Obituary in the Times: Joe Burk

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708uvr
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Obituary in the Times: Joe Burk

Post by 708uvr » January 22nd, 2008, 3:12 pm

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/22/sport ... ref=slogin


Hope nobody minds me posting this link here. Burk was one of the greatest oarsmen of his time and just passed away at age 93. Seemed fitting to post it here.
Last edited by 708uvr on January 23rd, 2008, 5:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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johnlvs2run
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Re: Obituary in the Times: Joe Burke

Post by johnlvs2run » January 22nd, 2008, 5:05 pm

Burk was known as the robot rower for his ability to maintain a steady pace of some 40 strokes a minute, using a relatively uncommon upright stance. At one point he won 37 consecutive races.

“I tried many versions and came up with a technique that seemed to enable me to go sufficiently fast with a minimum of effort,” Burk once told Peter Mallory, a rowing writer. “It was very simple — arms, legs and back all started together and all finished together. Everyone else allowed one hand to precede the other, so they didn’t overlap.”
Thanks much for the notice.

RIP Joe Burk.
bikeerg 75 5'8" 155# - 18.5 - 51.9 - 568 - 1:52.7 - 8:03.8 - 20:13.1 - 14620 - 40:58.7 - 28855 - 1:23:48.0
rowerg 56-58 5'8.5" 143# - 1:39.6 - 3:35.6 - 7:24.0 - 18:57.4 - 22:49.9 - 7793 - 38:44.7 - 1:22:48.9 - 2:58:46.2

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Joanvb
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Post by Joanvb » January 26th, 2008, 2:06 am

Thank you for posting. I hadn't heard this news.
Joan Van Blom
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2whlrcr
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Post by 2whlrcr » January 26th, 2008, 9:52 am

I'm not an OTW rower, so I've never heard of him. But after reading the article, it just makes you motivated. Sounds like he was an admirable man.
51, 5'11", 183lbs and going down slowly

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Byron Drachman
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Post by Byron Drachman » January 26th, 2008, 4:28 pm

There's another nice article with photos at row2k:

http://www.row2k.com/features/features. ... ead&id=357

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