OK, is this a daft question ... what do you DO to balance a

Henry Law · Joined: 17 Aug 2007 Posts: 51

I'm going to confess that this is a question that has been bothering me
since I emerged from the splashy melée of my novice days and I've never
had a satisfactory answer to it. Maybe I'm the only oarsman in the
whole world who doesn't know the answer, and that the rest of r.s.r is
even now hooting with laughter, mirth that can be heard in five
continents; even so, I'm going to ask it.

When a single starts to tip down on one side (in response to one of my
very ropey finishes, perhaps), what does the oarsman actually,
physically, measurably, observably DO to stop it doing so and return to
the flat? I've heard about keeping the hands level, or at the right
height: well that's not dynamic and so won't cure a list. I've heard
about raising and lowering the hands; about pushing out against the
buttons; about adjusting the lean of the knees slightly; about pressing
with the feet; about thinking hard about the boat's list diminishing
(I'm not kidding), but what is the real answer? Stop laughing for long
enough to tell me, please!

I have been concentrating on the single all this winter so far, and
occasionally what I do looks a bit like sculling, but this balance thing
has me beat. Sometimes it just happens, and there's a marvellous moment
of quiet when both blades are off the water, but mostly it's
"prrrrrttttt" on one side or the other right up to the catch.

--

Henry Law Manchester, England

Archived from group: rec>sport>rowing

sjgiddings · Joined: 18 Aug 2007 Posts: 1

On Feb 2, 3:48ï¿½pm, Henry Law wrote:
> "prrrrrttttt" on one side or the other right up to the catch.
>
> --
>
> Henry Law ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½Manchester, England

I inflate my PFD.

Seriously, if you are so far off that you think consciuously about
going over... I really don't know what I do, but I do know that more
than a few folks comment about the constant relationship of my hands.
Small corrections, hands and keep going, Bigger corrections slow down,
take off the pressure and sit up straight by reinforcing core
pressure. I haven't commented on this news group for a while and I am
waiting to be corrected by everyone who regularly contributes, but I
have my helmet on...

Steve Giddings

SwissSculler · Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 12

I think this is a question that is often asked and even more often
answered. Hm....

The boat is balanced, always set. It's you screwing it up. So if you
don't do anything stupid, it will be set. Having said this, it's
neither necessary nor possible to "balance" a boat. It's the wrong
focus and will actually limit you in your progress.

Two important things for rowing, applicable at all times in sculling:

1. It's like a bicycle, if you stop, you fall over. Keep all parts
moving all the time, no sitting still, spin the wheel, not too hard,
just spinning.

2. The hands: Your handles are your "joysticks" with which you steer
and guide the boat. When pulling the ends in at the release (OR try
thinking pulling the body to your hands for a change...), don't
overpower. Just in, square down, away. One swoosh move. Now as you
draw in, your right hand is closer to your body, same on the way out,
keep your left hand further away, the knuckles of your right hand
should be slightly in touch with the wrist of your left hand. If your
hands are in touch the boat is set, keep them moving.

Should you for whatever reason roll a bit too much on the recover,
e.g. cross-wind, wake, etc. you can alwasy work your thumbs by
applying very gentle pressure to the oarlock, opposite the side you
are rolling to.

Don't overrate the boat set. It comes with good rowing.

Ted van de Weteringe · Joined: 09 Dec 2007 Posts: 51

SwissSculler wrote:
> Should you for whatever reason roll a bit too much on the recover,
> e.g. cross-wind, wake, etc. you can alwasy work your thumbs by
> applying very gentle pressure to the oarlock, opposite the side you
> are rolling to.

"Oarlock pressure" is such utter bullshit. The collar should be up
against the oarlock anyway. No amount of extra pressure is going to
change anything but cramp you up.

Richard Packer · Joined: 18 Aug 2007 Posts: 61

On Sat, 02 Feb 2008 21:48:55 +0000, Henry Law
wrote:

>I have been concentrating on the single all this winter so far, and
>occasionally what I do looks a bit like sculling, but this balance thing
>has me beat. Sometimes it just happens, and there's a marvellous moment
>of quiet when both blades are off the water, but mostly it's
>"prrrrrttttt" on one side or the other right up to the catch.

Steve's already used the "riding a bike" analogy. I can ride a bike
quite happily, but I couldn't explain what I consciously do to balance
it. Same thing with a single. The only tips I'd pass on are 1)
relax, 'cos if you tense up and start over-analysing it it won't work,
2) stay smooth, 3) do get videod if you can, as this will show any
obvious assymetries. Finally, some boats are easier to sit than
others. I remember test "driving" a single my wife was thinking of
buying (can't remember what make now) and it was the twitchiest,
scariest thing I've ever tried to row in; we didn't buy it!

Edgar · Joined: 17 Aug 2007 Posts: 64

Well, the following has always worked for the people I have taught to scull.
Don't go for boat speed until you have sorted out your technique. Half
pressure will do.
Never allow both blades to trail on the water. Always try for a clean finish
with the hands moving smoothly down far enough to let both blades clear the
water. If the boat tips so that one blade drags on the water forget about
trying to get it off as you come forward-write that stroke off and
concentrate on getting a smooth stroke with a cleaner finish on the next
one. You say that sometimes you get it right so you are on the way there.
Now put in some serious mileage-IMO one long outing is far better for
learning than two short ones and here I mean 8-10 miles which will give you
time to ascend the learning curve and also cure you of some other faults
like gripping too tight!
Certainly you should always keep the buttons firmly against the gates but do
not take your mind off the next smooth stroke by thinking about any of the
other ideas on your list.

"Henry Law" wrote in message @iris.uk.clara.net...
> I'm going to confess that this is a question that has been bothering me
> since I emerged from the splashy melée of my novice days and I've never
> had a satisfactory answer to it. Maybe I'm the only oarsman in the whole
> world who doesn't know the answer, and that the rest of r.s.r is even now
> hooting with laughter, mirth that can be heard in five continents; even
> so, I'm going to ask it.
>
> When a single starts to tip down on one side (in response to one of my
> very ropey finishes, perhaps), what does the oarsman actually, physically,
> measurably, observably DO to stop it doing so and return to the flat?
> I've heard about keeping the hands level, or at the right height: well
> that's not dynamic and so won't cure a list. I've heard about raising and
> lowering the hands; about pushing out against the buttons; about adjusting
> the lean of the knees slightly; about pressing with the feet; about
> thinking hard about the boat's list diminishing (I'm not kidding), but
> what is the real answer? Stop laughing for long enough to tell me,
> please!
>
> I have been concentrating on the single all this winter so far, and
> occasionally what I do looks a bit like sculling, but this balance thing
> has me beat. Sometimes it just happens, and there's a marvellous moment
> of quiet when both blades are off the water, but mostly it's "prrrrrttttt"
> on one side or the other right up to the catch.
>
> --
>
> Henry Law Manchester, England

Mike De Petris · Joined: 15 Nov 2007 Posts: 21

On Feb 3, 12:06 pm, Richard Packer
wrote:
> Steve's already used the "riding a bike" analogy.

The bike stays up due to gyroscopic effect of the spinning wheels, the
oars has less gyroscopic stabilizing effect but the principle is the
same BUT sometimes you simply do not spin oars/sculls in a smooth and
quick enough motion.

I may be against traditional concepts here, but I suggest to try to
rise up the rate. At an higher rate you will have a smoother stroke
cycle and faster overall motion, so you will maximize the gyroscopic
effect and get confidence. The idea is to well balance a clean finish,
clear up from the knees to get the catch position and then go up your
slide fast, quick enough to get a clean and straight catch before the
boat starts tipping on one side. When you get good at this you will
just try to slow down a bit your body motion in the recovery, always
to the point you still can take a quick and clean catch.

I often wander why most coaches teach the opposite, that is to
practice at very low rates with very slow recovery, it should be the
opposite to me, as it is much more difficult to scull that way and
requires experience and practice.

Let's rise the rate. You are in a single, so you aren't going to
damage your crew rushing the slide, try it!

mruscoe · Joined: 18 Aug 2007 Posts: 43

Mike De Petris wrote:
> On Feb 3, 12:06 pm, Richard Packer
> wrote:
>> Steve's already used the "riding a bike" analogy.
>
> The bike stays up due to gyroscopic effect of the spinning wheels, the
> oars has less gyroscopic stabilizing effect but the principle is the
> same BUT sometimes you simply do not spin oars/sculls in a smooth and
> quick enough motion.

The gyroscopic effect is minor and main reason that you can balance a
bike is countersteering, and the trail of steering geometry.

Gyroscopic effects are even less significant in balancing a racing shell.

> I may be against traditional concepts here, but I suggest to try to
> rise up the rate. At an higher rate you will have a smoother stroke
> cycle and faster overall motion, so you will maximize the gyroscopic
> effect and get confidence. The idea is to well balance a clean finish,
> clear up froom the knees to get the catch position and then go up your
> slide fast, quick enough to get a clean and straight catch before the
> boat starts tipping on one side. When you get good at this you will
> just try to slow down a bit your body motion in the recovery, always
> to the point you still can take a quick and clean catch.
>
> I often wander why most coaches teach the opposite, that is to
> practice at very low rates with very slw recovery, it should be the
> opposite to me, as it is much more difficult to scull that way and
> requires experience and practice.
>
> Let's rise the rate. You are in a single, so you aren't going to
> damage your crew rushing the slide, try it!

At higher rates, the boat simply has less time to fall over, but if you
don't have you hands under control it will flop around even at higher rates.

Edgar · Joined: 17 Aug 2007 Posts: 64

I cannot go along with any gyroscopic effect even if one does increase the
rating. Asking a novice sculler to increase the rating is going to cause
rushing up the slide and other mistakes which will hinder, rather than help,
his progress towards balance.
IMO there are three factors helping the sculler towards balance and tending
to compensate for any errors he /she makes that tend to destroy balance
1. The inertia of the extended sculls (compare a tightrope walker). This
will be less if lightweight short sculls are being used
2. A very small, perhaps negligible, increase in hull righting moment as the
boat heels
3. Never seen this mentioned elsewhere, but I think that as the blade moves
forward just skimming above the water there will be a surface effect that
gives a bit of upward loading on the blade that helps induce stability. If
the boat heels the lower blade will give more lift while the other one,
higher in the air, will lose it. Therefore there will be a righting moment
set up. Note that this will work best in calm water but novices usually go
out in calm water anyway. Sculling in rough water is another story and not
one for novices until they can balance their boats in calm conditions.

"Mike De Petris" wrote in message @c4g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
> On Feb 3, 12:06 pm, Richard Packer
> wrote:
>> Steve's already used the "riding a bike" analogy.
>
> The bike stays up due to gyroscopic effect of the spinning wheels, the
> oars has less gyroscopic stabilizing effect but the principle is the
> same BUT sometimes you simply do not spin oars/sculls in a smooth and
> quick enough motion.
>
> I may be against traditional concepts here, but I suggest to try to
> rise up the rate. At an higher rate you will have a smoother stroke
> cycle and faster overall motion, so you will maximize the gyroscopic
> effect and get confidence. The idea is to well balance a clean finish,
> clear up from the knees to get the catch position and then go up your
> slide fast, quick enough to get a clean and straight catch before the
> boat starts tipping on one side. When you get good at this you will
> just try to slow down a bit your body motion in the recovery, always
> to the point you still can take a quick and clean catch.
>
> I often wander why most coaches teach the opposite, that is to
> practice at very low rates with very slow recovery, it should be the
> opposite to me, as it is much more difficult to scull that way and
> requires experience and practice.
>
> Let's rise the rate. You are in a single, so you aren't going to
> damage your crew rushing the slide, try it!

Steven M-M · Joined: 18 Aug 2007 Posts: 6

Henry -- How is your balance outside the single? You might find some
balance gains by using a physio or exercise ball (the big ones you can
sit on; I don't know what they're called in England) or taking a yoga
class. I find when I segue from the rowing machine to the single in
early spring that I am sorest in the many small muscles in my sides;
those balance muscles that make all the micro adjustments to set the
single.

Steven M-M

go-row · Joined: 18 Nov 2007 Posts: 3

We all want that elusive single definitive answer. Unfortunately in
rowing, as in any discipline, there is none.

Remember when, as a kid, you learned to walk a railroad track? If you
stuck with it, flailing arms and contorting body eventually gave way
to hands-in-pocket nonchalance. You went from gross imbalances and
overcorrections to minute, subconscious imputs to correct tiny offsets
before they got out of control.

Try this. The next time you step out of the shower, stand on one
foot. Watch your foot work as your brain sends correction signals to
it's muscles and tendons with no conscious thought on your part.

In Edgar's post he said lots of miles, 8 to ten at a time. He's
right. Your body controls the boat by virtue of the fact that it
outweighs it several times over. If you just keep doing what you're
doing, focusing, your inner ear and buttocks will develop a direct
connection such that the slightest imbalance will be sensed and
corrected without you ever realising it.

On Feb 2, 4:48 pm, Henry Law wrote:
> When a single starts to tip down on one side (in response to one of my
> very ropey finishes, perhaps), what does the oarsman actually,
> physically, measurably, observably DO to stop it doing so and return to
> the flat?

Henry Law · Joined: 17 Aug 2007 Posts: 51

Henry Law wrote:

> When a single starts to tip down on one side (in response to one of my
> very ropey finishes, perhaps), what does the oarsman actually,
> physically, measurably, observably DO to stop it doing so and return to
> the flat?

So ... lots of interesting stuff here and I'm encouraged. I think I hear:

- get the damn finishes clean. That makes a lot of sense and it is one
of the two places where I am weak. Pull 'em hard, said Carl a while
back, and so did someone else just now: I'll concentrate on that.

- practice, practice, practice, in long pieces if possible. OK, I'll
try to do even more, and concentrate harder.

- relax. Well, that's coming a bit easier now that I've been out
regularly for a while.

- get the blades up on the recovery, and if she cowps over so that one
is dragging on the surface, tant pis: do it better next time. That's
one I'm really going to force myself to do. I don't like how it feels
when something assymetric is happening: makes me nervous, tense ... gets
worse.

- sit in the middle of the boat. I haven't looked at that: could be
that there's something assymetric.

- keep the strokes coming, though authorities are at odds as to whether
a higher rating is a good idea.

Thinking about the idea that the boat is set and that it's me that's
cowping it over ... I can see the logic. To that end I'm going to work
on getting clean, symmetric catches too.

Thank you to all.

--

Henry Law Manchester, England

James. · Joined: 22 Jan 2008 Posts: 15

On Feb 3, 9:46 pm, sjgiddi...@aol.com wrote:
> On Feb 2, 3:48 pm, Henry Law wrote:
>
>
>
> > I'm going to confess that this is a question that has been bothering me
> > since I emerged from the splashy melée of my novice days and I've never
> > had a satisfactory answer to it. Maybe I'm the only oarsman in the
> > whole world who doesn't know the answer, and that the rest of r.s.r is
> > even now hooting with laughter, mirth that can be heard in five
> > continents; even so, I'm going to ask it.
>
> > When a single starts to tip down on one side (in response to one of my
> > very ropey finishes, perhaps), what does the oarsman actually,
> > physically, measurably, observably DO to stop it doing so and return to
> > the flat? I've heard about keeping the hands level, or at the right
> > height: well that's not dynamic and so won't cure a list. I've heard
> > about raising and lowering the hands; about pushing out against the
> > buttons; about adjusting the lean of the knees slightly; about pressing
> > with the feet; about thinking hard about the boat's list diminishing
> > (I'm not kidding), but what is the real answer? Stop laughing for long
> > enough to tell me, please!
>
> > I have been concentrating on the single all this winter so far, and
> > occasionally what I do looks a bit like sculling, but this balance thing
> > has me beat. Sometimes it just happens, and there's a marvellous moment
> > of quiet when both blades are off the water, but mostly it's
> > "prrrrrttttt" on one side or the other right up to the catch.
>
> > --
>
> > Henry Law Manchester, England
>

Its interesting seeing some of the ideas that have come from that
question... There are plenty of two penneth worth, but hey, perhaps
another won't hurt.

In response to the teaching to scull slowly (ie at low rate), it makes
sense because sculling at a low rate means you are forced to go
through the correct movements else you stop dead in the water. Speed
increases stability so you won't ever correct what is actually wrong,
though you may manage to hide it.

I am amazed that no one has actually asked a further question about
the stroke: where is it on the recovery (big assumption, was it stated
that the balance issue was on the recovery?) that the boat tips, is it
all the way through, at the catch, after the finish..? You have had
many sensible answers to different problems, but diagnosis can't
really be achieved until the exact problem is known.

1) Imbalance at the finish that corrects through the recovery probably
is from uneven finishes, most likely one hand being a little lazy and
not coming though as far as it ought.

2) Imbalance through the centre of the stroke implies the knuckles of
the right hand are not beneath the wrist/watch place of the left, or,
that you arent sitting straight.

3) Imbalance at the catch is most likely due to the vertical gap of
heights between your hands being opened. Whilst your hands are apart
horizontally they must stay together vertically as they were nearer
the body. Tipping off to one side of the other pre-catch is extremely
common. Trying to lift the lower hand is unlikely to be too effective
just because its harder to do, a small amount of downward pressure on
the higher hand is probably the best bet.

Keep your grip loose, posture tall but relaxed. The smaller the boat
the more every tension negatively affects it.

That probably wasn't any use, but hope it helped a little?!

carolinetu · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 33

On Feb 3, 11:20 pm, "James." wrote:
> On Feb 3, 9:46 pm, sjgiddi...@aol.com wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Feb 2, 3:48 pm, Henry Law wrote:
>
> > > I'm going to confess that this is a question that has been bothering me
> > > since I emerged from the splashy melée of my novice days and I've never
> > > had a satisfactory answer to it. Maybe I'm the only oarsman in the
> > > whole world who doesn't know the answer, and that the rest of r.s.r is
> > > even now hooting with laughter, mirth that can be heard in five
> > > continents; even so, I'm going to ask it.
>
> > > When a single starts to tip down on one side (in response to one of my
> > > very ropey finishes, perhaps), what does the oarsman actually,
> > > physically, measurably, observably DO to stop it doing so and return to
> > > the flat? I've heard about keeping the hands level, or at the right
> > > height: well that's not dynamic and so won't cure a list. I've heard
> > > about raising and lowering the hands; about pushing out against the
> > > buttons; about adjusting the lean of the knees slightly; about pressing
> > > with the feet; about thinking hard about the boat's list diminishing
> > > (I'm not kidding), but what is the real answer? Stop laughing for long
> > > enough to tell me, please!
>
> > > I have been concentrating on the single all this winter so far, and
> > > occasionally what I do looks a bit like sculling, but this balance thing
> > > has me beat. Sometimes it just happens, and there's a marvellous moment
> > > of quiet when both blades are off the water, but mostly it's
> > > "prrrrrttttt" on one side or the other right up to the catch.
>
> > > --
>
> > > Henry Law Manchester, England
>
> Its interesting seeing some of the ideas that have come from that
> question... There are plenty of two penneth worth, but hey, perhaps
> another won't hurt.
>
> In response to the teaching to scull slowly (ie at low rate), it makes
> sense because sculling at a low rate means you are forced to go
> through the correct movements else you stop dead in the water. Speed
> increases stability so you won't ever correct what is actually wrong,
> though you may manage to hide it.
>
> I am amazed that no one has actually asked a further question about
> the stroke: where is it on the recovery (big assumption, was it stated
> that the balance issue was on the recovery?) that the boat tips, is it
> all the way through, at the catch, after the finish..? You have had
> many sensible answers to different problems, but diagnosis can't
> really be achieved until the exact problem is known.
>
> 1) Imbalance at the finish that corrects through the recovery probably
> is from uneven finishes, most likely one hand being a little lazy and
> not coming though as far as it ought.
>
> 2) Imbalance through the centre of the stroke implies the knuckles of
> the right hand are not beneath the wrist/watch place of the left, or,
> that you arent sitting straight.
>
> 3) Imbalance at the catch is most likely due to the vertical gap of
> heights between your hands being opened. Whilst your hands are apart
> horizontally they must stay together vertically as they were nearer
> the body. Tipping off to one side of the other pre-catch is extremely
> common. Trying to lift the lower hand is unlikely to be too effective
> just because its harder to do, a small amount of downward pressure on
> the higher hand is probably the best bet.
>
> Keep your grip loose, posture tall but relaxed. The smaller the boat
> the more every tension negatively affects it.
>
> That probably wasn't any use, but hope it helped a little?!- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

I know they say "a bad workman blames his tools" but are you sure the
boat and blades are symmetrical? Check that the spread is the same
each side and that the sculls are the same length and have the same
inboard.

An exercise I sometimes do with the novices is to make them row/scull
with their blades trailing on the water until we are sure that the
boat is level on the recovery, then have the blades 1 inch off the
water and finally horizontal. Worth a try.

What do you do with your head when you're sculling? If you're
constantly looking around (yes, I know you've got to steer), then that
will unbalance the boat. Some people move their head from side to
side without realising it, so get someone to have a look at you.

Don't despair, it's b****y difficult so don't believe anyone who tells
you it's easy!

Caroline

Carl Douglas · Joined: 18 Aug 2007 Posts: 93

Henry Law wrote:
> I'm going to confess that this is a question that has been bothering me
> since I emerged from the splashy melée of my novice days and I've never
> had a satisfactory answer to it. Maybe I'm the only oarsman in the
> whole world who doesn't know the answer, and that the rest of r.s.r is
> even now hooting with laughter, mirth that can be heard in five
> continents; even so, I'm going to ask it.
>
> When a single starts to tip down on one side (in response to one of my
> very ropey finishes, perhaps), what does the oarsman actually,
> physically, measurably, observably DO to stop it doing so and return to
> the flat? I've heard about keeping the hands level, or at the right
> height: well that's not dynamic and so won't cure a list. I've heard
> about raising and lowering the hands; about pushing out against the
> buttons; about adjusting the lean of the knees slightly; about pressing
> with the feet; about thinking hard about the boat's list diminishing
> (I'm not kidding), but what is the real answer? Stop laughing for long
> enough to tell me, please!
>
> I have been concentrating on the single all this winter so far, and
> occasionally what I do looks a bit like sculling, but this balance thing
> has me beat. Sometimes it just happens, and there's a marvellous moment
> of quiet when both blades are off the water, but mostly it's
> "prrrrrttttt" on one side or the other right up to the catch.
>

It's not at all daft.

On matters of technique, the finish is key to what happens during the
recovery:
1. Unless blades extract simultaneously, the boat is thrown off balance
for the entire recovery & will not run straight either.
2. If handles draw to dissimilar heights at finish, you'll start the
recovery with the boat on its ear, or with 1 washy finish, both of which
set you off unbalanced for your recovery So look down from time to time
to check what the hands are doing.
3. Unless the blades are equally loaded, right up to the finish, the
blade you have greatest difficulty keeping off the water is very likely
to finish either soft, or early, or both - precisely because you
subconsciously expect trouble there. The best way to resolve that is to
very deliberately harden both finishes.
4. Related to #3: quick extractions do not create clean finishes. They
kid you that if you don't hang around it won't happen, but ensure that
finishes remain an unresolved problem. Further, they encourage you to
take the work off early to get those fast finishes (which will thus be
less coordinated), they mean less work in the stroke & so impair
performance, & they give you weaker, less secure & less-relaxed finishes
from which to the start the recovery.
5. The finish is the end of that stroke, not the beginning of the
recovery. So make it good and hard. It is the stroke, not the recovery
which moves the boat &, like any job, you need to finish it cleanly &
well. If you can't presently finish the stroke level, blades coming
clear together, you should get warm & relaxed by a few miles of
sculling. Then concentrate on hardening & drawing the finishes up. In
sculling you don't have to drop your hands to extract but you cannot
extract an unloaded blade cleanly.
6. If the finishes still give trouble, stop & do this single stroke
exercise:
a) Sit firmly at backstops, blades scuffing the water.
b) At a predetermined moment, from that solid position swing
hands-first straight into hooking a solid catch - no slowing or checking
before entry. Do this firmly enough & your blades won't touch the
water. The point (see 5 above) is that the start of the recovery should
be the start of the stroke &, in particular, your irrevocable commitment
to the catch - you can't take a good catch in a moving boat from a
static forward position.
c) Well before you strike the catch, be already imagining the solid
middle of the stroke. That'll make the catch hard but unselfconscious.
d) At the mid-stroke, already be planning the hard, level finish.
That'll make the middle hard, ditto.
e) At that hard finish, think only of keeping it hard. The blades
will know when to extract themselves.
f) At which point, make not the slightest move into the recovery -
_no_ bounce-forward of the hands - but sit there solid, hands drawn
fully back, blades 1/2 feathered & scuffing the water.
7. The point of all that is that you've now made a really solid stroke,
finished level, yet never had to bother over that supposedly difficult,
messy extraction-hands-away bit that needlessly troubles so many rowers
& scullers alike. And you began it all with a level, stable recovery.

There is also a physical aspect which may repay attention:
When you sit in your boat, holding it level, do it feel as if all your
weight is on one cheek? If so, does the boat tend to run down on that
same side? Or do you shift on your seat to put the load on the other
cheek, in which case does it then run down on that side?

There are 2 possible causes of such symptoms: you have an asymmetrical
bum (nothing personal!) or your bones don't match the seat's hole
spacing. Either way you'll not find it easy to make a routinely level
recovery as your weight will be bearing more on 1 side than the other.

You can check for rear end asymmetry by sitting bolt upright on a hard
level floor. Do you have to slip several sheets of typing paper under 1
cheek to even up the discomfort? If so, what thickness did it take? In
which case, consider shimming under the track on that side by almost
tweice that amount, until the boat runs level for you.

And, since this is a family program, if you shift from side to side &
never get comfortable, please write to me separately to discuss a remedy
for that one.

Cheers -
Carl
--
Carl Douglas Racing Shells -
Fine Small-Boats/AeRoWing Low-drag Riggers/Advanced Accessories
Write: Harris Boatyard, Laleham Reach, Chertsey KT16 8RP, UK
Email: carl@carldouglas.co.uk Tel: +44(0)1932-570946 Fax: -563682
URLs: www.carldouglas.co.uk (boats) & www.aerowing.co.uk (riggers)

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