Rowing Chat

Choosing your head races

How to select the right races for your head racing season. Ways to build up to the big race event. Improving race plans and race execution. Timestamps 01:00 The big event is your focus. It’s easy to choose the big event. But the season starts with smaller events. If you are new to head racing […]

Head Race Steering

Get confident steering your coxless boat for long distance racing. Timestamps 02:00 Going straight This is the first lesson because if you can’t go straight it really affects your steering. Consider your strength imbalances if you have been a long term sweep rower moving to sculling. Equalise your arcs by watching and listening for these […]

Handicaps for masters

Racing equivalence for masters depends on using time handicaps. Does this work well? Can it be improved? What would you change? Timestamps 02:00 What are handicaps? Welcome our guest, Christopher Anton, a World Rowing multi-lane umpire. Handicaps were introduced 1980-1990s to try and level the playing field for crews of different age. There are tables […]

Your first side-by-side race

Rowing your first 2- or 1x race, side by side – What to do – What to expect – Recovering from mistakes Timestamps 00:30 Why do people learn to row? At the start, few want to race. 02:00 Your first race. You may feel “on stage” at a race and there are eyes on you. […]

Recovering from exhaustion

Sometimes athletes get very, very tired. Today we will talk about recovering from exhaustion and the power of napping. Timestamps 01:00 Is it under recovery or over training? Mike Spraklen described it as under-recovery. Marlene prefers this term because it affects your ability to train. You don’t have to be fully recovered to train effectively. […]

Drills for rowing

The benefits of drills and ways to improve your rowing boat skills. 02:00 Skills in the boat. You have to spend time in the boat to acquire skills. What is your available time for practicing? Choose frequency over long outings. If your crew practices 3 times a week, can you add in a short single […]

How to learn coastal rowing

Volker Fritz talks about ways to teach (and learn) how to row and race a coastal rowing boat. Timestamps 01:00 Volker’s background in touring and coastal rowing. The big coastal rowing countries are France, Spain, Italy and Portugal. Germany and UK are getting going more recently. 02:00 touring boats are 10 meters long and are […]

British Masters Rowing Championships winners

Join Monmouth Rowing Club’s Tim Male as he talks about his season with the club and how they won the Victor Ludorum £1000 prize. Timestamps 02:00 Interview Tim Male 04:00 Monmouth Rowing Club – the town rowing club draws people from around 20 miles away to join. 05:30 The club had talented individuals but rowed […]

Buying a second hand boat

– What to look for in a rowing boat, how to assess wear and tear and what can (and cannot) be repaired. Holes flagged out Hairline cracks on riggers Speak to Boatbuilder 01:30 What to look for in a rowing boat? Right size for your body weight is the number one consideration. Then check our […]

Tim Male – Monmouth RC coach

Tim is the club coach for Monmouth Rowing Club who won the Victor Ludorum Prize at the 2023 British Masters Rowing Championships. We discuss his methods, what the club is like and how to replicate success. Interview Tim Male Rowing Coach 04:00 Monmouth Rowing Club – the town rowing club draws people from around 20 […]