ROWING STORY.

Rowing calls/terminology
Squaring - blades are perpendicular to the water. This is when you actual move the water in the stroke.
Feathering - Blades are parallel with the water. This is after the stroke when recovering getting ready for the next stroke.
Recovery - After finishing a stroke the time in between when you return to the catch.
Catch - Where the stroke begins at the top of the slide arms out.
Slide - A metal track on the boat the allows the seat to move and helps generate power from the legs.
Hard 10 - The next 10 strokes are with extra power.
Rate/ stroke rate - The number of strokes taken in one minute.
7 up - Not the pop a rowing strategy. Ever 7 strokes up the rate and power.
Crab - When your oar is stuck in the water and it is hard to get out.



I waited at the starting the gate. The air was cold around me, the ridiculously small amount of cloths we had for out “uniform” didn’t help much either. We were wearing a red spandex singlet and black spandex shorts, that was it. My hair still red in the sunlight seemed dull after last night hair massacre with the shaver. Alas I was proud to be wearing my new faux hawk. The changed direction on us going cross wise in the river. That’s good I thought It will give us an advantage. My partner and I were used to rowing in unfavourable weather conditions for the sport. I hated the waiting, I was nervous, oh so nervous. I sat there ready, my heart beating like crazy, barely able to control myself, and waited, and waited. It felt like hours but was probably less than a minute. Everyone was concentrating, ready for the race that was about to begin. Then the worst part of the race; the calling of school. I heard them call the schools in order.
“Lane 1! Lane 2! Lane 3! Lane 4!” That was us. My starting racing a shifted my position and waited for the announcer to finish the call.
“All rowers up to the catch”
“Attention!” (Square the blades at the top of the catch so you are ready to row.
“READY!”
My heart nearly skipped a beat as I waited. I hate the waiting, it kills me. It was like the whole world stood still for a second all rowers waited for the one call.
“ROW!!!”

My boat took off as fast as we could. We did our usual racing start. 10x half strokes. 1x really long stroke and then 20x powerful strokes. We started rowing I missed my first stroke which was bad but I was able to catch up. We went down and I could feel water cascading over me with every stroke. Remind me to teach my partener how not to splash the bow seat next time.
I looked back to make sure we didn’t hit anyone. I hate sitting in the back it adds a lot more pressure because I have to make sure we stay on course. For once we were keeping a straight path. I saw that we were a head of two boats but behind three others. I saw the 500 meter sign come up.
“HARD 10!” I yelled. Another reason I don’t like bow is I have to give all the commands. Oye it’s complicated. We picked up the rate and I could already feel myself getting really tired. Breaths came hard, and we were only at the 1000 meter mark. Half way their. It had already been about 3 minutes, but with rowing those 3 minutes are hell and the next 3 are even worse. I cought a crab on my left side which slowed us down a lot and I knew my partner would be pissed. I quickly feathered the blade and got right back into rhythm. I could hear now the cheers and yells of our school.
“HARD 20! LETS GIVE THEM A SHOW” We picked up the rate and gave it even more power. I wish I had not given that command. The stroke had increased also and I was already to tired to keep it out easily. We kept rowing we were still ahead of the two crews we had been beating this whole time but the other three boats were way to fair away to catch up to. We past the 1500 mark.
“LAST 500 LET’S PICK IT UP!” I was already out of breath yelling was not helping me at all. We picked the rate up again getting ready for our final sprint. 400 , 350, 300 ,250. It was time for the final stretch. “7 UP!” We picked up the rate we were now at around 40 strokes a minute and killing ourselves. The last 250 seemed to drag on forever, I was tired, cold, and exhausted. We had to give it everything we had though” 4, 5, 6, 7, “7 UP!” Again we picked up the rate and again I almost missed the stroke. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5, 6, 7 “7 UP” We were now at a full sprint our rate was higher than usually and I was giving it everything I could. 50 meters left. I couldn’t breathe anymore but we had to finish. We completed the last 5-6 strokes and I was dead. I could not move, or think, I just sat there.
We came in 4th that race, it was by far our best race of the season. I was so tired and sore I couldn’t even row the boat back to the docks for a while. My arms had locked up and I could barely move them. I was breathing so heavily I am sure my partner must have thought I was having an attack of some sorts. The race was over, the thrill, excitement, fear, had past, unfortunately the pain was just beginning. My arms were killing me and my legs were weak, I felt sick in my stomach. This is the best feeling ever. It may sound weird but it is the best feeling. The water had finally stopped cascading over my from my partner but I was not cold I was boiling, the sun was out and bright.

The race was over, rowing season was finished. I would give anything to race that race again. It is all worth it, every second of pain, hardship, is worth the excitement, fun, and thrill of the race.





Well I hope this helped understand rowing. I may be rambling on at the end. It is unedited but I wanted to type it out and I hope I didn’t miss anything. Please tell me what you think about it