Long overdue, here are some of my thoughts in some random order on the Nationals.
Both FC boats did better than I expected. Both should be very proud. I am. FC was in the minority of the clubs there, being one of very few public schools.
Wow, there are some fast crews out there. West coast, anyone? Winners in three of the four eights, the West is fast. Oakland strokes' accomplishment of winning both the women's' 8+ and light women's' 8+ impressed me greatly. What a strong program. The ladies' 8 final was boring. They won, big, without being challenged. An evenly started sprint race finished looking like a head race, the boats were spread out so.
The guys' race was a scramble. Four different crews led that race for significant periods of time, with Ignatious taking the race in the final 500. What a finish. This Nationals will go as one of the best ever.
Anyone notice something? Those west coast crews are assassins in the final 500. Here's why: they get much more water time than anyone in the Midwest or east. When we're still snowed in, Oakland is rowing. This allows those crews to gel earlier and row together as a boat for a long period of time. Add in decent coaching, and the result was self-evident. With that kind of advantage, I expect Western crews to be very good over the next few years until somebody figures out how to counter.
Yes, I'm already thinking.
Categories: Regattas, Rowing, FC
4 comments:
we could always re-locate to the west coast
-just kidding
west siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiide
Well we have floods, they have Michael Jackson and Ahnuld. Plus, we don't have to worry about PA breaking off and floating away any time soon. Take that. Biggy was always crazier than Tupac anyway.
There was a kid in my platoon at my Naval Academy Summer Seminar who road for Oakland Strokes. He was rediculous.
P.S. to the rising juniors, if you have a chance, go to summer seminar next year! it is sweet!
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