Advice for rowing?
Rowing is a fantastic sport, and in my lifetime I have tried many sports and none have been as emotional as rowing. I recommend to begin with you try to get some experience on the water, having a paddle down the river with your mates. If there is a "fun" part of rowing, it's the sunny days working in a team with your crewmates getting your boat to skim across the water. I put "fun" in inverted commas because for 90% of the time you will be in pain. If you aren't you probably aren't doing it right. Once your club/school gets you on the rowing machines you should get a feel for the effort world champions put in. A 2k test for example may well become your biggest nightmare. Rowing is a very mental as well as physical sport, being able to muster up courage is crucial to success. However!!! To answer your questions, no it's not hard to get into. You will see yourself bulk up and get faster times quickly, which is hugely satisfying. My advice is to start now, and see where it takes you.
How can I get better at rowing?
Hey girl, I know how you feel. I'm a lightweight rower and pull a 2:04 2k, which is like 8 seconds higher than most of the people on my team. *Improving Erg Score* I would recommend doing the 500 meter pieces like others suggested. We also do something at my boathouse called "Blasters." It is hell on earth, but I have improved so much. If you haven't heard of it, Blasters is a piece where you go 1 min on 1 min off x 8, 40 sec on 1 min off x 8, and 30 sec on 1 min off x 8. There are different rate caps on each piece, but I think my coach decides on them as we go. The point of the piece is to go as hard as you possibly can, and like my coach says, to "break" the erg. I haven't been able to go below 1:57 yet, but some girls on my team are at 1:40's. As much as I hate this piece, it really has helped my 6k a lot. *Losing Weight* I am really paranoid about my weight since nationals this summer because I went from 122 lbs to 129 in one week. It is really hard to diet as a lightweight rower since you need lots of energy and carbs, but you don't want too much. What I have done is I eat 5 small meals a day instead of 3 big ones. It has brought up my metabolism a bunch. Don't go above 2000 calories a day, but don't eat too much under it either. Avoid trans fats too. I also don't drink anything but water and Crystal Light and I don't eat fried things anymore. I am a sucker for desert, so if you can't live without your sugary treats, buy sugar free pudding by the Jello brand, or anything from the brand Skinny Cow. I also eat a bunch of fruit all the time. This has resulted in me losing 15 lbs and I am now 114, but it did take me about 3 months of work. I also recommend going on runs. I hated running, but after starting doing it enough, I really enjoy it. Hope I helped! :)
Why do I like rowing?
You like rowing because you're of a rare breed. You have something that sets you apart. You can't put a single word to it but many try. Determination, hard work, commitment, integrity, the list goes on. You chose to persevere through hard times. You weren't naturally gifted, your team wasn't on a trajectory set for victory, and you had no support system. And yet you stayed.Through the decision to stay, you grew as a human being. You ask WHY you like rowing, but the answer is resting inside. You like rowing because it showed you who you are, who you want to be, and introduced you to yourself. It put a mirror in front of you and you learned what you do when the tide is not in your favor and how you respond.Most people don't have a moment like that their entire lives or they do and they back down. You chose to stay and you're being rewarded for it. Revel in the feeling of knowing who you are and seek to pursue it further. Never rest on what you've accomplished but don't hesitate to carry yourself with pride.
Anybody from Boise into rowing?
I just moved back to the area and want to find a crew rowing club, or start one. Are there any established community rowing clubs in the area (not college)? Is there anyone with experience in sculling or sweep rowing, or interest in learning? Does anyone have any ideas how I would go about starting a club in the Boise area?
HELP!!!! crew people please!!! (the rowing sport)?
It totally depends on how your body deals with muscle. You will have super tones legs (probably not HUGE thighs), and most girls don't get a massive upper body shape, but once again, toned. You gain weight, but don't freak out, that's only from muscle replacing fat! It is one of the best ways to get into shape becuase it's low impact, good for the body. You'll have a rock hard butt ;] It's worth the training if you are into it and enjoy it. Once you get the hang of things and start racing, it's super super worth it. Plus, the people in rowing are fantastic and really fun to hang out with. Go for it! you've got nothing to lose, you'll never know if you'll like it or not if you don't give it a shot ;] plus your friends will think you're awesome.
How hard is to make a rowing team ?
Most college rowing teams are fairly easy to make. The challenge is going to be getting into a good boat that goes to the more prestigious races. Generally, rowing teams rely on the intense time committment and physical demands of the sport, and being in non-competitive boats to cull their numbers. Rowing requires at least 20 hours per week. Further, mens rowing is not NCAA santioned so there is no rule requiring a day off every week. Northeastern is one of the more elite crews in college rowing and they do have a number of rowers who have been recruited to their team with scholarship money who rowed in high school. Generally, the varsity boats will consist of all experienced, recruited rowers. However, the smaller boats, and JV/Novice boats are usually more open. The down side is that you may be relegated to local races only. It may be painful for you to be stuck in the Boston cold watching your teammates travel to the San Diego Crew Classic, The IRA's, or maybe even Henley, knowing you worked just as hard, but didn't make the top boat. Then there are the politics. Like many sports, coaches tailor to the top athletes. So practice schedules are generally tailored to fit the recruited athletes, and they are generally afforded greater slack when the miss practice, etc. Not to mention the social pecking order. Walk-ons are usually held to a higher standard for being committed to the team, attending all practices, rowing through injuries, etc. All based on the narrow margin by which a walk-on rower can be seated in a varsity boat. I don't want to discourage you from the sport. I've known people who picked it up in college and made the Olympic team, but this is the exception. Rowing is a great way to experience college sports, challenge yourself physically, and develop discipline. But it is also a huge time commitment and can be a drag on your academics, especially if you are at a competitive university like Northeastern. Good luck
How do I get into indoor rowing?
First, make sure you have access to a Concept2 indoor rowing machine. Not necessarily a plug for them, but because they're the world standard for indoor rowing machines you'll be starting on the machine that will allow you to progress, move properly, and give you measurable results that you can track and compare to anyone else around the world via the Concept2 Online Logbook. So that's your start, but seriously getting into it takes some focus. Phase 1: Start with the basics. I've never seen anyone (literally anyone) sit down on a rowing machine the first time and do it correctly. Running is a natural movement so most anyone can run pretty easily, but rowing is a learned movement to be done correctly. It's critical that if you want to get into indoor rowing you start by learning fundamentals so you have a strong base on which to build. Spend at least 15 minutes a day doing this. It will pay off in spades. Phase 2: Find a program and a community that works for you. There are plenty of online programs that will give you workouts but this is just the tip of the iceberg. Make sure what you use is accessible, fun, and doesn't burn you out. Most people can handle 2 days a week of rowing when they're getting started but programs will have them on the machine 4 - 5 days a week and unless you're head over heels in love with it, you can burn out pretty quickly. Also, having a community behind you, whether online or in person is an easy way to get and stay motivated as you progress. Dark Horse Rowing has been built with this exact concept in mind.Phase 3: Find some indoor competitions that tickle your fancy. Row'd Royalty, Atlanta Sprints, and the mac daddy of indoor races C.R.A.S.H.-B.'s are all good examples of indoor races where you can showcase your stuff. Most importantly make sure you've having fun with it. It's a great workout and can be a ton of fun if you find something that clicks for you.
What should a beginner know before rowing?
Are you rowing at the club level? If so, you don't have to know anything. If your coaching staff is any good, they will teach you everything technically you need to know. You will quickly learn after a few hard workouts if rowing is right for you. The only real key to sucess in rowing is the ability to manage physical and mental sufferring.That said, if you stick with rowing novice (collegiate first year) at *any* program is usually an fantastic experience. It quickly gets under your skin for multiple reasons.First, you are sharing the experience with a group of like-minded people. You will spend much of your time with them, workout with them, party with them, share in victory and defeat.Second, the workout induced suffering and the highs and lows of competition creates a truly powerful espirit de corps. You will never forget your first gold medal. On the other hand you will never forget your most bitter defeat or that one time you quit on a workout.Third, you will get in incredible shape. You will see results within weeks and you will likely never loose the fitness mindset. Rowing is one of the most intense and well rounded physical fitness programs. Almost every other workout routine will become easy.Fourth, rowing itself is an awesome activity. Balancing power and control is the essence of rowing. There is nothing so exhilerating and powerful and balanced and nearly out of control than finally feeling the boat moving almost effortlessly through the water as if you are just tapping it along with explosive cannon fire.The bottom line: join the team for at least one year. Give everything you got and you won't regret it.
I got accepted into Stanford and I want to join the rowing team. Do I wait till I get there or is there something I should do now?
Immediately (right Now) go to one of these web sites:male: GoStanford.com | Stanford Athleticsfemale: GoStanford.com | Stanford Athleticsor female Light Weight: GoStanford.com | Stanford Athleticsand read it All, then contact the coach. Tell the coach you are an Enrolled Freshman and will be starting at Stanford this Fall and want to tryout for the Crew (rowing) team. The coach should have a list of Summer exercises and routines that she/he expects each returning team member to have done. Get that and Work on it.All the best.