Excellent example of the Power of the Slide!!

Here is a video of a young New Zealand crew in an Under 18 championship.  

The crew were all actually under 17 and you should watch this video, look at lane 4 and compare it to lanes 3 and 5.  

​If you don't want to see it all, look as they pass the 1000m marker at 4:24 minutes in the video.  What a difference when you get to 4:55 minutes.

The lesson, Let the boat do the work and only have pressure on the footplate on the recovery if balanced by outward pressure against the gate

The crew in lane 4 and their coach should be congratulated, well done.

​Rhythm in the boat is vital to permit the boat to run well and permit the athletes to relax on the recovery part of the stroke.  This can be practiced on the ergo before the boat, see Ergo Key Skill 5 - Rhythm

The easiest way to demonstrate rhythm in the boat is to have the crew row with power and to emphasise slow movement down the slide on the recovery.  It is important to have the handle move away from the body at the same speed as it comes into the body and then the shoulders and seat move at the same pace.  Once the recovery is underway then have the athletes slow into the catch allowing the boat to run as far as it can before the next catch.  This clear seat speed difference between when the power is on and the recovery phase will provide good rhythm in the boat.  

It is important that the crew commence rhythm training at a low rating and only increase the rating once they have mastered the technique.   Once the athletes understand how to row with rhythm, the sensation while rowing will be that the rating seems slower than it is actually.   Conversely if the rating seems high to the crew then it is probable that the crew is lacking rhythm.

Therefore only increase the rating when the crew are capable at a lower rating and we suggest only increase the rating slowly.  For example; get technique and rhythm correct at 20spm and then move to 22spm then 24spm etc.
On Water Rowing Course Lessons: