Technically, in rowing a second order lever is used to pry a boat through the water by use of human leg, back and arm power. Physiologically it is classified as a 'power-endurance' sport. Each effort, the drive phase of the stroke, will last less than a second, and be followed by a recovery, or resting phase, of from less than a second up to 2 seconds depending on the level of effort and boat speed of the crew. Because of these demands rowers condition themselves for both endurance and strength. Furthermore, since the person is seated their body weight is supported by the equipment, the level of exertion can be extremely mild. At the other end of the exercise spectrum, rowing can be one of the most demanding sports because large muscle groups are employed in each effort.
It is a team sport for 2, 4, 5, or 9 people working together in a boat, called a shell. It can also be done by one person. When each person uses one oar it is called sweep rowing, but when 2 smaller oars are used it is called sculling.
Rowers sit in a boat facing backwards, that is they look at where they have been, not where they are going. The coxswain can lie in the bow or sit in the stern of a shell to see where they are going, steer the boat, and talk to the crew. For this the coxswain needs to be light, smart and loud.
The boats used now are most often made of a combination of advanced plastics such as carbon fiber, kevlar, epoxy, and Nomex. Smaller boats for 4 people will be about 40 feet long, and 8-person shells are about 57 feet long. Even though they appear to be very long and skinny, the shells are extremely light and strong. The lightest eight's will weigh about 205 lbs. In terms of price, used boats can be purchased for a few thousand dollars, however new shells cost as much as $35,000 depending on specifications and manufacturer. When properly cared for, the equipment will have a useful life of 10 to 20 years.
Rowers come in almost every size and shape. The smallest coxswains may be only 60 or 70 pounds, the biggest heavyweights are up to 300 pounds. Since rowing is done from the seated position it can accommodate such a diverse collection of individuals. Lightweight categories for men (up to about 160 lbs) and women (up to about 135 lbs) accommodate individuals not big enough to be competitive in the open weight category.
As a recreational sport, rowing is popular in all regions of the country (depending on the season). Competitive rowing is open to individuals of almost any age in all parts of the country. Races may be as short as 1 km for masters and youth, up to 5 or even 42 km. College women will race 5 km 'Head' races in the fall, and 2000m sprint races in the spring. In sprint races up to 6 crews line-up across a body of water, start at the same time, and race to a finish line. This differs from a 'Head' race where each team will row over the course individually, then compare times to determine the winner. |
(above, below): Coxswain Lindsay Brown
|
