Trust

Flat water, almost like glass.  Due to several people’s work schedules, yesterday’s evening practice was moved to this morning.  We had 1 men’s single and 1 eight with the same line-up as Saturday and Monday out on the water.

We warmed-up from the finger to the log boom with some 10s and the cut-the-cake arms away drill.  Then, we did an interesting drill by bow four and stern four where the four rowers would start at the finish and come up the slide with their blades buried the whole way and then at the catch, switch directions and pull.  The drill is meant to practice slide control as it is difficult to rush up the slide when your blade is buried and pushing against the water.  Anybody know the name of this drill??

From the boathouse to the finger, we practiced starts.  None of the starts felt particularly together, but we were able to hit the 40spm that Chris asked for on the last start and five high.  We need a little more work on the first two strokes of our start.  The main piece today was a progressive rate piece, focusing on patience up the slide and quick hands out of bow.  The piece started at a rate of 18spm, and every 15-20 strokes, we increased the rate by two beats until a 36spm.  I had a hard time shifting from a 30spm to a 32spm; I could not feel enough power in the boat through the drive to bring up the rate with the legs.  The 32spm eventually came around, but with an abbreviated layback and quicker hands out of bow.  We hit the 34spm and almost hit the 36spm, but sat mostly at 35spm.  When we all sit up tall and have quick hands out of bow, the 34-35spm is not too bad.  Chris then, asked for a 38spm.  Well, that did not come so easily.  It took almost 10 strokes at a 37spm before I could hit a 38spm.  We were all so relieved when Chris called the paddle. I had a few curses for Chris in my head.

Today, Chris mentioned several things worth repeating here.  There are two general types of rowers—technicians and hammers.  Technicians are rowers who have good technique and finesse.  Hammers are rowers who are powerful, but who are killing fish by hammering away at the water.  Of course, the best type of rower is someone who is both technician and hammer.  On our team, we all have an idea or perception about ourselves and everyone else on who is more of a technician or more of a hammer.  What we have to remember is that for an eight, it is about the sum of all rowers, not about who is what.  It is about making the best with what we have.  We all have to TRUST that each and every one of us is putting out her best on the line, no matter technician or hammer.  Traditionally, we have been a fly-and-die type of crew, something that I personally abhor.  The accumulation of lactic acid during the “fly” part makes the rest of the race almost unbearable.  Chris emphasized that we have to race at a high rate, 32spm or higher, but we have to also understand our own pacing.  We are probably not going to race at a 34 or 35spm because our fitness is not at that level; we would need a lot more mileage on the water and erg for that.  We do need to remember that when things get hard, we have to have fast hands out of bow, no hesitation.

When we were practicing starts, Chris asked us which seat is the most important.  Hmm, you’d think that every seat is important, but apparently, six seat is the most important seat.  Ideally, six seat protects stern pair and protects bow five.  Six seat protects stern pair by controlling the rush from bow five, thus allowing stern pair to work on rhythm.  Six seat protects bow five from the stern pair when stern pair is setting a really crappy rhythm; six seat is suppose to smooth out the rhythm.  Chris might be a little biased to six seat, the seat which he did row a lot in.  Perfect, now when I feel the rush come barreling up the stern, right to me, I can be peeved at six seat.  Somewhere during his homage to six seat, Chris mentioned his great confidence in this stern pair.  Oh, shit.  Do I need to reiterate my SDCC story?!