Welcome to rowing.zone – Introduce yourself

[Aram]

Hi Terry

great to have you here. That rowing course is gorgeous. Is it always that flat?

[terry]

Early morning and evening after 4:00 its typically smooth, maybe not quite as picture perfect as shown. The picture was taken at about 08:00 am when I was walking the dog. Any time from 06:00-09:00 I can find water like this most days. It is not the best practice environment because I never get to race on water this flat – so I do force myself to go out in less idyllic conditions to practice “keeping my blades off the water”.

The course is fairly well sheltered from the prevailing wind direction so rough water is only a problem when the wind blows directly from the north or south. Oak Ridge is known for having “fast water” which is why we get to host so many of the College Regattas every Spring.

[Aram]

This is one of these rowing gems in North America. I remember exploring some of these venues during my high school senior year, where the college took me along to some camps and races.

It is true that race conditions are usually close to what we call “unrowable”.

[priusb78]

Hi Aram and all,
my name is Thorsten. I am a “late beginner” having started rowing in spring this year and getting closer to my 60th birthday in Nov. I joined the rowing club “Ruderverein Nürnberg” and have reached my first 200 km this year. Rowing is really fun!
Thanks a lot, Aram, for your great videos! Having watched them all, I think I have a good understanding on how a rowing stroke should be – even though I am not there yet! Next year on the water again!
Greetings from Nuremberg,

Thorsten

[Aram]

Hi Thorsten,

thank you very much for joining and for your feedback. Congratulations to your first 200km on the water. Well done!

Hallo zurück nach Nürnberg!

[edustarling]

Hi Aram and everyone else,

I’m Eduardo, 50 y.o., a master rower in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Actually I row since I was 16, and now I’m rowing at Clube de Regatas Guanabara. I’d like to thank you for all the tips and advices on your youtube channel, Aram.

Regards,

[Aram]

Hi Eduardo, thank you for joining us and thank you for your great feedback!

[Frederike]

Hello @Aram

I am Frederike, 35 years old and started rowing in 2021.

We compete in marathon rowing, using C-Boats. I have already started in the Tour du lac Leman in Geneve twice (160 km in a coxed C4 with alternating between coxing and rowing) and we won the mixed class this year. At the moment I am struggling with the quick hands away (kudos to your most recent video! I appreciate it! 😅)

Do you have any technical advice for long distance rowing in C-boats? As the bigger boats do behave differently in the water and we tend to row for hours instead of minutes, things might be different to the normal racing style…. 😅

Thank you for your fantastic videos! Absolutely love watching! 😁

All the best from Kleve, Germany!

Frederike

[Aram]

Hello Frederike,

thank you very much for your great feedback.

For long distance C shell boats I would reduce my forward lean angle quite a bit, however, not completely. Essentially, I am trying to have as little impact on my body as possible.

160km in a C shell is tough, especially if Lac Leman is unfriendly. Waves can get up to 6m, according to the locals.

[Dharma66]

Hi, I’m Phil, from the UK.

I’m just approaching 59 and started on the Concept2 erg for weight loss in 2006, weighing just over 320 pounds. By 2009(I think), had lost 40 pounds and completed a half marathon.

I’m now coming back from a break of almost 8 years, and a heart attack. But I have managed to lose another 40 pounds (just about). I’m training for another half marathon in October, and hopefully a full marathon to coincide with the London marathon in April next year.

I also recently moved to the Lake District here in England, and there is a “real” rowing club just 20 minutes from my house. I’m on their waiting list for their beginner weekend. It should work out that I join them at the end of May, which would be perfect timing.

I found this site through @Aram ‘s superb YouTube channel. Thanks Aram for videos that are so clear and so perfectly reasoned!

[Aram]

Hello Phil, this is quite an impressive story. Congratulations!

Just make sure you add some light weights into your training program as well, especially for the deep muscles of your torso!

[Dharma66]

Thank you Aram!

Yes, I also have followed Mark Rippetoe’s Starting Strength novice program a couple of times in the past, and I just started again!

I’ve watched even more of your videos now, and following various bits of your advice, I knocked 10 seconds off my (very, very slow) steady-state pace, without increase in RPE!

So many thanks for that!

• This reply was modified 1 month ago by  Dharma66. Reason: Typo