Weight Vs Length

[[old] Coach Gus]

<!--QuoteBegin-ljwagner+Nov 22 2005, 09:51 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(ljwagner @ Nov 22 2005, 09:51 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Gus, were you at Santa Clara ?  The only Gus I knew was Gus Albers, my former roommate's pair partner and co-National Champ in the pair.  Famous for his great arms, effortless speedy rope climbs with feet overhead, and killer smile for the girls.<br /> <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />I went to SCU starting Fall '71 and graduated class of '75. Arms, ropes and girls...hmm...I wish.<br />

[[old] John Rupp]

<!--QuoteBegin-PaulS+Nov 22 2005, 11:42 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(PaulS @ Nov 22 2005, 11:42 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->John,<br /><br />What are you talking about? [right] </td></tr></table><br /><br />I'm saying keep at it anyway, Paul! <br />

[[old] PaulS]

<!--QuoteBegin-John Rupp+Nov 22 2005, 03:23 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(John Rupp @ Nov 22 2005, 03:23 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I'm saying keep at it anyway, Paul!      <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Oh, you are "Life Coaching"? I see.... <br /><br />You keep at it too...... One day the men in nice white jackets will fit you for your very own.<br /><br />L8r

[[old] k-dawg]

but taller runners have longer strides than shorter ones, so why aren't the fastest runners in the world exceptionally tall?<br /><br /><br />Some world class runners are tall, but the shorter ones still have long strides and quicker leg turnover. Also, shorter runners are moving less body around than larger runners.

[[old] chickenlegs]

<!--QuoteBegin-k-dawg+Nov 22 2005, 07:37 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(k-dawg @ Nov 22 2005, 07:37 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->but taller runners have longer strides than shorter ones, so why aren't the fastest runners in the world exceptionally tall?<br /><br /><br />Some world class runners are tall, but the shorter ones still have long strides and quicker leg turnover.  Also, shorter runners are moving less body around than larger runners. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />elite (= succesful) lightweight rowers also usually have relatively (relative to their overall height) long limbs.<br />they also have what is the corresponding of quicker leg turnover than heavyweight rowers, that is higher race rates.<br />they also have to move considerably less mass (often 20 kg/rower less).<br /><br />in spite of all this, the best (=fastest) rowers in the world are heavyweights.<br /><br />another interesting fact:<br />in running it is definetely advantegeous to be light to be succesful on long distances (>5000m).<br />the shorter the distance, the heavier the winning runners become.<br />in rowing, heavyweights beat lightweights on olympic distances (2000m) and head races (tufte recently beat both luini and pettinari in turin).<br /><br />a few more notes on the topic:<br />if size was not a factor in rowing then there would be no weight classes.<br />if weight was a bigger factor than height, succesful rowers would have height:mass ratios more like that of mike tyson (roughly 1.78m/100kg) or top olympic wrestlers (usually around 1.90m/around 120kg).<br /><br />

[[old] John Rupp]

If weight wasn't a factor, then heavyweight rowers would be lean like runners, i.e. 144 pounds at 6' tall, 179 pounds at 6' 7" etc.<br /><br />Certainly with a lighter weight, the boat would be faster.<br /><br />Weight is a factor to getting faster times in the boat as well as the erg.<br /><br />However, the watts per body weight go down as the weight goes up, because heavyweight rowers are not able to maintain the same fitness as lightweights.

[[old] remador]

<!--QuoteBegin--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->However, the watts per body weight go down as the weight goes up, because heavyweight rowers are not able to maintain the same fitness as lightweights </td></tr></table><br /><br />I'd rather say that it's easier to get some extra wattage when you're going from 300 to 325 watts than from 550 to 575... <br /><br />Anyway, if there is some relative difference between hwt and lwt levels of fitness, I think we should prepare ourselves for a full-power type or hwt oarsmen that is still to come.<br /><br />AM

[[old] ljwagner]

I did not make the claim at the time. The first two guys did. When my numbers equaled theirs, it was decided the numbers were off, even though everyone else was close and about as expected. My score was not particularly impressive, my low weight brought up the calculated value. I thought it was funny. The other guys had the big egos.<br /><br />When I was healthy, I was very, very good. My boats did not have many seat races, but I did lose them to injury twice, and politics twice. <br /><br />It was disingenuous to say I never lost a seat race, as if I had a lot of them. The ones I had, I did not lose. Freshman year, none lost. Sophmore year, none lost. Seat taken, yes, but lost, no. Junior year, out from injury, then politics (mine). Senior year, out prior to season with back problem. Team had plenty of very good lwts, so had I tried to come back, it was doubtful I could be competitive against uninjured still improving athletes. Not a very difficult decision.<br /><br />I worked really hard like everyone else. I just wanted whatever boat I was in to be fast, and to contribute to that.