The Physicality of Rowing
Unlike
other sports, there are no breaks in rowing. A crew must row a
full 2,000 meters with no stops or off-strokes. The strain that
you feel on your body is intense. As you can tell to the left,
you cannot even control your facial expressions through the
excruciating pain! Rowing is hard and utilizes every major muscle
of you body- your arms, legs, abdomen, even the tips of your
fingers. Every muscle counts. A rower must push with their
legs, pull with their arms, and remain strong and steady through their
core. Even a sudden head tilt will offset the boat and cause a
dip to one side. This cannot happen- especially during a
race. It is even pictured here that each muscle of the body is
flexed and tensed. The amount of conditioning that one must go
through is astronomical. Months of hard workouts- indoor and out-
are imperative for a successful crew. There is even a special
rowing machine that is used almost daily by rowers for conditioning
purposes. However, the payoff is overwhelmingly rewarding, just
as any successful match is in any other sport. During the race a
rower's entire body is running on adrenaline. As soon as the
Official starts the race a rower has basically turned in a death notice
for their bodies. It is hard, but very well worth it.
Here
we have an
ergometer. It is a
simulation rowing machine that uses all of the muscles, just as rowing
in a boat does. From far back to the front are different models
of each erg. The major ergometer brand would be Concept2. This company sells
most ergs found around the world and seems like it has monopolized the
ergometer. The erg has come a long way since the pinwheel. It has
a rolling seat, just as a real boat does, and the handle simulates the
handle of an oar. It has many different functions, such as timed
distance pieces, pre-arranged work outs, a calorie and watt counter,
and much, much more. The erg is every rowers friend- and enemy at
that. It is the best thing for a rower next to actually being out
on the water. It is also a great tool for exercising since it
requires use of the entire body.
Above
Left: The USA Men's Lightweight Four at the National Championships(Click to jump to
their official site USRowing.org!)
Directly Above: A visual time line of Concept2 Ergometers
Directly Above: A visual time line of Concept2 Ergometers
Any questions? Send me
an e-mail by clicking below!
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