Concept2 Forum

Quick background information: I am a Sophmore in HS and last season (2023-24) was on the Freshman 8. I am 5'10 (177.8cm) and 175lbs (79.37) and in pretty good shape. I do 5 days a week of erging and 2 days of lifting before/after workouts. I did head (5k) racing in the fall and pulled a 19:50 20 minute test with a 7:20 2k. My goal is a 7:05-7:10 2k by the start of OTW practices in Febuary.
Realistically, where do you guys think I would fall in boat lineups? I am locked in for Junior 8 and my reach goal is 2v although I know that it probably won't happen. Based on my times, where do you guys think I would fall.
(For context, the fastest 2ker on my team went 6:42 as a Freshman and was on my boat last year, I fall right in the middle of the team as it stands now)

Not knowing your teammates not sure what seat you'll be in. But if you end up in the Junior or Varsity boat it may not be because you are faster or slower than someone else.

Coaches have to balance the following:

1. Winning with the current boats.
2. Seeding the current boats with enough upcoming talent so that when the seniors leave there are still experienced rowers who have been through a race season.
3. Matching the skills mix in each boat. Sometimes two guys with same erg time will be hugely different in a boat. Some matchups work, some don't.
4. Building the natural team leaders for current and next two years. Sometimes coaches will put a stronger rower BACK into a slower boat so they are the Leader of that boat. Then when they go varsity #1 boat they have a pattern of leading. Coaches do this with people who's values and work ethics are going to help the team.

Excellent you are working five days a week. Do you have a training plan? Are your workouts coached? You are going to get HUGELY stronger over the next three years.

My masters group doesn't go OTW until March because of ice in the river. Hope you are farther south than me, and that you have the right clothes for OTW in February.

You can get that 10-15 second gain in 2K time in 8 weeks (7:20 2k to 7:05-7:10): One popular approach (pyramid/polarized training) says your training should be 3 days week of heavy rowing, 2 to 3 days a week of long slow rowing. Lifting should be on the same days as heavy rowing so that you can recover during the long/slow days. Note: this will max your 2K time at the START of OTW. Typically people can't hold max training readiness for long. An alternative approach (one I'd follow) is to do 1 to 2 days a week hard, lift on those days, do 1-2 days/week rest and the remainder long/slow rows or running or biking. This won't get you as good a 2K time but will set you up for improvement in February rather than regression.

It's easy to lose OTW form erging. For example, shins going past vertical, early back swing on drive, bending legs before back swing complete on recovery. For next 8 weeks if you think technique you will enter February with good form instead of driving the coaches crazy with how much people forgot from fall.

Good Luck. Post what you decide to do and how it works out. Others may want to mirror your approach.

I was bow seat on the F8 last year. My workouts are coached since we have winter conditioning for HS and we will get OTW around early February. I’m right around the middle of the pack since we have a decent number of guys that are sub 7:10

finsoup wrote: ↑

December 3rd, 2024, 8:55 pm

I was bow seat on the F8 last year.

Bow pair (like stern pair) is a skills position on an 8. Coach must like your technique. Our coxswains all dock and steer with bow pair.

My goal is to learn not to fall out.