Feathering, technique & videos

g18c · Post by **g18c** » May 14th, 2007, 12:45 pm

Hi, i am a bit confused as to how feathering is performed. On some videos i see them rotating the oar. Is this rotation done at the end of the stroke, the oar rotated, recovery is then performed with the oar blade parallel to the water? How then is the oar re-orientated for entry into the water? Is a second rotation applied again at the end of recovery?

I presume this spin-type oar feathering assister (sorry for my terminology, what is its real name?) is a special piece of equipment? Is it used on race boats and Olympians? The places i have seen the wrist orientate is here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAdGbIzfHZk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtfXg0d7TuI

http://www.culver.org/students/sports/c ... stroke.asp

Any pointers to close up videos on technique which i could use learn from would be much appreciated.

Cheers,

Chris

Byron Drachman · Post by **Byron Drachman** » May 14th, 2007, 5:03 pm

If you go here and click on animate, you can see a demonstration of feathering.

http://www.ottawarowingclub.com/what/how2.scull.4.html

There is a nice discussion on the Effective Sculling DVD also. For sculling, you do a gradual rollup as you are approaching the catch, and you want the blades perpendicular before you reach the catch. Then just let the blades drop into the water. For the release, it's a quick tap-down and feathering to get the blades out cleanly. For sweep rowing, the inside hand does the feathering.

Byron

g18c · Post by **g18c** » May 15th, 2007, 2:02 am

Thanks for the link, it seems some rowers use a lot more wrist movement than others:

http://www.invernessrowingclub.co.uk/pe ... tufte.html

http://www.invernessrowingclub.co.uk/pe ... alini.html

I presume this is just downto style, but from what your link says the less wrist movement the better. Anyways i am just curious about technique as i have only ever used concept2 rowers and wondered how it was done on the water.