Blog de Puree

I had a particularly good, long row this morning, and held off our club’s top rower during a three-mile piece at about 75% pressure and a 26 to 28 stroke-per-minute (spm) rating. He crossed the river when I was about half-way along and he never caught me, so that’s a good sign.

Upon finishing, and returning to the dock upriver, he gave me some more coaching. An interesting technique item he pointed out was that I am putting my oar blades too deep into the water. Apparently, at the catch, I’m not letting the blades just fall into the water, but forcing them down and too deep. This could be the reason why I’m having issues with my finishes.

I think I impressed him enough though, because he told me to start using the club’s A-boats, which are reserved for the experienced and competitive rowers. After determining my weight at about 160, I’m going to try the club’s blue Hudson lightweight single. She’s a real beauty with sleek lines and a svelt blue and black paint-job to match. She also has a hull with a straighter line, so she won’t bounce along as much as the Kaschper single I’ve been rowing. If that boat ends up sitting too low in the water, I’ll then bump up to the midweight Fluidesign that we have. It will sit higher in the water because it’s made for rowers in the 145 to 180 pound range.

I’m a little nervous about starting with a new boat so soon before another race this weekend, but with a few days on the water and some coaching at a clinic being held at the club on Saturday, I should be okay to race.