row2k Features
Technique Feature: Get Back to Basics While Racing Is Not Possible
April 23, 2020
Charlotte Hollings, Calm Waters Rowing

I've had a theory knocking about in my head for many years. No data behind it, just anecdotal evidence and common sense, but it might just be a way to make lemonade out of the lemons we're dealing with now.

My theory goes something like this: "Racing makes us worse technical rowers". When our goal is to race, we focus more on training and less on technique, often ingraining bad habits that, over time, can be very difficult to eradicate.

Over the years I've seen people that have been stand outs on the erg but then are thrown too quickly into racing on the water. The coach is so excited about their ability to produce power that instead of allowing them to spend a year developing their technique with the novices, they're thrust into rowing too hard too soon. They then have a very difficult time ever gaining the technical ability needed to put that erg strength into the boat.

I've also seen people who, perhaps because of injury or maybe in transitioning from sweep to sculling, decide to take a year off from racing. Spending the year doing steady state and technique allows them to finally break old bad habits. I was reminded of this just recently, seeing someone we had coached here at Calm Waters many times over the past 10 years.

Let the single be your coach
Let the single be your coach

Last year, due to an injury, we missed seeing her but this year, she was rowing better than I had ever seen her row. Because of the injury, subsequent surgery and then rehab from the surgery, she hadn't been able to row hard all year. She switched to rowing the single exclusively, focusing on technique since she could only do so much power, and became more much comfortable and competent in the single.

Spring and even some summer racing has been cancelled, so now could be a good time to step back from the high intensity interval training and go back to the basics. It's much easier to relax and loosen up when rowing at a lower intensity. Relax the grip, keep the arms and shoulders loose, stay light on the footstretchers and flow through the stroke.

While everyone has been banned from team boat rowing (unless you're fortunate enough to live with your rowing partner), if you are able to row alone where you are, this could also be the perfect time to dedicate yourself to the single. We like to say that the single can be your coach; it will tell you when you're doing something wrong. No blaming the dip to port on someone else; in the single, it's all you.

If you don't have a single, you can still work plenty of technique on the erg. And if you don't have access to an erg, pull up some rowing videos and start visualizing how you want to row. Rowing is a very technical sport so any bad habits you can erase, any good habits you can pick up, will make you faster.

Stay safe and stay well!

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Comments

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pmckeon
04/23/2020  1:47:58 PM
1 people like this
As the East German coaching manual says: "the single ruthlessly reveals all weaknesses."


Charlotte
05/06/2020  1:34:03 PM
Couldn't agree more!




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