From the way the novices were eyeballing the ergs on Wednesday night, during their first clinic session, it was hard to imagine that a short three practices later they would not only be in boats, but would be learning to row all together with feathered blades.
In rowing, as with other sports, you have to start somewhere. The May clinic participants started on a set of four ergometers, where they learned that, in the rowing motion from catch to finish, legs go first, then backs, then arms (then arms, then backs then legs again). They watched the US Rowing safety video (to find out all the ways rowing could go horribly wrong) and they learned to carry a boat without dropping it. They also discovered what all those crazy crew terms — like skeg, rigger, oarlock, port, starboard, bow, stern, way enough, hold it down, stroke, and coxswain — actually meant.
By day two, they were learning to warm up, stretch, and head out on the water. A rower’s arsenal always includes the pick drill, so the novice rowers practiced using their arms first, then arms and backs, then adding in the legs, and finally taking full strokes with square blades. (To see a video of a coach talking about drills with 8+ women, click here.)
On Saturday, crews in the fours worked on setting the boats and learning the pick drills while winds ruffled the West River waters. Sunday provided smooth, beautiful rowing conditions, perfect water for working up to feathered blades and learning to row with all four. Other clinic participants were learning sculling techniques in doubles and singles along the West River. The rowers were so excited about working on sweep that they asked for an extra session in the fours on Wednesday.
Coach Kristin Dawley noted later that the novices had made good progress. “This group of rowers seems great,” she concluded. “I’m so hopeful that they stick with things.”
