Square Blades Challenge #1
Time to get confident rowing square blades. Join our 3 part mini-series on how to coach yourself and learn square blade rowing and sculling.
Timestamps
01:00 This is for anyone who’s never successfully rowed square blades.
It taught Marlene how to stabilise the boat on the recovery, to learn timing of entry and exit without too much tension.
Why is it challenging?
– balance
– stability on the recovery
– keeping the handle in motion without tension
– releasing the finish at the right time
04:00 Learn the progression to practice so you can learn square blade rowing
We give you the tools to work things out for yourself.
The disciplined practice you need to do to learn square blades.
05:00 Fundamental drills for square blades
The stationary stability drill done stationary “in place”. The goal is to sit balanced with the blades square in the water, with equal weight into both riggers.
07:00 start with a half release – without the boat tipping side to side.
Then do a whole release. Learn the height difference for tapping down and how to control the oars returning into the water with weight over the handles.
The sculling Intensive course covers this drill in more detail.
https://fastermastersrowing.com/register/sculling-intensive/
09:00 Ensure you’re set up correctly in the boat at the finish.
09:30 Quarter Feather is the next drill.
At square blades you have to carry the blade high enough not to touch the water. Now learn how to feather just a bit – so the blade isn’t fully vertical. Build up to full slide if you choose starting at half slide.
Take the perception and guide from the stability drill into a moving stroke.
Do not be tempted to fully feather during this drill. Drag the oar along the water if you need.
Stop and reset if you get in a muddle – don’t “argue with your boat”!
Join the Faster Masters Training Group on Facebook if you want to discuss your progress through this learning.
Next time we will add in two more progressions.
Make these two drills part of your warm up each time you go rowing.
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