The short version

All right, all right, all right, shaddup!

Dad Vail is a huge race, where some fast crews can come out from. IRAs usually have a slot open for a few boats from Vails. Steve H said it best from the previous comment section, and I think his words should settle anything. Vails have fast crews. Fast like Harvard or Princeton or Cal? Perhaps not in the 8, but damn fast. Earn a medal at Vails, and you've accomplished something noteworthy. On the order as the world championships, IRAs or Henley? No, but it's still a great accomplishment.

One more time on the club vs school "debate": There is none. Line up their best 8 vs your best 8 and go race. In high school, that's not unfair to anyone, because the kids have been rowing for the same period of time, give or take a year. But lining up Pitt's novices vs the Yale freshman boat and you've got an unfair advantage for the Yale kids; most Yale freesh have been rowing for three years before they came to college, whereas the Pitt freesh are all walk-ons, learning the sport. So, there is a difference at the collegiate level and should be different leagues to reflect that difference, in my opinion.

This Saturday, two boats each club: Central Catholic, Fox Chapel and Pitt Crew. Jay Hammond and I will come up with seedings, but I will be starting the Pitt boats towards the end of the pack. From the top of the island below the dam to the 31st street bridge. No rating caps. Two buoys, under the 62nd street bridge and at the turn above the power lines. Cut a buoy, get DQ'd. With 6 boats, it's going to be head race style, but the idea of starting everyone even is tempting, very tempting.....

This should, I hope, put an end to the smack talking. I'm going to punish Emily for throwing gasoline on the fire and starting all this anyway. The betting line will come out later this week.

Categories: Pitt, FC, Regattas, Rowing, Juniors

The Zen of Swing

Swing is the mythical moment in rowing. When the energy an oarsman puts into the boat seems to perfectly propel the hull forward, when the crew moves in unison and the boat slides over the water, when the output seems to generate more energy and a grueling pace seems infinitely sustainable, a boat and the rowers aboard feel "swing."

This afternoon, I hope the Pitt women's 4 found such a moment. It looked like it from the launch. Technique may not be perfect or the boat may not be absolutely set. But swing is the feeling of a crew coming together and understanding how much potential there might be. Swing is the realization that a team is not simply the sum of the erg scores or heights on paper, but something much more.

Swing is trust. Trust between the individual rowers, and between the crew and coxswain. Trust that everyone is doing their job and you only have to worry about doing your own. Trust that you can do your own and the boat will fly because of everyone.

The moment of swing is the moment seared into the memory; a moment to be relived in recollection. I can remember many such moments throughout my own career: a late-fall row after dark in Connecticut, a Norwich row that developed a rhythm that could be sustained long after the 7 miles were gone, a straight pair row over glass-smooth water, the first time I was in a boat that set perfectly.

As a fat, retired oarsman, I won't feel swing again. But as a coach, one of my callings is to help create as many such moments as I can, because such moments stay with rowers forever.

Categories: Motivational, Rowing, Pitt, Technique, Teamwork, Photo

Why I love doing this

This morning's practice with Pitt was a great outing. Smooth water, two 8s, let's go long. With only two boats, I got a better opportunity to actually coach technique. Usually, with multiple 4 rolling around everywhere, I can't get close enough without waking the hell out of another boat. Then there's the little matter of the lighting. There is none.

Understand, it's dark when we launch. Not "dawn breaking," dead middle of the night dark. The boats are lit with white bow lights and flashing red stern lights. The launch is lit according to Coast Guard rules; red on port bow, green on starboard bow and white all-around light on the stern. In addition, our launches have powerful hand-held spotlights. The only way I can see what's happening is to use the spot on the blades or the oarsmen.

I know that I haven't been saying much to the Pitt kids. It's been a complicated process, getting into the system. I haven't been able to learn names as fast, because I can't see anyone on the water. Bodies are just a shape. I don't see faces until we are landing. Secondly, I don't want to give contrary adjustments. Daniel has done a great job with this team and I don't want to screw up any progress. The kids are a little touchy about any differences in style, so I have to really edit myself. Finally, I'm still learning this style of rowing by watching the kids and talking to Daniel.

Anyway, I saw good improvement during today's practice, not only in the boats but in my own work. Only two boats make it easier to get really close and give more pointers. Also, I've just about got everyone figured out, who rushes, who needs catch work and who opens too early. Plus, I was really excited by the distance they are capable of when going long distance in 8s. Starting just a little before 6am, they powered up to the dam (about 3.2 miles), then turned and rowed to PNC park (about 4.5 miles) then returned to the dock (another 1.5 mile). Good, powerful strokes the whole time, finished at 7:10am.

I know the guys are a little frustrated, because the boats weren't perfect and had some rough moments. What does one expect when two seat can't see what stroke is doing? Sure, there might have been some rough moments, but I took some good positives from this practice and came off the water very encouraged. Any Pitt rowers reading this should be as well.

Categories: Rowing, Coaching, Pitt, Technique

Music in Rowing

Perhaps its because rhythm is so important in the sport. Perhaps because rowers constantly search for a piece of music that inspires them and fits perfectly in time on the catches of an erg piece. Perhaps that internal "mental soundtrack" that many of us have needs something dramatic whenever sport is involved.

I've only heard of one coach that frowned upon music during practice, and I had to row for him. Todd Jesdale refused to let us listen to anything during practice. 6x500m, 20min erg tests or 60min A1 hours, the only thing we had to listen to was the roaring of our model B ergs. (Yes, I am that old.) My only act of defiance was brining in a diskman (yes, those were invented) during my 6am extra work I did the winter of my senior year. That's just too early in the morning not to listen to something, especially when I was working out alone. (One particularly depressing morning found me the only person in the place, as it was in the middle of a 7" snowstorm. School was cancelled, but I got in my two practices. What a freak...)

Anyway, what's my point of this post? I'm not sure, like many before this.

The guys did give me a disk of their favorite erging music today. I have to admit that there's finally some rap music that I like to hear. Perhaps because I associate it with watching the boys slaving away on the machines.

Categories: Rowing, Coaching, Training, Ergometers, Memories

Practice

The Varsity has no practice today 10-7-05 due to SAT's. Novices should come at their normal time. Also there will be a 6k 10-10-05 every one is encouraged to come down and spin the erg at some point to get ready.

Categories: FC, Rowing

Pandemonium Any One????

Four weeks until the next race and two crack headed coaches with a lot of unanswered questions, is a sure recipe for bedlam. Over the next four weeks don’t have any expectations for anything to run as normal. Lineups go down the drain along with convention, but hey sometimes that seems to work best. About the only things that Jay and I can guarantee you to happen before the Jack Speakmon are that there will be a 6k and a whole lot of chaos. But don’t be alarmed, we do have a method to our madness. There will be reasoning (no matter how obscure it may be) behind our insanity. You may not understand it, but that’s the point. We only ask you go out pull on the oar and let things fall into place. Suggestions any one?

Categories: Rowing, Coaching

Head of the Ohio Results

This is my third year coaching teams competing in the Head of the Ohio. In 2003, I was too hyped up, having just started coaching, to really complain about dismal timing mistakes. In addition, I was too cold; the weather was terrible and I hadn't started my current collection of foul weather gear. In 2004, I wasn't the only coach to harangue the management of Three Rivers about the timing. The operations manager had a haggard, gun-shy look about him for weeks afterward.

This year was supposed to be different. The same timing company that works the Head of the Charles was here to set the Ohio straight. Everyone knew that attendance at this race was down, partly because of the timing fiascos. From 900 entries in 2003 to just over 530 this year, Three Rivers really needed this race to run smoothly. The weather even cooperated this year. Then came the results.

I mean no disrespect to the South Niagara rowing club. They are talented, fast and well trained. However: a high school varsity coxed 4 isn't capable of navigating a 2.75 mile racecourse in 14:28. Not when varsity 8s are pulling times in the low 14 minute range. That just isn't possible. If that is true, then those boys need to be signed up, right now, to the Canadian Olympic team, because that's faster than anybody in any 4 anywhere.

While Jesse and I were digesting this little bit of news, we noticed the winner of the women's high school singles. I know Suzanne Maddamma. Her talent was apparent this past summer, when she cleaned up at USRowing Nationals. However, if she went 10:28 down that course, then people on shore would have noticed the rooster tail of water the wake of her boat would have produced. The results were later corrected, but I want to know what (moron) official signed off on that result in the first place. What is even more lunatic is the fact, admitted by Suzanne, that she got passed in her race.

As I write this, a time still has not been posted for the Fox Chapel heavy men, who raced in the open 8 event. Everyone on the course saw them, they had a bownumber and the club has a receipt for the (ridiculous) entry fee. However, no time. I expect they came in 4th, after Cornell 8, based upon their time trials. How do I know what the time was? How could I trust that time if it ever emerges?

The FC lightweights did well, with a 14:23. On par with time trials, a good race. There's still boat speed to be found there, and I'll continue to try some things out.

I'm very pleased with the performance of Pittsburgh's light 4s. Both men and women pulled second place finishes, after multiple races earlier in the day. There is still a lot of work to be addressed whenever the Pitt guys get into an 8. Losing to a high school shouldn't be acceptable to any college oarsmen, anywhere. The open 4 left a little to be desired; I want to never, ever lose to Duquesne or any other Pittsburgh-based crew. Just call me a little competitive.

The pairs. The pairs. The pairs need work.

I'm writing this now, so there will be a record. Any crew I'm associated with should not return to this race next year. The entry fees were un-capped, so many crews paid $1000 for the right to row the course and have the results screwed up for the third year in a row. The regatta ran late, on a beautiful, calm day. I can only imagine the Cornell team getting off the bus in Ithaca sometime this morning. Three Rivers was still scrambling for launch drivers the day before the regatta, while docking a "Stewards Enclosure" at the finish line in an attempt to squeeze more money out of the race. Fellows, news flash: There is only one "Stewards Enclosure" worth the name anywhere in the world, and you have to earn your way into that one.

This may be a "home" race, but it seems more comfortable to travel on this weekend next year.

Categories: Regattas, Rowing, Pitt, FC, Coaching