"Bumpy" is a word that has been popping up in many interviews and news reports linked in our daily news, and we got a look at why this is this morning as the sea breeze off Copacabana Beach laid a moderate but steady crosswind on the course. This wind leaves the top of the course in decent shape, and the second half, well, "bumpy." Add to that the crosshatch of wakes that are always a part of crowded training sessions, and you do have some stuff to contend with to get your strokes in.
It was an overcast morning to boot, with the Redentor going in and out of cloud banks; even so, the natural beauty of the spot was barely diminished.
Getting the topic out of the way, nearly every crew I saw using water bottles was storing them in sealed plastic bags, taking them out to get a drink, and putting them back in the bags. That said, the photographers ringing the finish line area were all saying "I don't know, it just doesn't seem that bad," which was my impression last year. As I wrote about last year (here and here),and the water is very clear again this year such that you can see several feet down near the shore. I have surfed in way worse, no question. Of course, caution is the parent of security, and crews seem to be smartly adhering to best practices.
Crews were doing all kinds of work – some were paddling around, others were doing challenging drills, others were doing low rating/full power work, others were doing starts every time they got underway. Some did quick outings up and back; others were out for three or four roundtrips, and sometimes came back for more (and Some were relaxed enough to be chewing gum). Many crews are doing two morning practices and heading back to the athletes' village; with a 30-40 minute bus ride each way, this keeps them from spending hours on the buses each day.
The Olympic entry lists are heavy on singles and two-person boats, and with the course opening at 7am, the lanes were packed with small boats from end to end. Conditions were still pretty favorable until around 8:30, so they got the best of the water for sure.
Emma Twigg has the art of spin-and-go down pat; she was so quick to turn around and get gone back up the course it reminded me of Larry Klecatsky getting in trips at NYAC on his lunch break from the ER, whew.
In the choppier late morning session, the US light women's double took one trip down the course about a length ahead of Mahe Drysdale, and seemed to have a bit more bounced in their step holding him off and pulling away a little toward the finish line. The two crews may have conferred a bit over the finish line; there were some smiles, so it seemed like things were all good.
The Australian men's four was doing some starts, but with a twist; they would sit at bodies over with blades buried, back the boat down together up to about ¾ slide, stop and let the blades load against the backward momentum of the boat, and then execute the start.
For the US teams, it was "college uni" day; check out the galleries to see (most) folks in their uni unis. Cheering for the men's pair is still the easiest cheer by a longshot.
As was the case in 2012, the Canadian crews are all painted up save for the inclusion of the maple leaf on their blades; the maple leaf is reserved for athletes who make the national team, and for (at least) the past two Olympics the Canadians have left this final touch until the very last.
Coxswains who want to learn the art of not flying around in the stern of their boat would do well to watch seven-time Olympian Lesley Thompson-Willie in the Canadian women's eight; she manages to have nearly perfect posture while still looking like she is part of the hull.
Doubles are often extremely satisfying but ultimately tricky and demanding boats; most of the crews out on the water today were pretty business-like, without a lot of discussion or kvetching at the turnaround points – but those that were doing so were mostly doubles. The trend defied nationality, boat class, gender, everything; it's the boat.
Those crews that learned they would compete at the Olympics only last week after the large-scale Russian doping eliminations are actually looking pretty competent and focused; you have to imagine their fitness might be a bit off, but you would not notice any obvious problems from watching them row by.
In yesterday's report, we noted that there weren't really many signs of folks with hammers making makeshift repairs at the Olympic Park; unfortunately this wasn't the case at the rowing venue, as welders were working on photo position stages, applying circular saws to dock ramps, and more. These are mostly just cosmetic fixes, however, and there are heaps of significant improvements and changes from last year's test event, such that it is hard at times to remember what the venue looked like last year.
Certainly foremost of these is what I believe to be the first-ever full 2k (plus a bit at either end) cabled skycam system, which runs directly over the middle lane line for the entire length of the course. Attached to two towers at either end, the cable cam is fast and formidable, and the footage may well be amazing.
This innovation was probably right in Rio's bailiwick, specializing as it does in getting people up to very high heights to see the views; the double tram system at Pão de Açucar (Sugarloaf Mountain) makes the rowing cam system look like a kid's Lego invention.
The absence of the intended but never realized floating grandstands opposite the finish tower created a challenge for getting seats into the venue that was largely addressed by going up; the tricky part will be that none of the seats are covered, so if it rains, everyone is wet; fans, families, media, TV people, everyone.
Dress rehearsals start tomorrow morning, beginning with an hour of officials running and testing the start system while crews pull in and get a feel for the system; these are always entertaining to watch as all manner of different crews pull in and fire off a start together – light women's doubles alongside men's eights alongside women's quads alongside singles.
After that comes the spares races, which will feature full starts, 2k races, and a complete medal ceremony rehearsal; these are often intense and riveting races for reasons that run really deep and difficult.
Despite the Olympics happening in mere days time, the club rowing life goes on on the Lagoa; rowers from the local clubs bolted across the Lagoa ring road with oars to use the stationary dock rowing seats a short distance from the starting line. Way to keep training, future Olympians!
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08/04/2016 9:54:47 AM
Incidentally, thanks again for the terrific coverage.