Dumb question for OTW rowers

[Snail Space]

During the race, take it easy (as far as you can), don't try to push the boat all by your own, and concentrate on rowing together.
Get out fast, and don't let those motor boats catch you, you know!
And enjoy!
Ah, and don't forget to tell us how it went!

Thanks Ancho.

On Tuesday night I soon realised that pushing too hard was counter-productive, so I concentrated hard on rhythm and coordination with the blade of the man two in front of me (we're both bow side). The most difficult thing for me is to persuade my 50 year old body to stretch and twist far enough at the catch. In fact, if I work hard at that it seems to screw up my squaring and blade entry, so for Saturday I think I'll resign myself to rowing at little more than 3/4 slide but concentrating on a clean catch and smooth power application. I'll work on extending my reach on future practice trips.

I certainly intend to enjoy myself; I'm as excited as a 5 year old waiting for Christmas. For the last two nights I've gone to sleep dreaming about Sydney, 2000! How sad is that!

My 12 yr old son is coming down to shout for me, so I'll have to make sure I don't embarrass him. I'll bring you the news (good or bad) after the race.

Cheers
Dave

[Snail Space]

Confession time!

I was horrible in the Novice VIII on Saturday: my timing was completely wrong from the first stroke of the start; thereafter I could hardly extract the blade from the water at all. Terrible experience.

About half-way down the course I forgot all about racing, relaxed, and my action became fairly rhythmical, and I had no further trouble with blade entry or extraction. I just wish I had chilled out from the start. I think nervousness, inexperience, and adrenaline [or should I say epinephrine?] got the better of me.

I console myself with the thought that it was only my second outing in a racing boat, and that it was unrealistic to expect to be any good.

The next time I race - I'll win!

[Snail Space]

Confession time!

I was horrible in the Novice VIII on Saturday: my timing was completely wrong from the first stroke of the start; thereafter I could hardly extract the blade from the water at all. Terrible experience.

About half-way down the course I forgot all about racing, relaxed, and my action became fairly rhythmical, and I had no further trouble with blade entry or extraction. I just wish I had chilled out from the start. I think nervousness, inexperience, and adrenaline [or should I say epinephrine?] got the better of me.

I console myself with the thought that it was only my second outing in a racing boat, and that it was unrealistic to expect to be any good.

The next time I race - I'll win!

[ancho]

You probably will do much better next time, but racing will always be horrible!

[tomhz]

I certainly intend to enjoy myself; I'm as excited as a 5 year old waiting for Christmas. For the last two nights I've gone to sleep dreaming about Sydney, 2000! How sad is that!

but it is nice to read too! Keep us informed about your progress.

Tom

[Byron Drachman]

I console myself with the thought that it was only my second outing in a racing boat, and that it was unrealistic to expect to be any good.

I started OTW two years ago. After a few weeks of a learn-to-row course and a few times in a single I went to my first regatta. My goal for my first race was not to flip and finish ahead of the boats in the next heat. I managed both but just barely. I was zig-zagging all over the course and caught a couple of boat-stopping crabs. There was an official following in a launch and he kept yelling out my name and pointing with a white flag which way I should turn. I was thinking, well make up your mind--first he says turn one way, then another.

I think if you get through your first race without flipping you should call it a success. Keep at it. It just gets to be more fun as you get more experienced.

Byron

[bw1099]

You basically have it right though. In a single scull, a small difference in the pressure applied to each hand (or in a more extreme case altering stroke length of the individual oars) will have a large effect on the direction of the boat.

Putting more pressure on one foot will cause the boat to turn slightly in the direction of the foot with less pressure. This way you can keep your stroke constant [and avoid certain people yelling at you about your form when you bend one of your elbows too soon while altering hand pressure and/or stroke length].