How does the height of a person affect their rowing?

[Cyclist2]

Every time I hear discussions about size affecting some particular sport, I just marvel at Nate Robinson - this 5'9" pro basketball player just won his third consecutive slam dunk contest at the NBA All Star Game. If you picked the right parents and/or want it bad enough, size is immaterial!

That being said, being a larger, stronger person is an advantage in rowing, and especially erging, where strength can overcome poorer technique, but put them together and you've got some fast rowers. Aharmer's post here is right on!

[JohnBove]

Every time I hear discussions about size affecting some particular sport, I just marvel at Nate Robinson - this 5'9" pro basketball player just won his third consecutive slam dunk contest at the NBA All Star Game. If you picked the right parents and/or want it bad enough, size is immaterial!

That being said, being a larger, stronger person is an advantage in rowing, and especially erging, where strength can overcome poorer technique, but put them together and you've got some fast rowers. Aharmer's post here is right on!

I certainly don't want to put down Nate Robinson, but the slam dunk contest years ago became a contest for rookies and bench players. It was taken semi-seriously once, when Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins and Julius Erving competed. But no more. Robinson's wee size probably helps him in what has become barely what anyone would seriously call a competition.

[ThatMoos3Guy]

I certainly don't want to put down Nate Robinson, but the slam dunk contest years ago became a contest for rookies and bench players. It was taken semi-seriously once, when Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins and Julius Erving competed. But no more. Robinson's wee size probably helps him in what has become barely what anyone would seriously call a competition.

Yeah, the dunk contest has essentially turned into a sideshow. If Robinson was playing on Sunday you'd have an argument.

[Cyclist2]

Not arguing the validity of the "contest", just the fact that such a short guy can jump that high and compete at the pro level (All Star or not). I'm 5'8" and I can't even touch the rim! My point is that every sport is biased to persons of a certain size or build, but there are people who can still compete even if they don't fit the "norm" for that particular sport (horse racing jockey may be an exception ).

So, I still think that by following Aharmer's "triangle of truth" every person, regardless of size, can become the best rower possible - there will be faster people, there will be slower people. That's sports!

[Rockin Roland]

Size is of a greater advantage on a C2 stationary erg than in a boat. However, the C2 erg is only a piece of gym equipment so who cares if a big guy gets great times on it.

In a boat so many other factors come into play. Balance, technique and the ability to be capable of hauling your weight(including that of the boat) over race distance is what makes the difference.Race times between hwt and lwt rowers on the water is much closer than what you may think. The C2 erg goes nowhere. That's why guys like NavHazard may break records on the erg but are actually disadvantaged in a boat because they are too big.

If you are so concerned about the C2 erg favouring bigger people then get yourself a Rowperfect erg. The Rowperfect erg allows for weight adjusted scores on the monitor plus it's more technical to use hence a lot fairer.

[johnlvs2run]

If you are so concerned about the C2 erg favouring bigger people then get yourself a Rowperfect erg. The Rowperfect erg allows for weight adjusted scores on the monitor plus it's more technical to use hence a lot fairer.

Do you have one yet, Roland?

[Greypuller]

Guys i posted this in another thread but, not in the vein of competition now, size or body type can effect rowing on the ERG. Being short and thick (not as flexible perhaps or simply "mechanically restricted" by body type...and NOT fat) does present some issues for me....or at least i'm questioning if it's an issue?


"I think i have a good grasp on the rowing technique but i have a question. When i go to the catch position i find that i get more forward travel when my knees splay out to the sides as the shins reach vertical. This seems to be a natural position for me.

Being on the shorter side my upper legs hit the rib cage too soon when keeping the knees together. This results in too little work per stroke and also pushes the air out of my lungs as body parts compress.

So should i just keep the knees together and go with that or let them splay out, letting the arms pass between the knees allowing a more forward lean?

Pros & Cons please and thanks!"

[wjschmidt2]

In the lightweight division it can't make much of a difference. I'm 5'8" and right at the top of my age group. It might be more mental toughness than height. That was my 2 cents.

semper fi,

Bill

[hjs]

In the lightweight division it can't make much of a difference. I'm 5'8" and right at the top of my age group. It might be more mental toughness than height. That was my 2 cents.

semper fi,

Bill

top lightweights are 6.1 to 6.3

[Nosmo]

So should i just keep the knees together....

Generally yes keep them together. A few people do row well if the legs are splayed out but unless you have a big belly or some hip issue, it is much safer to keep the knees together. You run the risk of knee injury.
Perhaps you need to adjust your foot height.

[Greypuller]

Good suggestion, lowered the position a bit and it helped some....thanks!

[wjschmidt2]

In the lightweight division it can't make much of a difference. I'm 5'8" and right at the top of my age group. It might be more mental toughness than height. That was my 2 cents.

semper fi,

Bill

top lightweights are 6.1 to 6.3

Short ergers don't give up hope, I am a perfect example of mind over matter. Currently number 8 on the Nonathlon rankings.

"The Marines have landed and the situation is well in hand."

s/f

Bill

[Chris Brett]

The Rowperfect erg allows for weight adjusted scores on the monitor plus it's more technical to use hence a lot fairer.

Every weight adjusted score is an approximation so don't put too much faith in the fairness.

A more technical event in terms of applying power with balance will actually favour lightweights (so its not all one way). There are smaller dynamic forces / moments involved and smaller forces being applied. Hence gymnasts are all small for example. Heavyweights tend to be less smooth on the water than lightweights. This is primarily because they are bigger, heavier and more powerful not because all big people are technically less proficient (that argument just doesn't make any sense at all) A bigger car engine will produce more vibration than a small car engine (this does not mean that all big car engines just happen to be badly designed)

Anti Propaganda Against Heavyweights APAHthy

[hjs]

The Rowperfect erg allows for weight adjusted scores on the monitor plus it's more technical to use hence a lot fairer.

Every weight adjusted score is an approximation so don't put too much faith in the fairness.

A more technical event in terms of applying power with balance will actually favour lightweights (so its not all one way). There are smaller dynamic forces / moments involved and smaller forces being applied. Hence gymnasts are all small for example. Heavyweights tend to be less smooth on the water than lightweights. This is primarily because they are bigger, heavier and more powerful not because all big people are technically less proficient (that argument just doesn't make any sense at all) A bigger car engine will produce more vibration than a small car engine (this does not mean that all big car engines just happen to be badly designed)

Anti Propaganda Against Heavyweights APAHthy

Indeed

And on the other side you will never hear about heavy marathon runners of heavy cyclist who have to climb mountains with there weight.

height and weight are just part of the talent you have gotten from mother nature.


Ps here a nice example of a very promissing shot putter

http://www.team75plus.com/19660

15-year old New Zealander Jacko Gill improved his own National Record to 20.66!

15 years of age, so using the junior weight 5kg versus 7.26 for adults.

He is only 84kg and about 6ft tall at the moment.

[DUThomas]

I certainly don't want to put down Nate Robinson, but the slam dunk contest years ago became a contest for rookies and bench players. It was taken semi-seriously once, when Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins and Julius Erving competed. But no more. Robinson's wee size probably helps him in what has become barely what anyone would seriously call a competition.

And don't forget Spud Webb -- http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_d ... nba,221305

"Spud really wasn't much bigger than a basketball. He just blew everybody away in the final round when he rode into the arena on a hamster, ripped off his G.I. Joe doll uniform warm-up pants, threw the ball at the backboard, ran between a small child's legs, jumped up to Dominique Wilkins' palm, and springboarded off it to do a 360-degree two-handed dunk."