Thursday, August 31, 2006

Post-Worlds Blather

I just spent an hour typing up a report on my impressions about this years World Championships, but Blogger, being the bitch that it is, deleted it on me without warning. I'm not going to type that whole thing in again, so I'm going to make it as brief as possible. If you can't follow along, ask someone else to translate.

US: Gold W8+, new world's best time. Bronze W4-, M8+, disappointing for those who were expecting a repeat of last year (like myself).

Big upset: NZ placed third in the W2x, behind AUS and GER; this is the first time since 2001 the Evers-Swindell twins have lost a World Championship race.

Hometown favorites: GBR M4- and LM1x won their events; the M4- by less than a second and the LM1x by setting a new world's best time.

The Chinese won the LW2x, LW4x, and the LM4-; two of those boats are Olympic-class. If these trends continue, this should be interestng come 2008.

That German LM2- that I said looked like a pair of juniors last post? They won their event. Pwned!

Is that it? I think that's it. I'm going to bed.

Monday, August 21, 2006

Put Some Money Down On This Horse

"China has fielded what looks to be a pretty strong, large team here this year, and their crews have done well over the past two days. The preparation for Beijing are apparent, right down to athlete development across the board. The Chinese also boast the youngest rower at this years Worlds: Xuefei Fan, three-seat in the LW4x, turns
sixteen this coming October."
-Row2k

Hehehe.

In other Worlds quibble: take a look at the German LM2-
here. I've never really seen Germans fielding lightweight crews before; these guys look like a pair of juniors. And check out the Indian M2x...I wonder who's got the better erg time in that boat?

In actual racing news, the US took the top spot in their heats for both M8+ and W8+; I'm interested to see if Teti and Co. can pull off the three-peat this year. The M4x also put up a fight in their heat today; I was listening to it live up until the halfway point when I had to leave for work. I waited the whole morning wondering what the result of the race is.

So far, the US crews that are going to the reps are: W2-, M1x, W4-, M2-, M2x, LW1x, LW4x, LM2x, and the W4x.

Last word: I love
this shot. Drama, misery...you can see all the emotions of the sport on these guys' two faces.

Sunday, August 20, 2006

World Championships: The Beginning

World Rowing Championship racing starts in five hours! I'm very excited; there's nothing better in a non-Olympic year than this week. Good luck to all the US crews racing tomorrow: W4-, LW1x, W1x, M1x, W2-, M2-, W2x, M2x, and M4-. I think this last race will be very exciting, although perhaps not for the reasons I'd like. The Great Britain M4-, the heirs to the Redgrave/Pinsent/Cracknell dynasty have swept the World Cup races, and I'm sure they'll provide some interesting racing for the American crew, who are in the lane over from them in their heat.

The race I've got my eye on the most is the LW1x, where the United States is being represented by Lisa Schlenker. Her story is one of the most remarkable in modern rowing, I believe. She's currently 41 years old, and didn't even begin rowing until she was 28! Now a ten-time national teamer, she's represented the country in the lightweight quad, double, and single sculls, was the first lightweight woman to break the 7:00 2K barrier (in which she also holds the world record), and has won three silver medals at the World Championships (LW1x, 1999, 2002; LW4x, 1998). The last race for the LW1x at the
US Trials was also very dramatic. The best of luck to her, who I think serves as an example for athletes everywhere, rowers and non.

Thursday, August 17, 2006

Our History

There's been a few postings on the Row2k website about an ambitious project Peter Mallory has taken up: he's writing a book that traces the evolution of the rowing stroke from at least as far back as Ned Hanlan in the late 19th Century. There are two chapters from his manuscript available on Row2k starting here. I urge you to read them, they're quite compelling if you have any interest whatsoever in the history of rowing. He is also asking for video footage and books that might be able to help him in his writing. His website is here, and you can find the stuff he's looking for under the "Wish List" tab.

Monday, August 07, 2006

Oops

I can't believe I haven't done this before today: there's another rowing blog out there that I've been reading a lot of lately, and he's the first reader of this blog who's made note of that fact. So, without further ado, may I introduce Coach Jay and his blog, Launch Exhaust! My apologies, Coach, for not giving you the link-up earlier.

Woohoo!

Sophie Balmry is racing at the Head of the Charles! *Swoons*

I'm not a crazy stalker, I swear. They posted the singles draw on the Charles
website today.

And if you have no idea what I'm talking about, read
this.

Friday, August 04, 2006

Rowing, Sex, and Lightweights...Oh My!

A few oldies but goodies for you (and if you're new to the sport, something new to laugh about).

Top 10 Reasons Why Rowing is Better Than Sex

1. You can row with minors and not get arrested.
2. You do not have to worry where your oar has been before.
3. Two words: "Cox Box".
4. You can row with up to seven other people at the same time.
5. Your oar will never give you a S.T.D. (except crabs).
6. Female rowers give Head races a new name.
7. Let's face it, it's not.
8. When rowing you have a coach to tell you what you did wrong.
9. After a good hard row, everybody is satisfied.
10. In rowing, the catch is aggressive, the hands quick, the slide smooth, the drive powerful, and the oar is always hard.

Top 10 Reasons Why Athletic Directors Will Not Make Rowing a Varsity Sport

1. There will be more rowers than football players.
2. Not enough injuries for athletic trainers.
3. Team graduation rate is too high.
4. Team GPA is too high.
5. Can win by sitting on your bum and going backward.
6. There is no offense or defense in rowing; all rowers do the same thing; there are no incredible plays during competition.
7. Coaching staff is too small.
8. No need for maintenance crew to maintain practice and competition sites.
9. No extensive recruiting budget.
10. Does not generate revenue.

Top 10 Reasons Why People Row Lightweight

1. LOVE IT, LIVE IT, ROW IT!!!
2. It's skill, not size, that matters.
3. Definition is sexy.
4. They're scrawny.
5. Endurance training increases libido.
6. It's better than being a butt-weight.
7. They like the feel of Saran Wrap on their body.
8. The lack of protein stimulates growth.
9. The extra layers of clothing compliment figure.
10. To meet incredibly interesting people in the sauna.