Ready, Row! USA #29: Rowing Toolbox
Coaching is an acquired craft – part training, part intuition, part educated guess and a lot of “people” skills; and the same goes for the DIY rower. No matter what your role, knowing what tools you need, where to get them and how to use them lets everyone be safe and attended to on the water means faster rowing for less effort!
Today’s show is about the ultimate coach’s toolbox – from certifications to gadgets, and and what rowers need to know about how coaches use them. We tap into the know-how of long-time rower/coaches Tara Morgan, Ryan Worth, and new correspondent Alison Pollini. Senior correspondent Mark Wilson is dealing with hurricane effects at his Florida rowing camp location, so he is contributing remotely this week.
Ask Your Mentors: Tara and Ryan talk about some of their key pieces of advice for rowers and as a coaches in the launch. Coaches out there, what are YOUR key takeaways? What did your most influential coaches pass on to you? Words of wisdom? Tool bag contents? Secret Drills?
Essentials from Alison – Great roundup of cox tool bags, speed coaches, clothes, layers, accessories & hacks.
Ryan & Tara discussion included passing on knowledge to the next wave of rowers & coaches! Tara plugged Kit.com; a gold mine of ideas and direct product links.
“IN THE BOOTH”
Tip from Tara: The rower is your “customer” – practice the cycle of observe/reinforce practice focus, ask questions, provide ideas/feedback and circle back to observe/reinforce.
Mark, My Words: Hurricanes are no joke. Stay safe over there in DeLand FL, Mark!
Charlotte’s Catch: Head of the ‘Scog (Androscoggin ) happens on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019 at the Bates College boathouse on Maine’s Androscoggin River in Greene ME; entry deadline is 11:59 pm, THIS Sunday, Sept. 8. Registration deadline Sept. 8; and more information.
Alison at Large: For the shorter coxswain coxing a bowloader – inflate a beach ball and put it in a plastic bag below your feet, so you’ll have something to press your feet against instead of the abyss of the bow cavity.
Thanks again to our fabulous SPONSORS!
- RANDALL FOILS: Digging deep under the water with your oars is a challenge for many athletes. Canny canny engineer, Ian Randall, has come up with a solution that both prevents digging and also makes a boat go faster. Launched during 2019, these ingenious devices are glued or taped onto the top edge of your oar. They are a right angled attachment which helps the top of the oar remain near the water surface. You can see they are quite thick pieces of material. The design allows the same length foil to fit onto a sweep or a sculling oar.
- OAR INSPIRED: Thanks to Des and the team at OarInspired, we’ve got a special offer this month for RowingChat listeners. Get 20% off your purchase of a GoPro mount for a rowing boat using the coupon “rowing.chat.” There is nothing like a good video to help in training or crew debriefing, but getting the right camera position and angle can be challenging. Oar Inspired‘s new camera mount will let you position your camera in the best position to capture all the action.
GADGETS & GEAR recommended by listeners:
- Self-Centering Span Gauge – Allows Spans to be checked and adjusted far more quickly than you can do using a tape measure. From subscriber John Ewans.
- Pacifica Top by Athleta – a stylish, sun protecting recommendation from our July hashtag contest winner, Marnie Schroer of Spokane River Rowing Assn.
- Get Ready Now!: 12 Immediate Actions To Take Before Your Next Rowing Season (Rowing workbook Book 2) – Helps coaches and rowers get their equipment ready for the season, from episode #19 panelist Michael Davenport.
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