Ranger wrote:
Jan 11, 2007: We'll see how it goes this winter. It appears that I have now made the complete switch from maximal drag (200+ df.) to minimal drag (95 df.), from an "erg" stroke to an OTW stroke.
Feb 7, 2006:I have just been learning a quality OTW stroke. That project is now complete.
June 1, 2007:If my training keeps going as well as it is but I don't row 6:20 this next year, I won't be much interested in competitive erging from now on. I'll just row OTW and use the erg for general conditioning.
August 15, 2007: Being fast is not the most important thing to me. Rowing is intrinsically pleasurable (even beautiful, as all sports, being arts, when done well, are). The better your form, the closer it is to effective OTW form, the more elegant and pleasurable rowing becomes.
Rowing OTW is where it is at, not rowing indoors. If done properly, erging is wonderful training for rowing OTW, but it is not the thing itself. Ultimately, I want do mainly OTW racing and use erging as winter training.
We'll see, but I think you'll find that good OTW technique is faster than some sort of jerry-rigged erg stroke, even for the erg. OTW technique takes more time to learn, but it really does the job. In my case, I think good OTW technique will turn out to be 2-6 seconds per 500m better than my old erg stroke, depending on the length of the distance rowed. OTW technique will be 6 seconds better for the FM, 2 seconds per 500m better for the 500m. Improvement in the other distances will range inbetween, the longer distances improving more, the shorter distances, less.
August 11,2007: Nice outing OTW. I was doing some solid 2:03 @ 26 spm out there today.
Recalibrated, that is right about what I do on the erg these days, 1:40 @ 26 spm (13.5 SPI).
October 5, 2007: This morning. I was hitting 2:02 @ 25 spm OTW. I am approaching 2:00 @ 25 spm.
March 10, 2008: This coming year should be fun! I will probably race OTW for the first time this next year, too. That will be exciting.
March 22, 2008: OTW, I won't be a lightweight. I'll be a heavyweight.
I can't get to 155 lbs. OTW, I'll be one hell of a tough, powerful, resourceful light heavyweight, though.
At 170 lbs., there won't be much weight in my boat, relative to the engine powering it along. Zoooooooooooooooooooooooooooommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
April 29, 2008: A normal erg session for me now will be 20K of 1:45 @ 22 spm.
In addition to this, weather permitting, I'll be doing a 20K session @ 22 spm OTW.
May 2, 2008: So, if I can learn to row with equal competence and outrow Mike VB by 30 seconds over 2K on the erg even though I weigh only 5 kgs. more, I should outrow him by about a minute over 3 miles OTW. Nice!
May 7, 2008: I can now hold a nice 26 spm OTW. I need to do the same on the erg.
Then my rowing for the spring and summer is set. RWAT
For me, 2:05 @ 26 OTW is equivalent to 1:42 @ 26 spm on the erg.
My OTW stroke and erg stroke are now the same.
June 2, 2008: OTW yesterday, I was holding 2:05 @ 24 spm.
I am delighted with that.
At one point, I was doing 1:58 @ 24 spm.
That is _very_ good rowing for someone approaching 60 years old.
At the US OTW nationals, among 60-year olds, the 1K is won at about 2:00 pace.
June 11, 2008: I now do fine on the water.
2:00 @ 26 spm
No swimming at all.
Lots of work still to do on lots of things.
But I am happy with my progress.
The 60s OTW 1Ks at the Nationals are usually won at about 2:00 pace.
I will race a new elite 1x (not my tub of a Peinert) in the Nationals when I am 60.
June 12, 2008: My stroke is now a dream to use, entirely relaxed. –snip--so my erging and OTW rowing have merged perfectly. My stroke is the same both OTW and off.
June 25, 2008: Yes, my OTW stroke is getting better and better, mainly because I am just getting out there in my 1x more than I used to.
As a result, I might indeed compete OTW earlier than I thought.
Perhaps some head races this fall?
Then some sprints next spring?
January 12, 2009: If I can hold 32 spm for 3 miles OTW, taking full strokes, at 155 lbs., at the HOTC in a couple of years, when I am 60 years old, I'll win, going away
March 31, 2009: I will racing my 1x OTW for the first time., both sprint events and head events, hey, for how long?, perhaps for the next 20 years!
March 5, 2009: I love to row and have been investing in learning to row, both OTW and off, for the last five years. Now comes the pay off!
April 22, 2009: I have been doing dedicated and focused OTW rowing for five years.
April 27, 2009: I can hold a solid 2:00 @ 30 spm.
Massive improvement from last year: lighter grip on the oars, cleaner catches and finishes, better clearance of my blades on recoveries, more horizontal pull, better timing with my legs and back, quicker recoveries, etc.
I now know how to row.
I have made steady progress OTW, since I started to row OTW in the summer of 2003.
My technique work on the erg has helped my OTW a lot.
I am now ready to race OTW.
Oct 20, 2009: I now use the same stroke on the erg and I do in my 1x and I can sustain a pretty nice 2:00 @ 30 spm OTW.
Oct 20, 2009: I put in a couple of million meters OTW this spring, summer, and fall
Jan 31, 2010: Over the last seven years I have been working on technique (both OTW and off).
Feb 24, 2010: Mike doesn't have a hope in hell of beating me OTW in either a 1K or a 5K if he can't rate up.
March 25, 2010: I don't have any background in OTW rowing, either. I am just starting to learn.
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