Hypothetical Question For Lwts

[[old] Matt Newman]

Hypothetical question for LWTs<br />Would you take part in competitions if there was no LWT category?<br /><br />Having become firmly addicted to erging I am in the "Yes" camp and I would try to add more bulk to improve my chances of competing - however I don't think I would have been attracted to the sport in the first place has there been no LWT category

[[old] The Ref]

<!--quoteo(post=57619:date=Feb 28 2006, 11:43 AM:name=Matt Newman)--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Matt Newman @ Feb 28 2006, 11:43 AM) </b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'>Hypothetical question for LWTs<br />Would you take part in competitions if there was no LWT category?<br /><br />Having become firmly addicted to erging I am in the "Yes" camp and I would try to add more bulk to improve my chances of competing - however I don't think I would have been attracted to the sport in the first place has there been no LWT category<br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Definite yes, although like you, even when training for playing rugby I found it difficult to bulk up much. I never got to my tartet 12 stone. <br /><br />I would still do it for the challenge.

[[old] Ray79]

I agree totally with Matt. For me it is the taking part, not the winning that is the real attraction. Plus the fitness level you achieve and the fact that everyone in the gym thinks that you are a nutter for spending any more than 5 minutes on the erg. I row as a lightweight because I am a lightweight at the minute, if I was to put on a bit of weight, then tough luck to me, I have to race the big boys in the Open division (Would have been well inside the top 200 at WIRC )<br /><br />As for would I have started erging if there was no lightweight category, the answer is again yes. I only began erging because of rowing OTW, which I love to do, and in most cases I row with Heavyweights anyway (there arent any LWT divisions in the amateur ranks OTW except at National Championships). Erging for me is a means to an end, I have only had one indoor race and that was a slight fly and die, but I did enjoy the day out and I do plan to do more this year - regardless of what weight I am

[[old] mpukita]

I voted no. Assuming this meant no LW classes <u>only</u>. It would be even <b>worse </b> if it were no age and weight classes. I'm also assuming this refers to venue racing.<br /><br />If this were true, I'd just "time trial" it at home, tracking fitness progress improvements, etc. Or, race on the Internet to do same.<br /><br />Why go to an event where even if you are in the greatest condition of your life, in what's now your typical age/weight category, and end up 110th out of 300? Sure, with seed times you'd likely have a competitive heat, but I can do that on RowPro.<br /><br />I agree it's the taking part, but now we can do that from the comfort of our homes with RowPro. If there isn't a prize to shoot for, other than for the comaraderie, there's no reason to go to a live event, in my opinion.

[[old] Afterburner]

I actually started out as a HW, only switching to LW this year.<br />I definitely train differently as a LW, but racing HW has it's perks too (no need to make weight!)<br />Altho I will say that I would be much unhappier about the lack of weight class on the ergs than on the water, at least on the water people get penalized for being fat. I really found it striking this weekend just how many people at the CRASH-B's that were pulling really good times were also really fat. I could likely beat them on the water.<br />But competition is competition and can be fun if you make it fun win or lose. You just have to do the best you can within whatever the rules happen to be.<br /><br />Heather

[[old] hjs]

<!--quoteo(post=57642:date=Feb 28 2006, 03:02 PM:name=Afterburner)--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Afterburner @ Feb 28 2006, 03:02 PM) </b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'>I actually started out as a HW, only switching to LW this year.<br />I definitely train differently as a LW, but racing HW has it's perks too (no need to make weight!)<br />Altho I will say that I would be much unhappier about the lack of weight class on the ergs than on the water, at least on the water people get penalized for being fat. I really found it striking this weekend just how many people at the CRASH-B's that were pulling really good times were also really fat. I could likely beat them on the water.<br />But competition is competition and can be fun if you make it fun win or lose. You just have to do the best you can within whatever the rules happen to be.<br /><br />Heather<br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br /><br />Can you explain how fat will help improve our performances on the erg? Muscle and height I do understand but fat ???? No I can,t see any pluses.<br /><br />And can you also point out some very good race's done bye fat people?, I haven,t seen any myself my hole life.

[[old] mpukita]

<!--quoteo(post=57645:date=Feb 28 2006, 09:09 AM:name=hjs)--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(hjs @ Feb 28 2006, 09:09 AM) </b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--quoteo(post=57642:date=Feb 28 2006, 03:02 PM:name=Afterburner)--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Afterburner @ Feb 28 2006, 03:02 PM) </b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'>I actually started out as a HW, only switching to LW this year.<br />I definitely train differently as a LW, but racing HW has it's perks too (no need to make weight!)<br />Altho I will say that I would be much unhappier about the lack of weight class on the ergs than on the water, at least on the water people get penalized for being fat. I really found it striking this weekend just how many people at the CRASH-B's that were pulling really good times were also really fat. I could likely beat them on the water.<br />But competition is competition and can be fun if you make it fun win or lose. You just have to do the best you can within whatever the rules happen to be.<br /><br />Heather<br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br /><br />Can you explain how fat will help improve our performances on the erg? Muscle and height I do understand but fat ???? No I can,t see any pluses.<br /><br />And can you also point out some very good race's done bye fat people?, I haven,t seen any myself my hole life.<br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />HJS:<br /><br />My sense is that what Heather means is that there is little negative for overweight people in erging, since you're not really moving your weight, as you would in a boat. I have noticed this too ... the overweight kids (as opposed to the big, muscular, yet lean HWs) in our crew club can pull good erg scores, but can't move the boat anywhere near as well. I guess the best way to put this is that their fitness, even if at the level of someone that's 30 or 40 pounds lighter, does not make up for having to move that extra 30 or 40 pounds. Think of a 30 or 40 pound weight just plopped into the bottom of the shell.<br /><br />Not so on the erg.<br /><br />Regards ... Mark<br />

[[old] hjs]

<!--quoteo(post=57653:date=Feb 28 2006, 03:38 PM:name=mpukita)--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(mpukita @ Feb 28 2006, 03:38 PM) </b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--quoteo(post=57645:date=Feb 28 2006, 09:09 AM:name=hjs)--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(hjs @ Feb 28 2006, 09:09 AM) </b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--quoteo(post=57642:date=Feb 28 2006, 03:02 PM:name=Afterburner)--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Afterburner @ Feb 28 2006, 03:02 PM) </b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'>I actually started out as a HW, only switching to LW this year.<br />I definitely train differently as a LW, but racing HW has it's perks too (no need to make weight!)<br />Altho I will say that I would be much unhappier about the lack of weight class on the ergs than on the water, at least on the water people get penalized for being fat. I really found it striking this weekend just how many people at the CRASH-B's that were pulling really good times were also really fat. I could likely beat them on the water.<br />But competition is competition and can be fun if you make it fun win or lose. You just have to do the best you can within whatever the rules happen to be.<br /><br />Heather<br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br /><br />Can you explain how fat will help improve our performances on the erg? Muscle and height I do understand but fat ???? No I can,t see any pluses.<br /><br />And can you also point out some very good race's done bye fat people?, I haven,t seen any myself my hole life.<br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />HJS:<br /><br />My sense is that what Heather means is that there is little negative for overweight people in erging, since you're not really moving your weight, as you would in a boat. I have noticed this too ... the overweight kids (as opposed to the big, muscular, yet lean HWs) in our crew club can pull good erg scores, but can't move the boat anywhere near as well. I guess the best way to put this is that their fitness, even if at the level of someone that's 30 or 40 pounds lighter, does not make up for having to move that extra 30 or 40 pounds. Think of a 30 or 40 pound weight just plopped into the bottom of the shell.<br /><br />Not so on the erg.<br /><br />Regards ... Mark<br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />I know Mark, <br /><br />I only wanted to say that being good on the erg can only be done If you are ver wel trained and thus being lean. No matter being lgtw or hwgt. <br />Heater says : "I really found it striking this weekend just how many people at the CRASH-B's that were pulling really good times were also really fat"<br />She will have a differant perspective of good times than me I gues. <br />Being overweight will always hinder you performance, and offcause on the water it will be even worse.

[[old] mpukita]

<!--quoteo(post=57656:date=Feb 28 2006, 09:47 AM:name=hjs)--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(hjs @ Feb 28 2006, 09:47 AM) </b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'>I know Mark, <br /><br />I only wanted to say that being good on the erg can only be done If you are ver wel trained and thus being lean. No matter being lgtw or hwgt. <br />Heater says : "I really found it striking this weekend just how many people at the CRASH-B's that were pulling really good times were also really fat"<br />She will have a differant perspective of good times than me I gues. <br />Being overweight will always hinder you performance, and offcause on the water it will be even worse.<br /> </td></tr></table><br />Yes, I understand ... no category winners are going to be overweight. But, overweight people can have some surprisingly good scores, which is good for them. If they're losing weight, the fitness benefit still accrues while they are doing so. If they stay overweight, at least they are training their heart to be strong to support the extra weight and the work it needs to be doing.<br />

[[old] hjs]

<!--quoteo(post=57657:date=Feb 28 2006, 03:50 PM:name=mpukita)--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(mpukita @ Feb 28 2006, 03:50 PM) </b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><br />Yes, I understand ... no category winners are going to be overweight. But, overweight people can have some surprisingly good scores, which is good for them. If they're losing weight, the fitness benefit still accrues while they are doing so. If they stay overweight, at least they are training their heart to be strong to support the extra weight and the work it needs to be doing.<br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />yep Erging is a very friendly exercise. It almost doesn,t matter in what kind off shape your in, you can always erg. Nice <br />

[[old] mpukita]

<!--quoteo(post=57658:date=Feb 28 2006, 09:54 AM:name=hjs)--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(hjs @ Feb 28 2006, 09:54 AM) </b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--quoteo(post=57657:date=Feb 28 2006, 03:50 PM:name=mpukita)--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(mpukita @ Feb 28 2006, 03:50 PM) </b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><br />Yes, I understand ... no category winners are going to be overweight. But, overweight people can have some surprisingly good scores, which is good for them. If they're losing weight, the fitness benefit still accrues while they are doing so. If they stay overweight, at least they are training their heart to be strong to support the extra weight and the work it needs to be doing.<br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />yep Erging is a very friendly exercise. It almost doesn,t matter in what kind off shape your in, you can always erg. Nice <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />That is a good part about it ... and I see that the kids in our club who are not gifted athletes or are overweight take great satisfaction in their performanc in the indoor events. It's a chance for them to experience some success, maybe even win. It's very nice to watch. I also see that their teammates are very supportive and encouraging because they know how important it is. Very, very nice.

[[old] Ben Rea]

sure, why not? as long as im having fun doing what i do.

[[old] Afterburner]

<!--quoteo--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--quotec-->Can you explain how fat will help improve our performances on the erg? Muscle and height I do understand but fat ???? No I can,t see any pluses.<br /><br />And can you also point out some very good race's done bye fat people?, I haven,t seen any myself my hole life. </td></tr></table><br /><br />Actually a few extra pounds I find can help because you can just toss the weight around, it's an inertia thing. (This is speaking from my experience as a 175lb rower) As for the good races, well I was watching some of the top junior women, and I gotta I was not the only one commenting on the fact that a number of those girls pulling the fastest times could stand to lose a few lbs. Mind you when I made my post I was not referring to the grossly obese category of person, more the category that could stand to lose about 20lbs and get nice and lean.<br />I will definitely agree that it is nice that you can erg at any weight. I benefited greatly from this, but I'm also very glad now that there is the LW class.<br /><br />Heather

[[old] ljwagner]

The competitions, or certain groups, could use a different drag factor based on weight. That would simulate the effect of otw rowing, and be an equalizer to for in-shape LWs vs the heavier people in poorer condition. <br /><br /> If DF won't be used, they should group people in 5 or 10 pound categories as in wrestling. So they end up with 15 or so weight categories. More winners.<br /><br /> Or use some nice statistic that computes power divided by weight.

[[old] hjs]

<!--quoteo(post=57685:date=Feb 28 2006, 06:28 PM:name=Afterburner)--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Afterburner @ Feb 28 2006, 06:28 PM) </b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--quoteo--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--quotec-->Can you explain how fat will help improve our performances on the erg? Muscle and height I do understand but fat ???? No I can,t see any pluses.<br /><br />And can you also point out some very good race's done bye fat people?, I haven,t seen any myself my hole life. </td></tr></table><br /><br />Actually a few extra pounds I find can help because you can just toss the weight around, it's an inertia thing. (This is speaking from my experience as a 175lb rower) As for the good races, well I was watching some of the top junior women, and I gotta I was not the only one commenting on the fact that a number of those girls pulling the fastest times could stand to lose a few lbs. Mind you when I made my post I was not referring to the grossly obese category of person, more the category that could stand to lose about 20lbs and get nice and lean.<br />I will definitely agree that it is nice that you can erg at any weight. I benefited greatly from this, but I'm also very glad now that there is the LW class.<br /><br />Heather<br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />My remark wasn't mend to be rude, but To be realy good you need to be top shape and not overweight. The girls you mention are simply not that well trained, if you are 20 pound overweight there is lot of room to improve. <br />About the tossing your weight around, i don,t know what you mean but fat is dead tissue, it helps in no way and you have to drag it up and down. It will never help.<br /><br /><br /><!--quoteo(post=57692:date=Feb 28 2006, 06:44 PM:name=ljwagner)--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(ljwagner @ Feb 28 2006, 06:44 PM) </b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'>The competitions, or certain groups, could use a different drag factor based on weight. That would simulate the effect of otw rowing, and be an equalizer to for in-shape LWs vs the heavier people in poorer condition. <br /><br /> If DF won't be used, they should group people in 5 or 10 pound categories as in wrestling. So they end up with 15 or so weight categories. More winners.<br /><br /> Or use some nice statistic that computes power divided by weight.<br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />If we do this and also take the height, which is as important as weight we all are in differant categorie's and we are all Champions <br />Should we also make height ajustments for the highjump at the olympics or weightcat. , for the shotput. enz enz.<br /><br />That is not what I like to See. The best men or woman should win. <br />