Comments on: Step #4 In Your Personal Speed System: Freak Your Technique

By: Mark Borchelt

Mark Borchelt — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:55:07 +0000

Quote from Don Spiro on technique- ” What my college coach (Cornell early 60′s) taught me has served me well. Don’t check the boat down too much at the catch. Don’t miss too much water at the catch and don’t wash out too much at the finish.”

By: Alex

Alex — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 22:29:04 +0000

It is cool, its created by letting the boat run under you. At the finish you pop your handles down and around and relax your legs and you will feel yourself float up to the catch

By: Pat

Pat — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:11:52 +0000

Mike,

Wow, I somehow missed the postings from #5 on. I’m surprised ‘cos your writings and the ensuing conversations have been haunting me! Lots of food for thought. I use the word “fierce” a lot these days!

Really appreciate this one that encourages me to work mindfully on technique and your thoughts about “slow.” Lately I’ve slowed way down (I mean rowing 15K at 12-14 SPM in my single) at a time. I’ve been having this really cool experience, I think, of not only being more powerful (& fast), but also this really “high,” addictive feeling of being “one” with the boat. I THINK I am coming up the slide at the same speed as the boat is moving under me so I have the sense of not moving myself. If my posture is really good and my head is up and I’m tall in the boat, I just feel the boat move under me. It’s a delicious feeling. Every drive is anticipated and every one of them delivers.

Just wonder if you all know what creates this sensation? I’m just guessing re:what I think produces it.

By: Alex

Alex — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 18:00:44 +0000

Rowing slow is dandy and all, and miles are important for re-enforcing good technique and really grooving things in. However I think it’s more beneficial to train as you would race, such as pyramids or castles (they’re both the same thing really) but the on strokes are done at race pace and pressure. Training for a race should be done as you would race, start, rowing then attempt a finish

By: Step #5 In Your Personal Speed System: Rock-solid Equipment I MaxRigging

Step #5 In Your Personal Speed System: Rock-solid Equipment I MaxRigging — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:13:49 +0000

[...] Post 7: Step 4 of Your Personal Speed System: Freak Your Technique [...]

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 04:15:08 +0000

@ Bob, Jim, Justin:

Always nice to hear from technique guys, and Justin thanks for the story on the racing. Good stuff. How did they do in the end?

By: Justin

Justin — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 23:15:13 +0000

As a high school coach I am perpetually re-enforcing technique equals speed, and low rate is a good thing. The program I took over last year was used to racing in the high 30′s from the get go. I asked them to trust me and be willing to row low, hard and technically well. The went out in their first race of the season and conquered their competition at a rate 4 beats lower than everyone else. As a results their development into a 35 at seasons end was more explosive and blistering than everyone else they faced, who had very little room to expand in their rate (and probably technical application).

Thanks for the posts – they been very informative.

By: Jim Rudd

Jim Rudd — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 17:04:36 +0000

As a Lightweight sculler/rower and a coach, I agree with Bob. If the Heavies have it together, it ‘s up to the Rowing God. I practice and preach a lot of Slow. Even on the erg. Mainly it’s a believe I learned from years of Kung Fu. I call it Blue Printing. Helps to move without thinking. I believe in keeping the Pressure on and when the ladies come back smiling at me, I know what happened.

By: Bob

Bob — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 14:58:15 +0000

When it comes to rowing technique, I’ve always been a believer in the ‘go slow to go fast’ theory. It does get your crew efficient. What it can’t do is protect you 100% of the time against the truly bigger, stronger crews even if their form is off a bit. Thoughts ??