The year was 1995. The US team was racing at Lake Kaukajarvi, in Tampere, Finland. It was the FISA World Championships. The word on the dock was the water could get wicked rough. I was the boatman for the US team, and the coaches, rowers and I knew that we would have to do something special […]
rigging strategies
Boathouse organization: How having a two-pile system can help you avoid disaster
What’s the state of your boathouse organization? Often our rowing equipment will wear out, break, or just become usable. With budgets tight, and equipment getting pushed to the limit, it happens more and more. The tough thing is you may not know when that happens to your equipment. That’s why I recommend a twice-per-season inspection […]
The Secret of Blade Type And Gearing
(This is an update to a post original published in 2013) A reader submitted this question about oar length: “I just received your “Nuts & Bolts guide…” from Amazon.com I bought the book because I’m getting conflicting feedback about my rigging. “When I learned to scull, it was in a VanDusen racing 1x with club […]
Boat Straps: Yours Hate You (and they’re plotting revenge)
Someone has to tell you—your boat straps hate you. And even worse…they will get revenge! Here’s why they hate you: you abuse the heck out of them. You don’t give them the time of day. Then you count on them several times a year to make your coaching life easy. Why your boat straps are […]
How Can A Rowing Coach Save Money?
(This is a major update to a post originally published here and on Row2K.com in 2005.) What a frugal group rowing coaches can be. We scrimp, we budget, we fundraise – and we “do without” to make ends meet. In what some consider to be the “most-expensive-equipment-sport” we do our best to save a dollar. […]
Balancing Your Rigging and Rate of Perceived Exertion in Rowing
If you were asked: What’s the connection between rigging and exertion in your rowing, would you be able to answer the question? Chances are you might state some theoretical relevance but not what makes them truly impactful. What do you have to do to make the rigging work for you? What the heck is this […]
Rowing Leverage and Load: The Simple Reality
If you were asked: What’s the impact of Leverage and Load in your rowing, would you be able to answer the question? Chances are you might state some theoretical relevance but not what makes them truly impactful. What do you have to do to make the Leverage work for you? How do you know when […]
Row Better Equipment: A Four-Step Plan
Rowers and coaches thirst for mental and physical improvements. It’s what we do—often chasing those improvements in a scientific and methodical manner. Yet…so many of us miss taking a few big steps that can make an enormous difference. And by missing that those steps someone ends up rowing with marginal equipment. Is Marginal Equipment So […]
How To Measure The 5 Critical Elements Of Rowing Leverage (And Why You Need To Know Them)
You-are-jazzed! Time to get out of the house for a few. Into the car you jump for a quick drive to the store. You adjust the seat, position the steering wheel height, move the side mirrors, tweak the rear view mirror, heater on, radio volume perfect. Might as well have everything in the best place—right? The […]
How To Do A Simple Rigger Height Check
There is a super simple test you can do to see if your rigger height is set in the correct spot—it’s called the Height Check. It will help you easily determine if your oarlock has the proper height. Here’s how you do it. (Steps are the same for sweep or sculling). Step 1: Prepare. Launch […]
