We've still got a long way to go. There isn't any hiding that fact. Today's racing made that point clear. I'm pleased by the team's performance in the early racing. However, they faded off by the afternoon. Here are a few points that I have for consideration:
I've already mentioned, but I won't be double-entering anyone on single-day races. Thankfully, there won't be any more such regattas, but today simply made the point.
I'm not pleased by the amount of activity between races. Last year the team would hide out in the tent because of the weather. This past regatta saw rowers out in the sun walking and running around. Those actions don't help recovery for the next race. I hate to say it, but a sunny regatta isn't the place to work on your tan, which doesn't help your hydration. I'd like to see an effort to place the tents and the boats closer together, so the rowers aren't walking so far back and forth.
Everyone needs a water bottle. I'm tired of repeating this point. The club shouldn't be responsible for your water. In addition, it's more expensive to bring in cases of bottles that have to be picked up. Why not a handful of large water tanks/jugs that the rowers fill their own bottles from? Save the envriornment and help your own hydration at the same time.
We need to find a way for each 8+ to get more time rowing together. I'll be looking at that these next few days.
Overall, I'm pleased when I look at the progress the guys' team has made. The teams we faced this weekend are the best of our league and we now have a measure of how far there is to go. I'm heartened by the ratings I observed today. While many teams were basing at 35 to 36, we are still rowing 33 or 32. A rise in cadence, brought about by more time in the boats, will bring more speed naturally.
Yes, we didn't win anything this past weekend. I made a few mistakes in judgement. That's what these early regattas are about; trying some things out, practicing a regatta and learning from our mistakes. I'm not going to spin any results. We've got aways to go, but the improvements we need are possible.
14 comments:
I agree Jay. In my 5 races, we had great starts and great sprints. So that means that the 700 or so meters in the middle, well they're up in the air. I said this all day, we have the strength, we have the talent, we just need to hone in on those key points of problem. Like you said, once we boost the rating, row together a lot more,conserve energy, and make every area of the race an area of proficiency, we will be an even better crew.
Jay has constantly used the phrase "Remember where you've been, conquer where you are going." This is something that should be ringing in the ears of everyone, oarsmen and coxswains alike throughout the race. There is a time to screw around and have a good time and we know when that is. Now is the time to be serious. We've been through fall racing. We've been through winter training; the 6x5's the 2k's the 4x15's. We know where we've been. We are going to the finish line, whether it be 1500,2000, or anything else in between, that is where we are going. That only leaves the middle. We need to start to buckle down. Expectations are high for us and there is no need to meet them. We need to smash them, to excell past any expectation anyone has. Only we as individuals know how well we can row and it's time to push it past even that level. These scrimmages coming up will be a good recovery period, but we need to start to concentrate and put more effort into it now than ever before. That way, we will remember where we've been, conquer where we are going, and beat the hell out of every crew we meet in the middle.
Wow, Drew, I guess you just made up for being nuts yesterday and friday ("Hey, look at my ear..."). I like it.
"we will remember where we've been, conquer where we are going, and beat the hell out of every crew we meet in the middle."
"Expectations are high for us and there is no need to meet them. We need to smash them, to excell past any expectation anyone has. Only we as individuals know how well we can row and it's time to push it past even that level."
Remember that.
One hour of the ear and one hour of the "duck call" still left time to think about what we need to do to be on the top.
Amen Brethren.
Kahn, your point about the starts.
I want them to be better. I want to jump out ahead of a crew at the start. I hate playing catch-up. I know I row better when I am not constantly wondering "how much further till we catch them". It is better when you can see how far THEY have to come to catch YOU.
I think we need to get the first 40 strokes perfect for every boat we race, this includes a perfect start to begin moving the boat, a powerful redicously high high twenty, a monsterous leg drive on the settle stroke, and (here is were rowing together will help) after the settle quickly get into a powerful consisant race cadence to stay ahead of the competition.
"We few, We happy few, We Band of Brothers"
The truth is, whether we come in first or last, its going to hurt like hell. Why not push it past the limit the whole way through the piece and get the entire thing perfect. Yeah the start is important to get the early lead, but its that portion in the middle that will make or break a crew. You can come from behind, you can have someone take you. I don't want to call them trivial, but the start and finish are only a fraction of the entire piece, the meat being the middle. We need to focus on keeping the rating up throughout the piece. We can't be rowing at a 30 when the lead boat is rowing a 37. Let's get our minds straight and really start to focus and we will become great.
I agree with those who said that we need to work on the middle part of the piece. However, I do believe that last year our starts were amazing, we won races because we jumped the line. This year it seems that many other teams have been practicing thier starts and have become much better. Every race that I was in on saturday every boat was dead even off the start, except for a select few who were not up to par with anything to do with rowing.
Drew, I agree. The middle is important, but I somewhat see all winter as working on the middle. The middle is where out hard work should pay off. I know in my races we gained ground in the middle. One thing I loved to say last year was "beat 'um on base pace"
We need to jump at the start and then gain from there in the middle.
Whatever, I feel like I am preaching to the choir. The guys that post know what to do.
I agree that a jump start would be helpful, but I was pissed as hell when, in the varsity 8 race, someone got an interference and we had to start over. Those starters know we want to pull s**t like that. Did anyone notice how long they waited between "attention" and "row"? If we can get the jump down to a science, then we should do it, but until then, we should just pull the hell of out every stroke and have a ligit win.
Let's not get rediculous. Jumping a start has nothing to do with having a successful start. Finishing the strokes on the start is my favorite thing to work on. There is no such thing as a perfect finish, so we all need to work on them. Hands away fast, chill on the slide and then SQUEEZE 1/2. Hands away fast, chill on the slide and then SQUEEZE 3/4...You get the idea.
Novices sometimes get lost when trying to shoot up the rating, the more time we spend focusing on starts and a wicked settle, the better. Getting to a good pace off of a good start is the best. After jumping out ahead of everyone and then walking away on base is the best. That is what we need to do. We all watched the Olympics. The U.S. didn't sprint. They blasted off the start and then walked away at base cadence. That's what we need to do.
For the lightweights, we really really absolutely need to get our base pace up to where it should be. Last year when we were all novices we raced faster than we did on Saturday.
BASE PACE
Exactly, Beat them on base.
I am looking forward to more rows to Cuba and learning to crank the rating higher.
I hope everyone shows up tomorrow!
I think that there is some hesistation in the boats when keeping the rating at higher levels like 35 and 36, cause the slide speeds plumit after the settle 10.
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