1 leg exercises to enter a single scull

[Myopic Squirrel]

A sweep rower, am planning to take lessons to row a single. Recovered (mostly) from a ruptured left quad, need to be able to lower myself on 1 leg to enter the scull. Any recommended exercises? Thank you in advance.

[Cyclist2]

Ah, the luxury of a dock... I beach launch, so I'm stepping UP into the shell.

To answer your question, I would try squats and lunges. And, set the boat next to the dock so that you can use your strong leg to do the lowering

[Tsnor]

A sweep rower, am planning to take lessons to row a single. ...

Getting into a single (and keeping it from flipping) is really hard. Most clubs start you in a 4 person quad or a 2 person double. See if that is an option. One person can keep blades on the water and stabilize the boat while you get used to balance. That way you can learn without swimming. Double is MUCH easier than a single.

need to be able to lower myself on 1 leg to enter the scull.

If you are going direct to a single here is a good video on how to get in. Note the high hand holding both sculls so they press down into the water - that's your safety. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lu1PGJK3gM

The entry is not like a one leg squat. It's more a controlled fall with one arm taking some of your weight. No way you need the leg strength to do a one leg squat to scull. And you need that hand on the dock to balance, not like holding gunnels in an 8 or 4.

Note the way the person in the video walked the boat off the edge of the dock to launch. The other approach is to angle the boat away from dock before you start. That's different than the mostly parallel launch of an 8. If you try parallel you will not be able to get the sculls into the water.

Other not obvious thing is the lack of room for shoes, sweaters, etc. Much less room than an 8. Ask the person teaching you how much you can bring, and don't plan on removing layers on the water the first few times out. Hopefully the water and air temps will be warm when you are learning so layers are not an issue -- flipping a scull in cold water is not safe. Our club has a 50F water temp rule for experienced scullers, and all beginner sculling is done mid summer or later when the water is warm (no temp rules for sweeps boats, we go out when the ice melts and the dock goes in).

---- Do post your thoughts after your first few rows !! (ouch: ruptured left quad)