Is Height A Factor ?

[[old] Warnie]

I was wondering as a shorty how much of advantage do taller people have with rowing on the C2. I'm only 5 foot 6.5 (the .5 is a big deal !!) and wondered how on earth I could compare to someone over 6 foot ?

[[old] Physicist]

<table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td class='genmed'><span class='genmed'><b>QUOTE</b></span> </td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->how much of advantage do taller people have with rowing on the C2<!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><br><br>Big advantage. Longer stroke length = more work per stroke without needing to apply more force. Also statistically they are likely to have larger lung capacity.<br><br><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td class='genmed'><span class='genmed'><b>QUOTE</b></span> </td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->how on earth I could compare to someone over 6 foot <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><br><br>Easily. Look at their 2k time. If it's slower than yours than you're better than them, if it's faster than yours then you're not as good.<br><br>Physicist

[[old] Ralph Earle]

Data from the US team trials indicates that among elite ergers one inch more in height gets you a half-second faster 6K pace. And, yes, I did control for weight.

[[old] PaulS]

<!--QuoteBegin-Ralph Earle+Jan 12 2005, 08:31 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td class='genmed'><span class='genmed'><b>QUOTE</b></span> (Ralph Earle @ Jan 12 2005, 08:31 AM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Data from the US team trials indicates that among elite ergers one inch more in height gets you a half-second faster 6K pace. And, yes, I did control for weight. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><br> Did this hold for both genders? Certainly not across genders?

[[old] Yoda1]

Being only 3'-4" I'm in deep dodo.<br><br>Yoda

[[old] PaulS]

<!--QuoteBegin-Yoda1+Jan 12 2005, 10:37 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td class='genmed'><span class='genmed'><b>QUOTE</b></span> (Yoda1 @ Jan 12 2005, 10:37 AM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Being only 3'-4" I'm in deep dodo.<br><br>Yoda <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><br> Au Contraire,<br><br>From 6'4" Jedi knights, 18 seconds/500m handicap you would get.<br><br>Count for something those ears must too...<br><br>Use the Force....

[[old] Coach Gus]

<!--QuoteBegin-Yoda1+Jan 12 2005, 10:37 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td class='genmed'><span class='genmed'><b>QUOTE</b></span> (Yoda1 @ Jan 12 2005, 10:37 AM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I'm in deep dodo.<br><br> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><br> Aren't they extinct?

[[old] John Rupp]

Height is a factor, but only when the rate is restricted.

[[old] Janice]

Who under 6' has gone under 6 minutes?<br><br>

[[old] Robbo]

Has anyone gone under 6 minutes lately?

[[old] Daren C]

<!--QuoteBegin-Warnie+Jan 12 2005, 12:58 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td class='genmed'><span class='genmed'><b>QUOTE</b></span> (Warnie @ Jan 12 2005, 12:58 PM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I was wondering as a shorty how much of advantage do taller people have with rowing on the C2. I'm only 5 foot 6.5 (the .5 is a big deal !!) and wondered how on earth I could compare to someone over 6 foot ? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><br> I think height's a factor. It makes sense, since the length of one's legs and arms determine, to some extent (no pun intended), the length of one's stroke.<br><br>I'm 5' 7.5" and similarly that .5 of an inch is important!

[[old] Kudos]

I can think of two that come to mind but their exact erg score and height I do not have. I just know they are short and are on the US national team. Jason Read, the bowman in this year olympic eight is 6 foot maybe 6 foot 1. I think he pulls somewhere in the neighberhood of 6:05. I know Andrew Brennan, currently trying to get selected for the Dark Blues, is 6 foot and I believe his erg score is 5:56 but he may be lower by now. A great deal can be said for guys like Pettinari and a lot fo the top lightweights out there with under 6:10 erg scores. Most of them are between 6' and 6'2 but also weigh 165 pds. You can really depress yourself if you think about ti too much though. There are so many good rowers out there with mind blowing scores

[[old] GeorgeD]

Decided after recent posts to give up training - after all I am heavy and tall so obviously I just have to 'turn up' to be a world beater ... then after that I will have to sit and wait for the handicappers to see if I have actually beaten all the shorter lighter people <br><br>regds George

[[old] John Rupp]

<!--QuoteBegin-Daren C+Jan 13 2005, 05:07 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td class='genmed'><span class='genmed'><b>QUOTE</b></span> (Daren C @ Jan 13 2005, 05:07 AM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I think height's a factor. It makes sense, since the length of one's legs and arms determine, to some extent (no pun intended), the length of one's stroke. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><br> It only makes sense if you both have the same stroke rate, i.e. the taller rower ends up with more drive length <b>per time</b>.<br><br>You can't compare a 165 pound lightweight with someone who weighs 220 or 240 pounds, as there is a difference in <b>weight</b> and muscle mass.<br><br>However, if you compare a 165 lightweight who is 6' or 6'2", as is Ebbesen, with any 165 lightweight who is 6'3", 6'4", 6'5", 6'6", 6'7" etc all the way through 10 feet tall, Ebbesen is still faster.<br><br>Weight is a factor, due to muscle mass.<br><br>Height is not a factor, unless you restrict the rating and one rower ends up with a longer overall drive length per time than the other.

[[old] DIESEL]

<table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td class='genmed'><span class='genmed'><b>QUOTE</b></span> </td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Weight is a factor, due to muscle mass.<br><br>Height is not a factor, unless you restrict the rating and one rower ends up with a longer overall drive length per time than the other.<!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><br><br>John, I hope you forgive me for saying this.. but you say some outlandish stuff sometimes.... <br><br>Weight is a factor - up to a point. Like in econ there is a law of diminishing returns regarding muscle mass, power, and endurance. For example, right now I weigh about 245lbs... yet I'm pretty lean... however, I am positive that once I am down to 220 I will be much faster than I am now. Why? my heart has to work less to get the blood and oxygen to the muscles.... however, if I went down to 190 then I would slow down again because I would lose too much power.. so it's a fine balance with each person. This is why you don't see 250 lb. oarsmen and there isn't a huge premium put on weight lifting in the elite training programs. The nature of the sport keeps you lean and not overly muscular - right now for the elites somewhere in the 200-220 range. <br><br>Height is most definitely a factor. Someone 6'7 will have a huge mechanical advantage over someone who is 6'0 or even 6'3 for that matter - the shorter guys can make up that disadvantage with superior conditioning and better technical proficiency. But like weight even height has a point of diminishing returns - I don't think 7+ footers would make very good oarsmen unless they were CV freaks!