When I was at school, we had really powerful rowers, 18 year olds who were doing 2K in 6 minutes, some of them became big names in international rowing. One of our coxes decided he wanted to row, everyone thought it was a joke, he weighed 55 kg at the time as a cox, about 1m75 I think. However he started training hard, built up strength. We did selection based on a pairs matrix system, everyone did a 2k on the water in pairs, switching boat each time, it was really hard work but at the end you had an average time for all your races and we were ranked accordingly. The former cox did really well and got a place in the second boat, a really fast boat, we got through to Friday (day 3) at Henley in the university college competition. He continued as a lightweight, won the World Cup and got to the finals in Beijing! He had extreme determination, awesome technique (already as a cox he had seen what worked or not) and obviously great physical capacities.
I tried Lwt last year (90kg 10%BF to 69kg ~4%BF) and it nearly killed me because at 188cm I am too short to even be considered "decent" at rowing in my country no matter how fast I actually am. I stumbled upon your videos during this time and have to say a huge thank you for opening my mind and for making me reconsider what is possible in the sport. Also, your analysis videos are more valuable to me then any coaching I can get here. Keep up the great content!
What about lung volume? Tall and heavy people usually have bigger lungs and can produce a lot more watts so they are at an advantage if they row well, right?
If you are tall and have big levers, you don't have to use the complete motion. A very tall athlete rowing at 3/4 lenght would still be faster as a small athlete at full length, because of the better levers. Given they have the same blade angle at the catch and the finish, and have the same power. Please correct me and explain, if I am wrong. I like your videos and your oppinions. They are very useful and inspiring.
A question for you Aram, is there data about the increased resistance of the boat according to the weight of the boat and crew? I went from 81 kg to 71 kg as a sculler, I didn't lose power (not the case for everyone) and I went faster on the water. How much easier is it to move a boat through the water if there are 10 kilos less water displaced? And it must matter even more for sprint formats, as the power to weight ratio counts even more when accelerating the first dozen strokes. I also remember the GB lightweight eight demolishing all the heavyweight opposition at the national championships. And the race times show that often lightweight boats would be finalists in the heavyweight races at international level. Maybe heavyweight rowers should try to trim down (within reason) rather than always trying to be the heaviest boat on the start line.
you can limit how many degrees your stroke is by having an oar with a longer inboard measurement. i'm 6'10 (208cm) and do a lot of single sculling, and i use oars with an inboard length of 88cm. it pretty much eliminates the issue of taking a stroke that's too long, although it does make my hands overlap at perpendicular
Please compare the current world best times in the M2x and LM2x. And then consider 70kg avg vs 88kg avg at age 26. (roughly) It is not easier to row lightweight.
As a 174 rower, I’ve been told that I can’t do it- this makes me feel like I can. Thankyou
When I was at school, we had really powerful rowers, 18 year olds who were doing 2K in 6 minutes, some of them became big names in international rowing. One of our coxes decided he wanted to row, everyone thought it was a joke, he weighed 55 kg at the time as a cox, about 1m75 I think. However he started training hard, built up strength. We did selection based on a pairs matrix system, everyone did a 2k on the water in pairs, switching boat each time, it was really hard work but at the end you had an average time for all your races and we were ranked accordingly. The former cox did really well and got a place in the second boat, a really fast boat, we got through to Friday (day 3) at Henley in the university college competition. He continued as a lightweight, won the World Cup and got to the finals in Beijing!
He had extreme determination, awesome technique (already as a cox he had seen what worked or not) and obviously great physical capacities.
I tried Lwt last year (90kg 10%BF to 69kg ~4%BF) and it nearly killed me because at 188cm I am too short to even be considered "decent" at rowing in my country no matter how fast I actually am.
I stumbled upon your videos during this time and have to say a huge thank you for opening my mind and for making me reconsider what is possible in the sport.
Also, your analysis videos are more valuable to me then any coaching I can get here.
Keep up the great content!
thank you for your great feedback Laird
Laird Brown I think your height is actually preatty good for heavy weight, you probably are lacking consistency but good luck becoming faster ✊💪
Robert Manson is 189 tall! Weight 87. Watch him rowing. Its a lecture for everybody.
Can you please make a video about flexibility increasing the lenght of your stroke therefore making you apply more power for every stroke 🙏
Its incredible how there is a science behind everything, keep up with the videos!
Really needed to hear this, great video
Nice way to end the height/weight discussion
Awesome video this really helped me boost my confidence.
What about lung volume? Tall and heavy people usually have bigger lungs and can produce a lot more watts so they are at an advantage if they row well, right?
nudel kuchen that is very true but they also have extra weight which balances things
Thanks for the story at the end. Very inspiring and helpful!
If you are tall and have big levers, you don't have to use the complete motion. A very tall athlete rowing at 3/4 lenght would still be faster as a small athlete at full length, because of the better levers. Given they have the same blade angle at the catch and the finish, and have the same power. Please correct me and explain, if I am wrong. I like your videos and your oppinions. They are very useful and inspiring.
I think you are right. Look at Olli Zeidler he is over 2m tall and use only 3/4 of his length and is incredible fast and powerfull.
But i think its not so important to be tall and heavie, you simply need to be adicted an dedicated to rowing.
great video series,I'm a high school coach and I'm going to have my athletes watch.Thanks
Thank you for that feedback Ed!
A question for you Aram, is there data about the increased resistance of the boat according to the weight of the boat and crew? I went from 81 kg to 71 kg as a sculler, I didn't lose power (not the case for everyone) and I went faster on the water. How much easier is it to move a boat through the water if there are 10 kilos less water displaced? And it must matter even more for sprint formats, as the power to weight ratio counts even more when accelerating the first dozen strokes.
I also remember the GB lightweight eight demolishing all the heavyweight opposition at the national championships. And the race times show that often lightweight boats would be finalists in the heavyweight races at international level. Maybe heavyweight rowers should try to trim down (within reason) rather than always trying to be the heaviest boat on the start line.
My coach said to the whole boat that I had short legs 😭😝
As someone who’s 175
(I just turned 16) this gives me hope for potentially competing in university rowing.
I’m a boy by the way lol
There are coaches who will ignore performance, but they are usually not coaching top crews. So, performance matters.
The problem is coaches are biased towards taller rowers so us smaller rowers get rejected no matter how hard we try
Cavan Hagan never heard a more truthful statement in my life
Cavan Hagan Very true
you can limit how many degrees your stroke is by having an oar with a longer inboard measurement. i'm 6'10 (208cm) and do a lot of single sculling, and i use oars with an inboard length of 88cm. it pretty much eliminates the issue of taking a stroke that's too long, although it does make my hands overlap at perpendicular
nice story Aram !
Thank you very much!
You are wisdom.
I am looking forward to more vids
Please anlyze the German Eight
What's the name of the outro song? Can't find it by searching any of the ones you listed :(
Awesome! Saludos desde México!
I'm 185cm rower who's about 73/72 kg, does anyone know the weight range I should be aiming at to be
I'm 17 btw
Please compare the current world best times in the M2x and LM2x. And then consider 70kg avg vs 88kg avg at age 26. (roughly)
It is not easier to row lightweight.
Man, I’m 196 and feel completely insufficient now 😢
Seriously? Why?
Great story !!!
I love your videos. Not keen on watching a video that was made in a car though.
Excelent....