With Two Oars (Book)
With Two Oars
Reflections on Sculling
by William B. Irvine
“Set” is defined as a stable boat.
Boats should be rowed with perfect symmetry.
Most of part one deals with the fear of flipping. Author believes the fear of flipping causes rowers to keep their blades too close to the water in an effort to keep their boat from flipping.
Various tap drills are discussed. The rower taps the oars to make the boat less stable during different phases of the stroke to try to overcome the fear of flipping.
Part two is a dissection of the four parts of the rowing stroke and how to execute them
Chapter 7, Catch
Early roll-up vs late roll-up, when you start rotating your hands, late roll-up offers less wind resistance Going downwind, consider not feathering
Slide until shins are vertical
Bend at waist
Hands outside the hull
60 degree catch angle, shorter rowers need to bend more
Reaching farther with one hand arguably best way to turn a boat
Match speed of blades to water or you splash
Shallow catch makes a tearing sound, shallow then deep makes a kerplunk
Chapter 8, Drive
Don’t extend legs without pulling on oars, this is a wasteful motion called slide shooting
Flex back, will cause chest to puff out, be proud of your rowing!
Keep chin up during catch helps with back flex
Chapter 9, Release
Chapter 10, Recovery
References: Rowing Biomechanics Newsletter
