Pre-HRR report from row2k's foreign correspondent:
Our genial hosts moved their children out of their bedrooms for we visitors to use. Guest A climbed into his bed, and seconds later the side he was on collapsed with a bang. Too tired with jet lag to get up, he rolled up and over to the other side, only to have that side crash to the floor as well. Oh well.
Todd Jesdale is here with a very good Shrewsbury School eight in the PE. We spoke about the length of day here in June in England, and he reflected on the shortness of days in December. We furhter explained the variance in sunrise/sunset times from one side to the other of any solstice in terms of outward v. lateral pitch. Rowing concepts can explain anything.
Some interesting potential match-ups of US crews, if they are successful in advancing, are the Princeton vs. Stanford 1Vs in the Ladies second round, and the Cornell lights vs. Cal Frosh in the Temple. The PE always seems to find a match of geographically close US crews, this year it is Belmont Hill vs. St. Johns HS, two crews from eastern MA, seeing each other in the 1st round.
I am reminded of the Henley "illusion" of crews looking like they are working hard, but not passing by with much speed. I forget about the current of the Thames, which makes crews look fantastic warming up, and not so speedy down the course.
I enjoy listening to the different manners of coaching, and the effect on the crews. This may promote a stereotype, but lots of US boats row with great force and not much finesse, and their coaches are often hollering things like "go" "more" "get after it" "give it" etc. Many euro crews have great finesse without much energy, while, or is it whilst, their coaches speak of "feeling the sleeve set in the lock before we place," "feel out the rhythm," "careful coming forward," "a little more pace with the hands" etc. This observer feels that there is real speed somewhere between the two. Now and again a crew passes that has finesse and force both, and that is nice to see.
Cheers,
Foreign Correspondent Roock
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