ROWING

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16797, 9 November 1928, Page 10

ROWING

FORM OF NOVICES EXAMPLES FROM THE TRIALS' (NuL* by “fejriiiu.") .No amount, of explanation can aiiceed as well iu 1 conveying an idea <u a demonstration, and fur this reason the writer has awaited tin; opening of the local clubs’ first trial fours scries before taking up tin; discussion of style iu the boats. Doth the Poverty Bqy club ana tlic Gisborne club have conducted laces this season, and the opportunity now arises to indicate points in winch novices might improve their oarsmanship, by comparison with that of the more seasoned men.

One of Ul6 principal defects in style noted in the trials of both clubs is the practice of swinging out, which marred tile work of a number of the older hands 'as well as the novices. It is astonishing to see men of some experience pulling away from their riggers at the end of the stroke, for they should reeogni.se that this means a diminution of the force they are exerting on the oar. .It is common enough for a man to pull his very hardest and yet get about 50 per cent, only of liis force on to the blade of the oar, mainly because of swinging out at the end of the stroke. Novices and old hands alike need to watch this point closely, for it means a great deal to the success of a crew; the fact that someone else in the boat is committing the same error is no excuse. Frequently one hears the remark that if one oarsman rows straight, and the others swing out, the balance of the boat will be upset. It is a poor argument, and can easily he overcome. “Slide” recommends to entry oarsman the practice of working ever towards the rigger, towards the' end of the swing, and it will be found that while this takes a eon scions effort, it is well worth while. There is not much fun in pulling one’s self to pieces, in tlie parlance of the sport, and not getting the benefit of one's exertions. RUSHING THE SLIDE. Another common fault that lias been apparent in many of the crews from both the Gisborne and Poverty Bay clubs is the habbit of rushing the slide on the recovery. It should be remembered that the control of the slide is an important factor in the timing of a crew, anct it tiio slide is rushed tip after each stroke the rate of striking will be subject to excessive vurilions. There is an old slogan: “Fast through the water, slow up on the slides,” and it fits the need of oarsmen to-day as much as it did 50 years ago. If one could see a. perfectly timed crew it would be noted that while the stroke is carried through like lightning, the recovery is' a. smooth flowing motion, with the slide absolutely under control.

This steady recovery means more than good timing, however, for it promotes the run of the boat through the water, and makes for greater pace with less exertion? Nearly every oarsman lias experienced the delightful sensation of gliding fast over the water between the strokes, and not everyone can recognise just what makes for that sensation, (..'lose attention to the slide-work however, will reveal there the source df the easy glide. ERRORS IN TH E STROKE. Here is another feature remarked about the work of some of the crews seen in action during the past week or two. In taking the stroke, the hands are raised in the air, and the action from start to finish of the stroke is .similar to that ’employed in propelling a dinghy. Novices should recognise for a start that racing craft sit low in the water, and that if the hands are raised iu the middle of the stroke, the blade must go down below the surface of the water. The principle of blade work is to keep the top edge of the blade just a little below the surface, and the spoon of the blade directly tin-listing against the resistance of the water.

If the blade scoops deeply through the raising of the hands, the compression on which the force of the stroke depends is lost, for the water slides over the blade, the object of the oarsman is to obtaip the utmost compression under his blade, and an analogy might be drawn between the operation of the oar blade and that of an axp. A straight blow with the axe will meet much greater resistance than a glancing blow; and the same effect arises in the case of the oar. Only at the latter end of the stroke should the haft of the oar be raised, and then the thumbs should come up to the level of the chest, the .object being to keep the water under the oa,r as long as possible to gain the maximum effect from the expenditure of energy. Practically all the novices of both clubs have- had a little racing experience by now, and the time is ripe for a. word on the question of finishing. Exhaustion is quite often duo to mental rather than physical causes. An oarsman may be honestly convinced that lie is finished, and that he cannot increase his efforts, and yet ho may have ’untapped physical resources available fur a last two dozen strokes.

Tho successful oarsman is he who will not accept defeat until the race is over, and anyone who has had experience of competition in any form will recognise that it is mental Tenacity as well as physical strength which counts towards victory. Light crews quite frequently beat others of much greater weight, simply because 'they refuse to accept at any part of the .race the idea that they have no chance. That is the spirit to encourage in the sport of rowing; too many men beat themselves by accepting the idea of their opponents’ superiority.