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I'm trying to make the sweep eight team but I'm only 181cm. Lots of my teammates range from 188 to 193. How do I overcome this height disadvantage?

<!--QuoteBegin-aligilli+Nov 10 2005, 03:01 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(aligilli @ Nov 10 2005, 03:01 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I'm trying to make the sweep eight team but I'm only 181cm. Lots of my teammates range from 188 to 193. How do I overcome this height disadvantage? <br /> </td></tr></table><br /> Be fitter and stronger than your colleagues or wear platform shoes

<!--QuoteBegin-johnnybike+Nov 10 2005, 08:10 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(johnnybike @ Nov 10 2005, 08:10 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Be fitter and stronger than your colleagues or wear platform shoes <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br /><br />Wearing platform shoes would shorten your stroke. So even if you would look as tall as them outside the boat, inside the boat, where I guess is the place you want to overcome the "disadvantage", you could even consider lowering the shoes. The length gains from this is little though, a few centimeters<br /><br /><a href='http://concept2.ipbhost.com/index.php?s ... entry32708' target='_blank'>http://concept2.ipbhost.com/index.php?s ... ry32708</a>

<!--QuoteBegin-aligilli+Nov 10 2005, 12:01 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(aligilli @ Nov 10 2005, 12:01 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I'm trying to make the sweep eight team but I'm only 181cm. Lots of my teammates range from 188 to 193. How do I overcome this height disadvantage? <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />First make sure that you row well, in the manner that your coach wants you to, then perform as well as you can on the eventual Erg Tests. The rest will take care of itself.<br /><br />You are plenty tall to move the Oar handle through the path that it is locked into, the "long and lanky" may or may not be able to benefit from their additional height, but those guys are rarely seated at the ends of the boat where technical excellence is always the most useful.

Good point that Paul S made there. The "Long and Lanky" guys (me included) were generally in the middle of the boat (The Engine Room GGGGRRRR). The shorter more technical guys at the ends (Stroke pair and bow pair).<br /><br />It is important for you to row technically well. Ergo tests will be one of the selection criteria, but not the only one. The big guys may pull a big ergo but if they cant put it into the water through good technique they will not be picked as they will essentially slow the boat down.<br /><br />Just train hard, row neat and tidy in the boat and you should be fine.<br /><br />P.s I rowed in an 8 at Uni with 2 guys who were almost a foot shorter than me. They were technically good and light with it and had reasonable erg scores so they made the team. Height is only an issue if you let it.<br /><br />Best of luck

<!--QuoteBegin-aligilli+Nov 10 2005, 12:01 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(aligilli @ Nov 10 2005, 12:01 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I'm trying to make the sweep eight team but I'm only 181cm. Lots of my teammates range from 188 to 193. How do I overcome this height disadvantage? <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />The only way to have the same stroke length per time as someone with a longer stroke length is to row with more strokes per minute.<br /><br />Once you get between 36 and 42 this evens out, as those who are taller find considerable difficulty rating higher while maintaining their stroke length and will not do it as easily as you, provided you practice maintaining our stroke length at these ratings.

<!--QuoteBegin-John Rupp+Nov 10 2005, 09:35 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(John Rupp @ Nov 10 2005, 09:35 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--><br />The only way to have the same stroke length per time as someone with a longer stroke length is to row with more strokes per minute. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />I would advise against doing this in an eight – assuming you want to impress the coach

<b>Put the blades a bit deeper in the water when rowing - that could compensate your disadvantage.</b>

<!--QuoteBegin-Laupi+Nov 11 2005, 01:44 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Laupi @ Nov 11 2005, 01:44 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Put the blades a bit deeper in the water when rowing - that could compensate your disadvantage.</b> <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />?? ??

<!--QuoteBegin-Gibbon+Nov 10 2005, 01:43 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Gibbon @ Nov 10 2005, 01:43 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I would advise against doing this in an eight – assuming you want to impress the coach  [right] </td></tr></table><br /><br />Yes in the U.S. it's often a matter of either (1) rowing faster or else (2) impressing a coach. <img src='http://degiorgi.math.hr/forum/images/smiles/kiss.gif' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

Would still advise against rowing at a different rate than the rest of the crew if you are in an eight unless you want to have the man infront of you impaled on your oar handle

<!--QuoteBegin-Ray79+Nov 11 2005, 06:58 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Ray79 @ Nov 11 2005, 06:58 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin-Laupi+Nov 11 2005, 01:44 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Laupi @ Nov 11 2005, 01:44 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Put the blades a bit deeper in the water when rowing - that could compensate your disadvantage.</b> <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />?? ?? <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />In an eight shouldn't that be<br /> <br /> <br /><br />Where the one in the middle had just dug their blade in deeper.

<!--QuoteBegin-Ray79+Nov 11 2005, 10:58 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Ray79 @ Nov 11 2005, 10:58 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin-Laupi+Nov 11 2005, 01:44 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Laupi @ Nov 11 2005, 01:44 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Put the blades a bit deeper in the water when rowing - that could compensate your disadvantage.</b> <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />?? ?? <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />I think Laupi is just having a bit of fun (translated). It is pretty funny, IMO. <br /><br />Now the stuff that John is spewing is.... well.... his usual type of stuff.

<!--QuoteBegin-Ray79+Nov 11 2005, 11:42 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Ray79 @ Nov 11 2005, 11:42 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Would still advise rowing faster than the rest of the crew if you are in an eight unless you want to have the man infront of you impaled on your oar handle <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />What if everyone is rowing at 39 spm, except you who is doing 22 spm?

<!--QuoteBegin-Ray79+Nov 11 2005, 11:42 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Ray79 @ Nov 11 2005, 11:42 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Would still advise rowing faster than the rest of the crew if you are in an eight unless you want to have the man infront of you impaled on your oar handle <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />If that doesn't work then it's always possible to try coaching.