Anyone In Their 70's Rowing

[Cyclist2]

I'm 68, been rowing off and on for over 30 years and erging pretty consistently for all of those years. I got my third boat (Maas Aero) last summer and entered a head race, just to get the rush of racing back, no delusions of victory, believe me. There were two guys starting after me in the age ranked starting order. They were both in their mid-70s. They were in racing shells. I beat one of them across the line (he beat me on time), the other was past me and gone early in the race. The guy I beat said he started rowing in his 60s. I noticed he's competed in the Head of the Charles for a few years, too, so he's serious about it (check those HOC results - you'll see numerous older people putting in some impressive times).

There ya' go. Lots of older guys and gals still very active.

I row my first race in a mixed double tomorrow with a young 62 year old woman in a local head race-style thing. I can't wait!

[SailorDon]

I'm over 70. I row every chance I get mostly on Lake Livingston, TX.
Click below for a video clip from last year.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHxXP8luIhQ[/youtube]

I have rowed 343 miles year-to-date 2019

[Yankeerunner]

Twenty years ago I took up the erg as I approached age 52. Last year I retired and took up OTW rowing at age 71. Much more challenging, this OTW stuff! I've twice ended up in the Charles River when a sculling blade went a little too deep and I went with it. More often though I get to row in and Eight and I enjoy that much more.

[SailorDon]

Twenty years ago I took up the erg as I approached age 52. Last year I retired and took up OTW rowing at age 71. Much more challenging, this OTW stuff! I've twice ended up in the Charles River when a sculling blade went a little too deep and I went with it. More often though I get to row in and Eight and I enjoy that much more.

When you row in an eight, you can go for the ride when you get tired.

[Yankeerunner]

When you row in an eight, you can go for the ride when you get tired.

That must be why I like it so much better!

[Edward4492]

So Rick....looks like we took similar paths. I'm pretty much done with erg racing. If I'm counting right you have two Hammers now? Your erg and running fitness will serve you well in the boat. Sculling is far and away the most challenging thing I've ever tried. Only 63, I'm always amazed at the level of competition in masters athletics. Most people hear "masters athlete" and they think bocci ball and lawn darts. It's ferocious to say the least. Good luck in the boat!

[jamesg]

79 in August, our lake was warm this summer so some sculling (Filippi S), K2 with the wife in the front seat and freestyle but never more than 3-400m a time. Plenty of bike, spurning the E-types for now (no steep slopes). Then it got too hot here, almost 40C, so up to the hills in one of the Italian National Parks (Stelvio), walk and same bike where possible.

Now 70 years since I first got hold of a pair of sculls in the West India Docks. Still remember sitting under ships' anchors off the jetty in the Thames when landing headropes. Rowing in those days (1950s) still had some practical applications.

By December my erg year will be worth about a Mm and maybe 10 kWh.

[RR]

I am just a youngster at 63 but hit 64 next month.
I eventually got OTW last April with the rowing club in Cognac near where I live in France.
Go out at least once a week, sometimes twice depending on how many brownie points I have accumulated.
Start serious indoor rowing in 1999 until 2011 then due to work and family commitments, lost my way.
However found a mojo again and now pretty fit again, Erving most days as well as BikeErg virtually everyday.
The OTW stuff is “leisurely” but we go out in 2x, 4x or 8x.
Haven’t ventured out in a single skinny scull yet but it’s on the agenda.
We do 11/12 on the CHARENTE in Cognac, on a nice day it’s spectacular with the scenery and the wild life.

[Yankeerunner]

So Rick....looks like we took similar paths. I'm pretty much done with erg racing. If I'm counting right you have two Hammers now? Your erg and running fitness will serve you well in the boat. Sculling is far and away the most challenging thing I've ever tried. Only 63, I'm always amazed at the level of competition in masters athletics. Most people hear "masters athlete" and they think bocci ball and lawn darts. It's ferocious to say the least. Good luck in the boat!

Yes, my toolbox now contains two CRASH-B hammers (and a couple of Bridge Street Toys Tackhammers). One thing that sculling in the skinny Hudson shells does for me is make that Alden seem as stable as a tugboat. I still like sweep rowing in the Eight the best, but I hope to keep working on the single. As I get older and slower I'm sure that the rest of the crew is going to groan when I show up hoping to row the Eight, and having a single to fall back on will be a good idea.

[Zzotte]

I’m turning 68 in May, just started learning how to row it’s a high learning curve right now 80/20 (80% in the water 20% on the boat haha it’s all good

Zzotte