Please Critique

[[old] Cran]

<!--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-->Do you think he is slouching? </td></tr></table><br /><br />No, not really, it looks more like he has a rounded back... <br /><br />Check out some others:<br /><a href='http://www.invernessrowingclub.co.uk/catchpos.html' target='_blank'>http://www.invernessrowingclub.co.uk/catchpos.html</a>

[[old] seat5]

Uh oh. I thought a rounded back was slouching and was bad. <br /><br />You know, I can't tell if I bend at the hips or the waist. I really need a real live coach, I think.<br /><br />

[[old] CAROLE MAC]

<!--QuoteBegin-seat5+Apr 14 2005, 04:03 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(seat5 @ Apr 14 2005, 04:03 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->  I really need a real live coach,  I think. <br /> </td></tr></table><br />why Carla you kill your last one ......trots off giggling ......

[[old] Cran]

<!--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--> I really need a real live coach,  I think. </td></tr></table><br />Do you know anyone with a camcorder?<br /><br />If you can get some video and post it on the web as mpeg files there's plenty of people here (and other sites like rec.sport.rowing newsgroup) that will give their opinion.<br /><br />Get sequences of 2-3 strokes from side, front, back, and above (from bridge) if possible.<br /><br />Even still photo's of catch, finish, etc. would be useful if you can't get access to a camcorder.<br /><br />The shoulders should be relaxed, and arms fully extended, so upper back and shoulders will always have a tendency to look hunched I think.<br /><br />It should feel like you are sitting up, keeping the lower back straight/solid so that you are rocking at the hips rather than bending the lower back.<br /><br />If it feels like you bend the back to get far enough forwards, it may be that you need to lower the shoes, a rough guide is to set the heels 16-18 cm below the top of the seat, and then adjust up/down from there to what is comfortable. If the shoes are too high it can put strain on the lower back.<br /><br />Having said that some scullers row with the feet high to get a more powerful drive, but unless you are looking for a few tenths of a second to get an olympic gold, I think being comfortable and not hurting your back might be more important

[[old] gorow9]

That looks pretty good to me!<br /><br />I've always heard "arms body legs, legs body arms" as a general rule and it looks like your stroke seperation is almost "too good" on the recovery- maybe overlapping a little will help and like was said earlier you'll probably get more leg power if you let your back come in a little later. I don't know why a long layback would be bad- I have a very long stroke but what I noticed is that you slow down at the catch a little I think. I don't know much but I don't think this is a problem on the erg but on a boat it slows down the foreward motion.<br /><br />Maybe someone else can do a better job saying what I mean or just don't worry about it.<br /><br />Anyway you can't have a bad stroke for those ratings at all- how long can you keep up the 1.57? I'd say that's pretty dang good!! Heck you stroke looks a lot better than most people's I've seen at the Y and even the boat club.<br /><br />Looks good and I hope you get the advice you're looking for<br /><br />~Sara~

[[old] John Rupp]

I finally got the codec for windows media player and can see your video. For those who need this, you can download it free from limewire, or let me know and I will send it to you.<br /><br />Carla,<br /><br />Your form and style look very good to me. Regarding your back opening up, and having seen videos of top rowers such as Ebbesen, I think your style is fine as it is, and would not be any better or as good to keep it from doing so.<br /><br />As regards your hands, your recovery actually looks quite level and good. The roundabout loop is towards the end of the drive. You are lifting the handle over the last part of the stroke, which is probably also tossing you off balance for recovery. If you can pull your hands straight in at the end of the drive, taking care to not lift them up higher, then the looping will likely disappear. This will then give you a smoother, easier, and faster recovery with less effort. <br /><br />Your layback looks fine to me, and I don't see any problem with it.<br /><br />Your form, of course, would go together more smoothly with the straps.<br /><br />Hope this is helpful.

[[old] tditmar]

<!--QuoteBegin-seat5+Apr 9 2005, 06:44 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(seat5 @ Apr 9 2005, 06:44 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->and I'm most interested in whatever will make lower back injury the least likely.<br /><br />Thanks in advance to anyone who takes the time to look at <a href='http://toba.ath.cx:1337/downloads/temp/ ... hnique.avi' target='_blank'>this</a>. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Leaving all the technical analysis to those who actually know what they are talking about, I will respond to what I left in quotes with something I know for sure...<br /><br />SLIDES!

[[old] seat5]

I picked up a set of slides in March, and use them about half of the time. I am not sure how much differenct they make on the back, but it seems a bit better. They make me rate higher, I have to really work at it to stay at 10mps--I get more like 9 on slides if I don't watch out, and on a real sprint even less, whereas I'm pretty steady at 10 no matter what pace I go on a stationary erg.