Mino Camcorder.

I really enjoy the camera and have recently bought two more to use with our coaching staff. The following 5 minute video will give an indepth review, along with actually footage taken with the camera.

Below are links to the camcorder, tripod, and the Pelican box I showed in the video. A disclaimer, these are affiliate links, and we receive a small amount for each purchase made through these links. If you are thinking of buying any of these items we would greatly appreciate you purchasing through these links—the funds help support us to continue providing quality information. Thank you.

1. Flip Video Mino Series Camcorder, 60 Minutes (Black)
2. Flip Tripod for Flip Ultra and Mino Camcorders
3. Pelican Micro Dry Case (1030) (Yellow)

I wanted to let readers know that I’ll be at the Charles next weekend, at the FALS. If you are around on Saturday and want to stop by and say hi, please do so. I should be at the Washington College trailer, or at our tent. Come by and get a picture taken for the blog.

Go fast!