ROWING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 288, 4 December 1929, Page 4

ROWING

STYLES AND METHODS FAULTS LN RECOVERY SOME USEFUL HINTS Discussing the recovery, “Slide,” in the Poverty Bay Herald, states: Most of the novices have received some racing experience, and those who are using their intellect as well as their muscular equipment may have deprived some benefit from contrasting the styles of the old hands in the respective boats with those of their fellow-novices. One of the factors which helps a young oarsman to improve his work is free discussion of styles and methods, and the novices should be encouraged to take up with their strokes any points about their own or other fellows’ work on which they are uncertain. In this connection, it may be mentioned that it is more difficult for novices to observe faults in an oarsman’s recovery than in his drive. If timing and swing are out of tune in a crew the fact is made obvious at once; likewise if an oarsman pulls diagonally across the boat instead of straight up and down, it is easily detected —in fact, it impresses the observer at once. But the work of the oarsman in the recovery is less likely to emphasise faults which may exist. It takes an experienced eye to discern some faults which even the older hands continue to make, and only a good coach can eradicate these faults once they have become thoroughly incorporated in an oarsman’s style.

One of the primary errors in slidework on the recovery is too much haste. The average oarsman, having got in his stroke, gets back for the next as best he can. In this way he cultivates, or at least allows himself to drop into, the fault of throwing his weight forward, when, as a matter of fact, he should set his mind upon resisting, to a certain degree, the natural tendency of the slide to rush forward. Herein lies one of the secrets of successful oarsmanship, good slide-control. The reason most novices and some old hands are compelled to rush their body weight forward is that part of the time allowed for that operation is taken up by getting the hands clear of the knees. If the hands are thrown out first, the moment thv wrists are cut down to withdraw the oar from the water, this interference is eliminated, and the body can swing quietly forward, making full use of the impetus thus transmitted to I lie boat. The hand-work is highly important in promoting the run between strokes, for unless the arms are stiffened forward immediately the stroke is completed, there must be a wobble in the body as the knees come up to meet the sluggish hands. The latter should be well out over the knees before the legs are bent at all. In speaking of the run on the boat, it. is intended to indicate that degree of speed which the craft maintains between the strokes. This speed can be affected seriously by faulty slide work, and promoted tremendously by good work in the recovery. If every man in a crew finishes his stroke and then snaps his hands away to the full extent of his arms, the crew should be able to get the utmost out of the run between the strokes. It is essential that th* oarsman understand that the boat must move between the strokes, and that the smoother the movement is, the greater pace it will attain. Bodies should come forward in tune with the slide, all muscles under control, and with the feet firmly planted on the stretchers. If the body-weight is dragged up by lifting the heels and pulling on the toe straps, there is a great possibility of a wobble developing, and a wobble spells loss of speed.