Open Or Closed Legs?

[[old] NJhsRower]

so when erging is it better to have your legs open enough to have your arms go in between or closed<br /><br />i know for rowing upen is better because you have to go out towards the rigger but for erging im not sure

[[old] Pete Marston]

Your arms certainly don't want to go between your legs on the erg. Best is to have your ankles and knees stay in line throughout the stroke.

[[old] Byron Drachman]

never mind

[[old] FrankJ]

<!--QuoteBegin-NJhsRower+Dec 21 2005, 10:08 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(NJhsRower @ Dec 21 2005, 10:08 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->so when erging is it better to have your legs open enough to have your arms go in between or closed<br /><br />i know for rowing upen is better because you have to go out towards the rigger but for erging im not sure <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />I catch with my knees split. First time I saw this was at the CRASH-Bs in 2003 when Tore Foss was rowing. I've had a bad back for 33 years and am always looking for ways to save the back. By splitting the knees it is easier to pivot at the hips and put less pressure on the lower back. About the only time now that I don't split my knees is when I'm going for a fast time in the 500 or 1K. <br /><br />Frank

[[old] gw1]

I found that by coming forward for the catch with my knees apart has worked best for me. I keep the foot straps slightly loose so that when i come forward i can turn my feet out slightly to maintain alignment with my knees for the drive. <br /><br />GW

[[old] NJhsRower]

<!--QuoteBegin-NJhsRower+Dec 21 2005, 05:08 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(NJhsRower @ Dec 21 2005, 05:08 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->so when erging is it better to have your legs open enough to have your arms go in between or closed<br /><br />i know for rowing upen is better because you have to go out towards the rigger but for erging im not sure <br /> </td></tr></table><br />so you guys are saying its prefrence as long as you keep the ankle and knees aligned, but for a recorded time like 2 k i shouldnt split my legs?<br /><br />i started splitting my knees once i got on the water it become a habbit for once i got back on the erg<br /><br />my backs good by the way... im still a kid ha

[[old] shu246]

apropos knees at the catch and backpain:<br /><br />i go over the knees for the catch, excepting the occassional odd strokes for variety, as with a shift to underhand grip for a few strokes.<br /><br />when first self-learning on the erg i devised the 'broomstick rule' to avoid back injury. imagine a broomstick laid over the arms between the elbows. at the catch, bend no more forward that the imaginary broomstick shall not pass into the legs. <br /><br />perhaps squatty-body types can bend more forward at the catch and not suffer consequent back pain, but i think not long-lanky types.<br /><br />-shu

[[old] gw1]

<!--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-->so you guys are saying its prefrence as long as you keep the ankle and knees aligned, but for a recorded time like 2 k i shouldnt split my legs? </td></tr></table><br /><br />I am old and fat do it out of nescesity. I've had 11 knee ops and it is less stressful on them and it helps me get a stronger catch position. I use it on all my distances.<br /><br /><br />GW

[[old] Sparks]

I was a Starboard in college, so on the erg my left leg stays pretty straight, but my right knee leans out and my right arm goes between my knees. It's a habit that I can't seem to break, but I noticed w/ the Holiday Challenge that it is causing some pain in my right foot.

[[old] Charlie Lear]

Argh! Do a forum search to find out the optimum technique and find out half the people are "innies", half are "outies" and one uses a combo technique just to skew the results.<br /><br />The reason I went looking is I'm just getting back into rowing after a 4-year layoff and find that I start with knees-in until I develop red patches where my knees hit the inside of my forearms and then I switch to knees-out. Certainly knees-out is a lot more comfortable for me. <br /><br />There's a lot of information on stroke technique viewed from the side, but nothing I've come across shows "correct" technique from above!<br /><br />Cheers<br /> Charlie<br />

[[old] Alissa]

<!--QuoteBegin-Charlie Lear+Jan 30 2006, 04:22 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Charlie Lear @ Jan 30 2006, 04:22 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->[...]but nothing I've come across shows "correct" technique from above![right] </td></tr></table><br />Hi Charlie.<br /><br />This image:<br /><img src='http://i.pbase.com/o4/22/464422/1/55491 ... erg419.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' /><br />which is 61% of the way through recovery in <a href='http://www.invernessrowingclub.co.uk/pe ... o_erg.html' target='_blank'>Xeno's stroke cycle</a> (from his sig), isn't from above. But it shows "knees inside" pretty clearly, even though it is from the side.<br /><br />HTH,<br /><br />Alissa<br /> <br />

[[old] Citroen]

<!--QuoteBegin-shu246+Dec 23 2005, 02:16 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(shu246 @ Dec 23 2005, 02:16 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->i go over the knees for the catch, excepting the occassional odd strokes for variety, as with a shift to underhand grip for a few strokes. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Anyone who has an underhand grip needs to do some serious studying of their bad technique. You're asking for trouble.

[[old] Charlie Lear]

<!--QuoteBegin-Alissa+Jan 31 2006, 03:02 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Alissa @ Jan 31 2006, 03:02 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->But it shows "knees inside" pretty clearly, even though it is from the side.<br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Excellent, many thanks Alissa!<br /><br />Cheers<br /> Charlie<br />

[[old] Ben Rea]

in the beginning of a piece my legs a ussually very close together, but as the piece goes on i notcie my legs spreading apart.