The Real Blades of Glory

The champs!

2011-12-10T06:24:00.000-08:00

Kevin Filer and his crew (pictured here), were kind enough to purchase my blades of glory tshirts (which you can buy here for only $13 including shipping) and while wearing them, they won their corporate regatta, beating out a handful of other teams! Nice work gentlemen!

Check out some other happy purchasers sporting their real blades of glory t-shirts! Captured on a swing in Ithaca, NY. And a quiet moment way out west on a class field-trip.

Connect

2009-08-24T12:32:00.000-07:00

With me on twitter-
@rowingtshirts
www.twitter.com/rowingshirts !!

Let's continue to develop the rowing community online.

Alumni 8 at the hooch

2009-08-24T12:29:00.001-07:00

Current rowers better watch out. There are some alumni out to get them (the list serve has more than 8 people- you think there will have to be seat racing? Rut-ro). Dust off those oars, smack the spiders off the boats. Gear up for the cliff bar and gatorade diet. It's on.

Rowing T Shirts for Sale: The Real Blades of Glory!

2009-05-02T13:16:00.000-07:00

Hey there- happy holidays!

Thanks for checking out the rowing t-shirt I designed. It'll look great on you! (Check out these folks who bought it and love it).

It's an original hand-illustrated design (if you click on the picture it will enlarge so you can see the details).

I have smalls, mediums, and larges available. Each shirt is $13, including shipping! If you're interested in making a purchase you can do it directly via the paypal button below.

Beat the twinkie

2008-04-02T11:25:00.000-07:00

"I won't get into the reasons for seat racing here. I believe it's the best method for selection of a fast lineup, followed closely by lots of work in pairs." Me too. Launch Exhaust gives an awesome sum up of seat racing- which is probably (let's hope) happening on your team at this time of the year.

I'm old now

2008-04-02T11:22:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was rowing alumni weekend, and the current team raced at Lake Wheeler too. On Friday the alum had a dinner at Top O. It was a little bit awkward because I didn't know a ton of people, but my novice coach said I HAD to come, so I did. We had to wear name tags too haha. She sat next to me and we talked the whole time- we only see each other about once a year now so it was a good chance to catch up. She lives in Asheville which is about 3 hours away from here. She has a beautiful daughter now too, Bella. Anyhow that was fun, lost of good food- crab dip, sweet potato fries etc. And then on Saturday morning Cali and I drove out to Lake Wheeler to watch the girls race. We got there a little late, around 9, as I walked her at home for an hour first. The girls took on GW, GM, and Duke- and the results were pretty stellar. They raced 8s, and 4s. It was fun because a ton of my friends are on the team, and a few old teammates came too. Unfortunately it started raining and got rather cold later on, so it could have been better. The races went from 8 to around 1. Then we had a barbecue lunch under the pavilion.

2008-03-03T05:22:00.000-08:00

"There is advantage in the wisdom won from pain." -- Aeschylus

And Mahe with the win

2008-03-03T05:17:00.000-08:00

In the first of three races, Mahe has won, defeating Waddell. Two more to go....

You row girl!

2008-03-03T05:08:00.000-08:00

Two women have arrived in the West Indies after rowing across the Atlantic naked to win a charity race. Bank marketing manager, Rachel, 37, spent three years planning the race with long-term friend, Lin, and to date they have raised more then £68,000 for Breast Cancer Care. Apparently a giant wave capsized their boat part of the way through, but they managed to finish. (It's a good thing David Williams wasn't there for that hehe.) Full story here.

Raising that much money is awesome! It's great that even a low profile media sport, such as rowing, can garner enough attention to raise money like that. Everyone benefited- I can't imagine the great feeling of accomplishment when crossing that finish line.

Beat that

2008-02-28T08:07:00.002-08:00

Greatest distance rowed in 24 hours
The greatest distance rowed in 24 hours (upstream and downstream) is 163.42 miles by Matthias Auer, Christian Klandt and Olaf Behrend (all German) at DRUM Rowing Club in Berlin on Aug. 2-3, 2003.
See others to beat here.

tewkay tewday

2008-02-28T08:07:00.001-08:00

Alas the dreaded time has come. The first official 2k of the year today. A bit late might I add, and only two weeks after the last 6k. Got lots of sleep the past 2 nights. Ate broccoli and bananas- my fuel food. Bring it home.

Showdown

2008-02-27T05:32:00.000-08:00

Massive public interest in the Olympic trials showdown between New Zealand rowers Mahe Drysdale and Rob Waddell has convinced officials to perform a U-turn and allow spectators and media to attend. It's the equivalent of the Sunday night raw lineup.

It's exciting because Drysdale has won the world title each of the past three years while Waddell has just come out of retirement after winning the gold medal at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

Under the qualifying rules for Beijing, only one of them can compete in single sculls. The loser is still likely to make the team on one of the other crews.

The pair have raced each other four times this season with the 33-year-old Waddell holding a 3-1 lead. Imagine the pressure! I can't wait to see who will come out on top, when the race really counts. More info.

Crashin

2008-02-27T05:27:00.001-08:00

Crash B's were held this past weekend. See the results here.

My favorite tid bit from row2k's summary "CRASH-B's have no relevance in the spring racing season, it is an erg race," and that the challenge (for all coaches and rowers) is to turn that power into boat speed."

New poll

2008-02-25T09:03:00.000-08:00

Is up and running. If you get a chance, please cast your vote! My vote is for a guest course close by. I enjoy traveling to my favorite 2k course in Tennessee. It's a nice change of scenery, the weather has always been nearly perfect- with a tail wind, and the course is mapped out very clearly with differently colored buoys. Also the course always draws a fantastic crowd. And the natural landscape is shaped nicely, so that fans can observe the races and finish closely and easily, in addition to watching you launch...all from one place.

It's a real thing

2008-02-21T13:59:00.000-08:00

That's right- over training does happen. Look out, or it might get you, bubonic plague style! The Chinese have been the first to be effected.

St Louis

2008-02-20T14:08:00.000-08:00

Recruiting trips are usually not on my list of favorite things to do. I catch a flight, land and rent a car, drive to my hotel, sleep for the evening, then wake up early to go watch a race; or in this case, an erg sprint competition. There were only 4 junior events I needed to watch, so after less than 2 hours of watching high schoolers convince themselves they were pulling hard on the erg, I was done. Great, another 6 hours until my flight home. Whatever will I do? Luckily for this trip, I was in St. Louis. AKA home of the original Anheuser Busch brewery, with free tours offered all day long. I decided what better way to make a recruiting trip worthwhile? So I found my way to the brewery and went on an hour long guided tour, seeing everything from the Clydesdale horses and Dalmatians to the filling machine that fills 1,250 beer bottles every minute. It was really interesting to see the whole process of how beer is made, but the best part by far were the 2 free beers at the end of the tour. If only recruiting was this fun every trip!

The price is right

2008-02-17T17:54:00.000-08:00

We did a cool erg workout the other day. Ha well, I never thought cool and erg workout would be used in the same sentence. But this was as fun as it gets, as far as erging goes. We played the price is right. Bob Barker even made an appearance in our erg room at 6am- errrr not. Anyhow, here's how you play: Pick a specific amount of meters like 1000. Set your erg to "just row". Try to row as close to 1000 meters as possible without going over it. The goal is to land (stop erging) right on 1000. If more than one person lands on 1000, than the person who did it the fastest wins.

This is funny, from Gdiscussion

2008-01-24T14:10:00.000-08:00

"My fiance and I are searching for a honeymoon destination following our mid-March wedding, preferably somewhere with a nearby rowing club that might allow us to take out a 2x on a scenic river. Any suggestions on good places, either in the US or abroad?"

Response: Don't row with each other!

Is dating a rower on your team like dating someone at work? Generally frowned upon? Too much together time? Or does it mean you have similar priorities and interests? If you can make that work- you can make anything work? Too many questions, not enough answers.

Never too early for summer plans

2008-01-24T14:02:00.000-08:00

Around this time of year college aged rowing focused hopefuls begin to look at summer training camps. I've heard a lot of talk about the U23 training camp at Princeton this year. But what about a career/job- how do you balance the 3 summers you have before you enter "real life." What if your "real life" will be rowing? The question is which summers should be concentrated on an internship, and which summers should be dedicated to training. And then if you elect to train- where do you go? With camps located from Philly to Washington state, the options seem endless. Especially if your numbers are low and you get accepted most places.

The CIA for rowing

2008-01-24T13:59:00.000-08:00

Well, not exactly: The five-year agreement between UK Sport, the public funding agency for elite competition, and BAE Systems, the defense company whose products include the Eurofighter, will give athletes and their coaches access to 18,000 engineers specialising in aerodynamics, simulation and mathematical modelling. The sports set to benefit from the input are cycling, sailing, canoeing, rowing and bob skeleton. Get the full scoop here.

"The Government has agreed a £600 million funding package with UK Sport to support 1,400 athletes across 24 Olympic and 20 Paralympic sports through to 2012, but has insisted that £100 million comes from the private sector." That's a ton of money, you must really want to win.

Philly

2008-01-17T12:46:00.000-08:00

"In its second year, US Rowing is organizing a Diversity Conference in rowing. The conference, to be held in February under the banner, “Changing the Tide: Introducing Urban Youth to the Sport of Rowing,” will be held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The conference follows on from the very successful inaugural conference in 2007 which looked at making rowing accessible to urban youth. This year it will address the issues of access, affordability and diversity." Complete article here.

Universities like the U of Cincinnati can not even afford to keep their womens D1 program afloat. I think this is a lofty goal. Bringing a ball and a cement court to kids in need of a good activity to keep them busy and away from worse, is a lot easier than a boathouse, boats, launch, trailer, etc. How about rowers opening and staffing a recreation center, with basketball courts? No good? Ok, volleyball courts?

Aunty Em, Aunty Em

2008-01-17T12:39:00.000-08:00

The boathouse at Vancouver Lake was completely demolished and many rowing shells snapped apart. In one neighborhood fish from a nearby lake and a man trapped in a Porta-Potty rained down from the sky. Get the details here.

Come on do-gooders, wanna donate to help rebuild? Check this out.

Brazil baby

2008-01-17T12:33:00.000-08:00

Rio de Janeiro believes staging a successful Pan American Games last year and being selected to host the 2014 World Cup will boost its chances of landing the 2016 Olympics. Read the full story here.

I did a 20 page report on Brazil- it's economy, it's business regulations and infrastructure, etc. I think it would be great for the next Olympics to be held there. It's an up and coming country- the games will give them the boosted publicity they need. And if they handle it correctly, it'll get them on the right track to developing the profile they need.

I can exercise you

2008-01-07T11:24:00.000-08:00

This can be your phys ed. Hmm anyhow- there is a new drill my coach is having far too much fun with lately. It's called virtual rowing. Basically your team stands in a line and you pick a stroke rating, as you would in a boat. Let's say you select 28. The cox has the stop watch and you have a minute to do 28 squats. But these aren't ordinary squats- first go as low as you can go (no added weight) in squat form, and then, pushing off as you would in the boat, spring into the air as high as you can go. Now 28 of these might not be too bad. But try doing that times 15. Not so much fun anymore.

The show sunk

2007-12-31T10:12:00.000-08:00

It was Olympic gold medal oarsman Sir Steve Redgrave's dream to shape a group of young men who had gone off the rails into a rowing team fit for the Henley Regatta. But they failed to qualify for Henley by just three seconds and their disappointment has now turned to anger as ITV has canned the programme, dashing the boys' hopes of stardom and of showing the nation how their lives had dramatically changed for the better. Read the full story here.

Bon bons and cooookies

2007-12-28T10:08:00.001-08:00

With all the holiday buzz in the air, I'm sure that visions of sugar plums are dancing in your head, along with 100s of other tasty treats. So I figured, why not combine your favorite food with your "favorite sport." Have you ever heard of a "cake race"?

Let me explain how it works. You bring a cake as your entry fee (any cake you want), race (on the erg), then the cakes are the prizes. The finishing order determines the cake picking order. This can be done with a variety of tasty foods, cookies, brownies, etc.

Indian Wildlife

2007-12-28T09:59:00.001-08:00

"Activities include boating, rowing, fun obstacle course including burma bridge, spiders web, tarzan swing, fishing, fun treasure hunt trek, volley ball, table tennis, golf putting etc."

If that doesn't grab your attention, I don't know what will. I stumbled upon this gem as I was browsing the internet today. These activities, along with many others are all available at the island resort DamDama, which is 42 kms from Delhi. I don't know how legitimate all their claims are, as I have never been. But this vacation adventure sounds like something I would enjoy. I mean tarzan swing, come on, how do you pass that up? The obstacle course components sound like something I would have drawn in my ideal back yard as a kid. Anyhow they offer rowing, so I thought it was relevant. If anyone has ever been here or anywhere else similar please offer up your words of wisdom.

Oh yes, now I want one

2007-12-28T09:53:00.001-08:00

When was the last time you bird watched or explored an island during your rowing practice? This site cracks me up. Although I do realize they are talking about leisurely rowing...why not just rent a skiff.

Rigged

2007-12-28T09:47:00.000-08:00

If you've got some spare time over the holiday, you might enjoy giving this book a glance. Although it's not really up my alley. Sounds like rowing gets a brief shout out. "Boston's Ben Mezrich is best known for writing fast-paced, testosterone-fueled nonfiction narratives about smart young hustlers who beat the odds, make a fast financial killing, and enjoy lifestyles of over-the-top luxury. The book's hero is David Russo of Brooklyn, who studied at Oxford and later Harvard Business School. As Mezrich repeatedly reminds us, Russo is more street-smart and scrappy than intellectual. As a member of the Oxford crew team, he once punched a rival rower in the face, nearly being expelled for his breach of conduct. He can hold his liquor too, and can, if challenged, exchange expletive-laden insults with anyone." The full story can be found here.

Moovie: Philadelphia

2007-12-21T08:24:00.000-08:00

Philadelphia is an Academy Award- winning 1993 drama film revolving around HIV/AIDS. The film stars Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, Joanne Woodward, Jason Robards, and Antonio Banderas. It was partly inspired by the story an attorney who in 1987 sued the law firm Baker & McKenzie for unfair dismissal in one of the first AIDS discrimination cases.

In the opening credits there is a brief scene with a four, a single and a pair on the Schuylkill. There are is also some rowing memorabilia in Andrew Beckett's (Tom Hanks) apartment- trophies and sculling blades.

2007-12-21T08:22:00.000-08:00

"To improve the oarsman you must improve the man."
- Steve Fairbairn

Many coaches overlook this.

Iraqi, freedom?

2007-12-21T08:17:00.000-08:00

"Under the embers of the wintry evening sun the Tigris river, usually as brown as old boots, had turned almost blood red. Its waters were calm but its oily sheen was disturbed by the oars of a rower as he sculled his way through the city's fractured heart.

Alone and apparently indifferent to the threat of a sniper's bullet, Muhammad Rafiq eased up on his stroke rate and tacked over to the shore. He hauled his craft up the bank to a mosque - the temporary headquarters for his rowing club since US soldiers had commandeered its real boathouse in 2003. Inside the courtyard, his forehead beaded with sweat, Muhammad laid a few old blankets over his upturned boat and padlocked the oars to a railing." Great story here.

"I help to keep the peace so that I can row in peace, and that is my passion."

Sick of erging...

2007-12-18T18:32:00.000-08:00

Go on a vacation. A great way to train in the winter is to do some high altitude skiing. Cross country skiing is the best. The mentality behind this wintery wonderland trip is that you are supposed to do lesser straining activities at higher altitude, as opposed to the high intensity workouts (like power pieces on the erg) at a relatively low altitude. So it will serve as a nice break...mentally atleast- well maybe. It will be a change of scenery and could be loads of fun. So call some friends, pack your warmest fleece and spandex and hit the road for the Alps closest to your neighborhood.

We're all poor at this time of the year?

2007-12-18T13:52:00.000-08:00

If you haven't already noticed it's that time of year again. The time when everyone expects to be tipped. Regardless of what they have done for you throughout the year, or how well they have done it. The doorman, super, handyman, locker room attendant, trainer, baby sitter, dog walker, beauty salon, cleaning person, day care center, garbage collector, mail carrier, paperboy and parking attendants. And now, you can add one more to your list Row2k...don't you feel sad for them? Read their shameless, "we do more for you than anyone else ever will" pitch here. Actually they probably do, ha. I am sure they are not the only ones soliciting at this time. I just thought it was a great example. I guess money really is what makes the world go around.

It's that time again

2007-12-18T13:49:00.000-08:00

The 2008 C.R.A.S.H.-B. Sprints will be held Sunday, February 24 at the Agganis Arena at Boston University.

General info here
History here
Register here

Burgers

2007-12-18T13:42:00.000-08:00

A local teenager has been awarded the "Go Active, Crew Award" from McDonald's. Terry Lovegrove is an employee at the Simcoe McDonalds, and is an Ontario rowing champion. Lovegrove has been given a 500 dollar athletic grant to use for rowing equipment from McDonalds. He is hopeful the grant will help him reach his goal as a rower. Lovegrove will be competing as a member of the Canadian Junior National Rowing team in the new year. (Story found here)

Raise your hand if you knew McDonald's had a go active crew award. Hmmm.

I wonder what this was inspired by- or whom. McDonald's seems like a very bizarre corporate sponsor/endorser of rowing. An ivy league prestigious sport-- and fast food. A sport in which you need to be in top physical shape -- and the product that created the movie Super Size Me. Just an unlikely duo I think. But any money flowing to athletes is a good cause in my mind, I am not at all objecting.

Nike

2007-12-17T14:03:00.000-08:00

Nike's got some great marketing out there right now.

The advertising relates to individuals as they can record the number of miles they have run, yet ties in a community feature as total miles for all are recorded. You can be a part of someone else's challenge and record your own accomplishments. So YOU can be a part of something BIGGER. Feel good about yourself yet?

When is the rowing commercial coming Nike? How many meters rowed on the erg...I can see it now. Or is Concept2 all over that like gravy on mashed taters.

Cheap apartment

2007-12-17T13:58:00.000-08:00

This story prompted me to think- has anyone ever camped out unseen and unheard in their boat house? I don't think I would want to, in any of mine- as the floors were hard stones and plenty of spiders already inhabited the area. Although a night or two of good fun "visiting" the boathouse I can see as easily do-able. I would probably jump with every creek though.

Crazy rowers

2007-12-17T07:13:00.000-08:00

The three Norfolk men helping to make up a 14-man crew attempting to break the Atlantic rowing record set off as expected on Saturday. Launching from Gran Canaria shortly after 1pm, they were seen off by about 500 people, including the local mayor and a jazz band.<-- haha a jazz band They are in a boat called La Mondiale, on which they will row, eat and sleep continuously and unsupported in a bid to beat the world record of 35 days, eight and a half hours. They are in a head-to-head race with an American team (whoot whoot) in a multihull boat called Orca. In the first 24 hours La Mondiale covered 93 miles, which is roughly equal to the average speed they will need to travel at over the next month in order to be in with a chance of beating the record. The finish line for the rowing marathon is at Barbados, a distance of around 3,000 miles. The Norfolk men are businessman Julian Barn-well, cardiologist Liam Hughes and financial adviser Mike Tooth. Story found here.

You can follow the team's progress by logging on to www.oceanrowevents.com.

Battle of the Titans

2007-12-17T07:05:00.000-08:00

Then Waddell did the seemingly impossible and blitzed Drysdale in their Lake Karapiro showdown yesterday and suddenly I was flinging it about in the Waddell camp. What a great champion, and how on earth did he make a comeback like that? What a freak.

Check out the full article here.

Oww oww

2007-12-13T14:13:00.000-08:00

"Steamy shots of Staines Boat Club members in a cheeky calendar should set tongues wagging for an entire year."

Ha- would you volunteer to be in a calendar like this? I wonder how they selected which team members were in the pictures. The money raised will be put towards new equipment. More and more I see this being done, I think this is the second calendar like it this year. I am still not convinced that this is the best way to rack in money- taking off your clothes I mean. Our countries are in a sad state. What ever happened to a good ole fashion bake off, or car wash? Check out the full details and the pics here

For those thrown together outings

2007-12-13T14:08:00.000-08:00

A UK company has created a program that helps you plan line-ups for your rows. It just helps manage everything, like who is available and when. The following tools are provided:

An online calendar of squad outings and squad member availability.
A central repository for all squad member's contact and ARA details.
The ability for squad members to view upcoming outings and confirm their availability instantly.

I was hoping it would provide in depth calculations about which rowers are the best fit for each seat etc- making seat setting a science. No luck with anything like that yet.

Check out the software here

Push it real good

2007-12-13T14:00:00.001-08:00

Windsor Boy's School boys broke the 100000m world record. Check out the footage here

Yuk

2007-12-06T14:08:00.001-08:00

What is the weirdest thing that has ever ended up in your boat, or that your boat has ended up in?

One time when I was rowing a fish jumped in- and then proceeded to flop around by my legs. G-ross! Needless to say someone else had to get it out for me.

Another time, during a row over, my boat ended up stuck on a sand bank in the middle of a river. Our bow had to get out, knee deep in water, and push us out.

Rowing Competition- off the water

2007-12-06T13:53:00.000-08:00

This is an interesting take on "social media", "web 2.0" and how to build a website. Why not have everyone else do the "hard" part, the writing, for you? The competition builds your traffic and you get the best of the best.

I am excited to see who will participate. I am curious whether the more prolific rowing bloggers currently writing their own blogs will join the bandwagon and start writing on the New Zealand site...maybe the pull of the rowing memorabilia will be enough? I doubt it.

One sentence in the site's proposal sort of struck me as odd though. "All rowers like to read about the experiences of other rowers - the ups and downs of training and racing. That great erg test, the coach who thinks your face doesn't fit or that seat race you really should have won...." It really got me thinking- why do people read rowing blogs. My question to you is, what do you most like to read about? I couldn't give 2 rats asses about other people's great erg tests. We all know what it feels like when we have a good piece, and we know what we individually do to get the results we are pleased with. I don't find that entertaining at all.

I like to know what is going on in the world of rowing- that is why I read other rowing blogs. I like to feel that I am part of something larger. Quick story about that...my mom finally made it to one of my regattas my senior year- The Knecht Cup. She no sooner arrived, when she started crying. Why? you ask. Because she had no idea it was "such a big deal." She had never seen so many trailers, or other girls doing the same thing I was.

Cool combination

2007-12-06T13:47:00.000-08:00

No Limits Rowing provides rowing camps with tours in Mexico City. You can visit one of the largest Pyramids in the world- The Sun Pyramid built by the Aztecs. And enjoy a visit to one the most famous beers in the world "CORONA". Cerveceria Modelo the company that manufactures the most exported beer in the world will provide a tour inside the factory and tastings are included. Check it out here

For the internet savvy

2007-11-28T12:43:00.000-08:00

And talkative... There is a new discussion board forum (Rating40)- published in New Zealand. Topics range from cox box, to technique, to lightweight rowing, Beijing 2008. Go be heard, I suppose. Check out what everyone's dishing here

Wise words from Coach Jay

2007-11-27T12:45:00.001-08:00

In rowing, we encourage everyone to work in unison. In the boat, that's a requirement. On the ergs, workouts are structured so the weakest oarsmen many times are finishing at the same time as the strongest. Instead of working over a certain distance, we use elapsed time, such as 60 minutes of steady state or six 1-minute pieces.

However, when sent out on a run, a crew reverts to individuals. If I sent a team on a run down the beach, I would get multiple sets of footprints in the sand, and they would return to the start at different times. However, the military runs in formation and in step with each other. Why don't we encourage this in rowing? If anything, rowing is more dependent on such interdependence and unison, yet we let such an opportunity slip by. Perhaps this is something to think about in the future, when the team is sent out on a run.

Secret to Success

2007-11-27T10:29:00.000-08:00

A great rowing write up in the Time
"Their instincts proved correct, and Mark de Rond, an expert on teamwork at Cambridge's Judge Business School, knows why. He writes about the rowers and their lessons for business in a book, The Subjectivity of Performance, to be published next year. In building the best teams, de Rond argues, it's sometimes necessary to jettison a bit of skill for sociability. "Talent is not just an individual trait but a social one," he says. That's true for high-performance business teams too: affable B players often bring out the best in the superstars. "They are lubricants; they can act as a buffer between the others." Check out the full story here

Cold winter?

2007-11-27T10:15:00.000-08:00

I stumbled upon this clothing company and thought with the cold fronts coming in across the country now would be a great time to bring your attention to them. I just sort of like the name- Pimp Your Baselayer- I do not have any personal stories to share about their threads unfortunately. "At PimpYourBaselayer.com we provide the best quality baselayer products and accessories but with a little twist. By ‘Pimping’ your garment you can add names, times, dates or pretty much anything else you can think of!" Check em out here

Moovie: Mona Lisa Smile

2007-11-16T07:32:00.000-08:00

Going into the weekend, I thought I'd provide you with a great movie, with a bit of rowing in it- 2 of your favorite things. And by a bit of rowing, I mean like 3 seconds- if that. But the rowing also made it into the trailer for the movie...kinda weird. The movie is about a graduate (Julia Roberts) from UCLA who starts teaching at Wellesley College, where the students are pushing the repressive standards of the time. There is a brief scene of women racing in an eight. Good movie though- check it out.

The Holiday

2007-11-15T08:53:00.000-08:00

My feelings about the holidays are not a secret; being a lightweight, is probably just as bad as being single around this time of year. What if you're a lightweight and single?

I'm sure there are a ton of rowers struggling with this right now- what do you do to keep your weight down? Do you let yourself indulge in all the delectable goodies of the season? Is there a particular one you let yourself slip for? Stuffing, pecan pie, egg nog?

There are some rowers that don't worry about things and are quite the opposite- like my friend who has a competition with her brother to see which one can gain the most weight eating Thanksgiving dinner.

Bowball

2007-11-15T08:41:00.000-08:00

When you row through another boat during a race does each member of your crew yell bowball as you each pass theirs? Unsportsmanlike? Or just good ole' fun?

2007-11-15T08:39:00.001-08:00

"Hundreds of feet above us, cars whisked by, oblivious to our drama. Up there were the shortcuts, the excuses, the world of infinite possibilites separating man and his potential. We had four miles nad the best competition in the nation. We linked hands in a chain down the boat, committing ourselves to each other. I gave a final glance at Harvard, and then looked over my shoulder down the lines of stakes receding into the distance. We were set, the boats were aligned, and both coxswains' hands were down."
-Steve Kiesling, Yale '80, from The Shell Game

Reporting time

2007-11-15T08:12:00.000-08:00

In my experience the opportunity to complete coxswain evals as a rower was rare. I think it's crucial for them to hear that sort of information though. It's their job to motivate you- and if they never get any feedback from you..how do they know what to do? I'm not just talking about those of us lucky to sit in the stern saying "can you do this" every once in a while...that leaves the poor people in the bow disgruntled and not getting to voice anything. I like keeping the process anonymous- you know everyone answers some questions and then they get types up for the coxswains to see. In my experience coxswains got very defensive though- the fact of the matter is though, rowers receive constant criticism throughout every practice from both coaches and coxswains...so it only makes sense for coxswains to at least hear something!

Bird Stories

2007-11-13T13:54:00.000-08:00

Our cox insists to this day that the 2 man in our 8 actually beheaded a duck when we were practising starts at henley early one morning. I'm not sure I believe either that we were travelling that fast (rower in question did have a tendency to rush into frontstops at the start though) or that 'blades' are actually that sharp but he won't be swayed.

I beheaded a duckling once, with wooden sculls in a single.

I had an experience with a large swan once. I was racing in a single at Northwich head ( I forget which one, they're both cold and wet!) and was coming around the corner after the blue bridge. Although I am originally from that water, I found myself on the inside of the bend as I was overtaking, or being overtaken (again I forget which. I think the terror of what happened blunted my memory!) anyway I was just about to start a push when I felt an almighty thump on the end of my strokeside blade which wrenched it out of my hands. i had time to see an
upside-down swan with it;s legs in the air before I was deposited unceremoniously in the (freezing cold!)drink. I surfaced in time to see said swan now enraged and charging with murder in it's eyes towards me. Now I was scared as this was a VERY large swan so I did the only sensible thing and ducked back under the water and cowered in the footwell of my upturned scull whilst the enraged beast pecked away at the hull of the boat for what felt like about 10 minutes!

Nicknames

2007-11-13T13:44:00.000-08:00

I think nicknames are just a result of the daily bonding of most team members. Throughout the years I have heard some funny, and some just plain dumb nicknames- on my own team and on others at regattas. A few of my personal favorites are "chunk chunk the bow cow"- the girl was rather large...and not really the bow and "drops"- the girl was named Reine. Are there any good ones on your team?

Worst injury?

2007-11-13T13:39:00.001-08:00

I may regret asking this, because of the gruesome answers I may receive, but what is the worst injury you have had from rowing? I was reading today about broken fingers from ergs- I have never heard of that before.

I had a broken rib and some back trouble, as did two of my other teammates. Some of my other buds have had terrible back injuries like ruptured discs etc. One even had to stop rowing due to her back ailments.

Another injury that plagues a bunch of rowers I know is compartment syndrome- ridiculousness. It occurred in the calves and the rowers were forced to get surgery, although it never proved too successful. Our trainer said it was from our triathalon Saturday practices...hills, stadiums and ergging, g-ross!

Focus

2007-11-12T06:51:00.001-08:00

One day when I went to practice my coach made us write everything weighing on our minds at that moment onto a piece of paper (upcoming tests, family issues, significant other issues, homework, etc). Then we had to throw the paper into the trash and with that- leave everything behind on the land. The point being- once you're feet are tied in and you've shoved off the dock the only thing you should be focusing on is the water and making your boat faster. To do anything less than that takes away from your practice significantly.

B-e-a-utiful

2007-11-12T06:37:00.000-08:00

"I like the question as the words cut and thrust marry well with the sensation of propelling a rowing vessel through the water. The view I have of rowing is not limited to sitting in the boat and working physically to drive it along, but rather I enjoy the sensations that arise while engaged in the art form of the moving compliment of leverage, forces, responses and intentions.

It is like creating broad-brush strokes, that only when viewed in their entirety over the canvas of water can we, and those involved appreciate the beauty of the discipline and practice. The work we hang out in public at a competitive event is the culmination of hours, days and years of disciplined practice that is only seen for the final display and showing. To some it may be boring and possibly tedious, but when you’re in the thick of it and fully engaged, it is full of life and stimulating." Drew Ginn

2007 Award Winners

2007-11-12T06:33:00.000-08:00

The International Rowing Federation, FISA, announced the recipients of the 2007 World Rowing Awards over the weekend. Female Crew of the Year are the GBR W4x (Katherine Grainger, Fran Houghton, Debbie Flood and Annie Vernon), with their coach Paul Thompson receiving Coach of the Year. Male Crew of the Year were the AUS M2- (Drew Ginn and Duncan Free), and the Distinguished Service award went to FISA Umpiring Commission member Michel Doutre. Get the full details here

Single insight

2007-11-09T10:08:00.001-08:00

"The main thing I can think of that made me faster is my patience in the beginning of the drive. Recently, we've been talking about not pushing too hard right away. The single is the most responsive boat you can row, so it picks up easily. But it also slows down the most, so when you pick it up, you need to ease into it a bit. I think that thinking about this patience is also helping me to get my blades in with my legs still compressed." - Josh (Olympic hopeful)

Looking back on the fall

2007-11-09T10:01:00.000-08:00

What is your favorite move to do during a race? Or what do you like a coxswain to call for? We took a charge 20 about midway through our races and that always seemed to provide a bit of extra boost. Others use power 10s. Maybe a swing 5. A flutter 5- that was always my favorite; pump up the stroke rating and go for it. So I'm just curious what one move really gets you going and puts that extra bit of motivation in your drive.

If you need help with your mental game

2007-11-09T09:58:00.000-08:00

This might help: Self-talk for sport is about being mentally positive, realistic, calm and focused when things get tough. These sports instruction MP3 tracks contain practical strategies to help you identify and challenge unhelpful thinking and to develop more helpful self-talk to manage your emotions like anxiety and anger, to advance your skills and perform at your best. Check it out here.

Map compilation

2007-11-07T09:58:00.000-08:00

Found an interesting idea. Someone has started mapping out all of the rowing clubs in Germany and wants to eventually create a worldwide directory. He has started with the German speaking clubs because he is from Germany. Check out the current map here but give the page a minute to load. It's just fun to see that there are others out there getting up at 5 am too- a lot of others.

Packing up

2007-11-07T09:51:00.000-08:00

How long does it take your program to pack up its trailer and hit the road after a regatta? How long SHOULD it take?

I have seen some crews still lagging around hours after their final events, and after years and years of being a part of those sloths I'd like to know the secrets of the speed demons. How can some crews be so fast- even with similar equipment (same number of boats- and people, etc)? Do your coaches provide hands on instruction, and participate actively? Is everyone assigned a unique roll? Is there a specific order to which things go on the trailer? Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

Cross-training

2007-11-07T09:45:00.000-08:00

As boats are being washed and shelved for the winter, the indoor training plans are rolling out. Do most teams/athletes do some cross-training during the winter...or is it all just ergging in your program? I would hope the answer would be no to the latter part of the question. I think I would go insane, and is it really good to use the same muscles over and over again in the same motion? In my opinion the winter is a great time to get in some running, biking, weights, yoga, and swimming- maybe even some basketball.

Newport Autumn Rowing Festival

2007-11-07T09:42:00.000-08:00

The Stanford rowing teams enjoyed the fruits of their labor Sunday at the Newport Autumn Rowing Festival, as the men swept their three races, the women scored a victory in their Open Four race, and the lightweight crew captured first in the Lightweight Eight race. Read the full story here.

News from Russia

2007-11-07T09:40:00.000-08:00

Rowing was ranked as one of the top five healthiest sports- whoot whoot! Get the full scoop and see the other finalists here.

Southern Hospitality

2007-11-07T09:38:00.000-08:00

The Tar Heels wrapped up their fall at the Hooch this past weekend. On Sunday, the Tar Heels raced in singles and pairs, with four boats competing in the open pairs race. The best finish of the day went to McIntee and McMullin who took second in a 19-boat field in a time of 21:42.5. Read the full story here.

And Kansas goes down...

2007-11-07T09:32:00.001-08:00

The bow of Kansas' boat was smacked right off during their race this past weekend...and the crew had to abandon the boat in the river at the Wichita Frostbite Regatta. On a brighter note- Tulsa cleaned up...read about it here.

2007-11-05T11:21:00.000-08:00

"One equal temper of heroic hearts, Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield." -- Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Cast your vote now

2007-11-05T07:56:00.000-08:00

No, no not for a presidential candidate, although things are really starting to heat up lately. Anyhow if you get a chance get your votes in for the latest poll. I'm curious to see the results of this one- because people tend to frown upon starboard stroking which makes no sense to me. I hear things like, "Oh you could not find a good enough port?"

Keep an eye out

2007-11-05T07:55:00.000-08:00

"I'm not sure if we can win a historic gold medal in 2008 Games but I can assure you that we will do better than all the previous Olympics," said Cao Jingwei, head of Chinese rowing.

So far the best result for Chinese rowers came from the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996 when Cao Mianying and Zhang Xiuyun snatched a silver medal for women's double sculls.

Last year China stunned the rowing world to take one gold from the world championships as well as seven gold, five silver and three bronze from the first two world cups. Read the whole story here.

Hoocher

2007-11-05T07:45:00.000-08:00

The Head of the Hooch was held this weekend in Chattanooga Tennessee. UCF medaled in three premier events. Although the prettiest site of the weekend was the men's national team that raced in pink for the cure. Even their blades were painted pink. For more on the men's team visit here. Get the full details of the weekend here.

But my mom said I should sprint here

2007-10-31T11:12:00.000-07:00

Do you work off of a race plan for both races on the water and pieces on the erg? Do you set your own plan, or do you have a coach do it with you? Does the plan give you a sense of security? Or keep you focused and occupied during the piece?

I understand the purpose, but I think it so important to feed off of other boats in races, that it is normally not great to get bogged down with predetermined plans. And over the years I have been a part of a variety of different plans- none of which were more or less successful for my particular crew. Drew Ginn wrote a great segment on race plans today.

On the erg I have found it extremely useful- when you do not have a coxswain or much else to go off of.

Bow cow

2007-10-31T11:09:00.000-07:00

Ever wondered why the front of the boat is called the bow?

It ultimately derives from bough - meaning shoulder. On a sailing boat the bowline extends from
the shoulder of the mast/sail to the front of the boat. This led to the word 'bowsprit' meaning running from the front of a boat and so the front of the boat became known over time as the bow.

Myth Uncovered

2007-10-31T11:06:00.000-07:00

Is it a myth that SJC are not allowed to row as SJC (hence Lady Margaret Boat Club) and wear bright red because they were responsible for skewering an oarsman in the Cambridge bumps?

The Bumps, by Durack, Gilbert and Marks helps solve the mystery:

A crew from St John's competed as "Lady Margaret" in the first ever bumps
race on the Cam - in those days crews were known by the name of their boat
rather than their College. While most other Colleges eventually adopted
their College names, LMBC didn't. The term "blazer" is thought to have
originated from the bright red jackets worn by LMBC from some point in the
mid-1850s. All of which happened well before ...

... the fatality, which occurred during the 1888 Lents, when Trinity Hall
III bumped Clare and killed their no.4, Campbell. After that it was decided
that bow balls might be a good idea.

Overtraining

2007-10-31T11:00:00.000-07:00

There's a story about how Harry Parker's crew was racing another top university. Harvard was trailing and the opposition was increasing their lead. The fellow in the car with Harry remarked that Harvard was down by open water at the 1000 and Harry appeared unfazed. When Harvard took the lead with about 350 to go after the other crew had completely collapsed Harry simply said " practices being tired." Something to think about!

More sleep?

2007-10-31T10:04:00.000-07:00

How about that 8 hours per week rule (for NCAA D1- maybs some other programs too?). Pretty soon colleges around the country will be washing and storing their boats for the winter, as the 8 hour rule kicks in to effect.

I am curious though- how strictly does your program adhere to it? Do you do many "captains/on your own" practices, so it's almost as though you are still full-time? More and more the rule seems to be getting skirted around. Just last year it was proclaimed that rowers can row on the water with a coach there- as long as the coach does not say anything. I think that is absurd. Soon the best team will just be the team that trains the most- it'll be a race to see who can practice 24 hours every day.

Get acquainted with your erg, it's that time of year

2007-10-30T14:08:00.000-07:00

"Accelerating a fast boat that's already moving is a real education," says Judy Geer (former member of the U.S. National Rowing team and three-time Olympian). "It's the idea that you adjust resistance by pulling harder and quicker, and that's the same concept that should carry over into your erg workouts." That means not making one very common mistake: setting the damper too high. It's easy to think that you're not getting a good workout' unless you have very high resistance, but as it turns out, that's not necessarily the case. In fact, keeping the damper setting low between three and five then adjusting resistance by pulling harder is a more effective way to improve strength, pace and aerobic capacity.

If you've never heard this story, it's about time you did

2007-10-30T14:00:00.000-07:00

An excerpt from The Complete Book of Rowing by Dr. Rowing

The oars barely clear the puddles, the slides rocket into the stern on each recovery, the blades seem to hesitate for weeks above the water and then thrash in with all the grace of a drunken spider doing a belly flop. It's one of those days. "Can you believe this?" you ask your trusty dog perched in the bow of your launch. You've already tried every drill in the book, you've cajoled, you've cursed, you've thrown your megaphone. A couple of them in each boat look like they've given it up long ago. Nothing left to do but let them take it on in. If only we weren't four miles from the boathouse.

But wait, you think. I know what'll shake them up.

"Weigh enough. Let's pull the boats together." The oarsmen grimace and sullenly sip at their water. You notice, not for the first time, how similar their suckling is to the way your ten-month old sucks on a bottle.

"Who's switching coach?" the coxswain asks eagerly.

"Peterson and..." Suddenly, genius strikes. "...And this!" You reach down into the paper bag next to your feet and extract a Twinkie from the lunch you never ate. "Yes. Peterson, in the launch. Twinkie, five seat."

The boats start up again, the Twinkie perched delicately on the five seat. Peterson, furious, head bent down, hunched in your launch's bow with the dog.

"On this one." The eights start to pick up speed. Despite its ungainly rhythm, the shell with eight men rowing surges forward. Of course.

But hold on here, the Twinkie is hanging in there. The seven men are straining, it's no thing of beauty, but their shell has moved back. And taken a seat. Two seats. They're going through. By god, they are. They're taking a full length. The Twinkie has done it!

Every coach's dream? Rower's nightmare?

A story to this effect has been going around rowing circles for years. I can recall one zealous assistant coach at a selection camp in 1983 who swore that she could replace a certain oarswoman with any household appliance -- toaster, blender, or waffle iron -- and the boat would go faster. We nicknamed this coach "General Electric," but she never made good on her threat. Has it been done? And with a Twinkie?

I started asking people if they had heard this story. Many have; some swear it is true. "A friend of mine was in the boat it happened to," is an assertion I've heard quite a few times. When pressed -- Which friend? Where did he row? Who was her coach? -- No one can quite remember.

Until I got to Steve Wagner, that is. Steve Wagner. Head men's coach at Rutgers. Program director at Craftsbury Sculling Center. All-American nice guy. College coach of three of the oarsmen in the 1994 World Champion men's eight at Indy. Twinkie racer?

Several people pointed me in his direction. One friend cautioned, "I don't know, it might have been a ham sandwich. But I'm pretty sure that Steve has done this." I called him up.

"Yeah, I admit it. I have done that," Steve ventured a bit hesitantly. "Actually it was a spark plug, though. I was really mad at some freshmen I was coaching at F.I.T. back in the late seventies. And I just looked down, saw the spark plug, and said, "I'll bet this spark plug could pull harder than you are right now."

Like many of the great discoverers (Edison and Newton come to mind), a happy accident set a whole chain of events in motion. There just happened to be a spark plug rolling around in the bottom of his launch? Fate or divine inspiration? You decide.

Ever the coach, I was curious about the results. Did the spark plug actually win? And by how much?

You bet it did. If a coach knows what's going on in his crew and can see that one guy isn't pulling, getting that extra weight out of there can make a huge difference.

Steve warmed to his tale, "In fact I've never had a piece of fruit or a sandwich lose. It was a great eye-opener for those freshmen. It taught them one of rowing's most valuable lessons, that everyone counts. Nobody can get a free ride." His soft chuckle came over the phone line. "I haven't done that in years," he added wistfully. "But it sure does wake people up."

One last question, Steve. "Ever use a Twinkie?" Visions of massive endorsements and sponsorships by Hostess danced through my mind.

"Nope. Peanut butter and jelly was my favorite."

News Bites

2007-10-29T09:43:00.000-07:00

USC dominated the field in the women's pairs and women's four + coxswain events, which were full of tough competition from many of the top programs on the West Coast at the American Regatta. Full story here

The Washington State University's women's rowing team outstroked the Gonzaga Bulldogs for the second consecutive week Friday at the Head of the Snake. Full story here

The Willamette University women's varsity 4+ and women's novice 8+ crews rowed outstanding races on Saturday, Oct. 27, as both teams took first place at the Charlie Brown Regatta on the Willamette River in Portland, Ore. Full story here

More than a place to sit

2007-10-29T09:40:00.000-07:00

Robbrecht and Daem has just completed its first work in Britain in the form of two observation towers – one on the edge of Lincoln and the other 31 miles south-east along the river Witham, near Boston. They have been commissioned to mark either end of a cycle route being created along the river by the charity Sustrans. Read a story about architecture and how it will impact the people watching regattas here

Standing on your head

2007-10-29T09:22:00.000-07:00

Do you or your team wear anything on your heads during races, or even just practice?

I have seen:
an entire crew do camouflage bandannas
an entire crew do white baseball caps
an entire crew do white visors
an entire crew do nike headbands
a few people with sunglasses
and some people even wear helmets: check it out here
and I don't even know how to begin describing this oddity

Do you still crew?

2007-10-29T08:51:00.000-07:00

How many times have your clueless grandparents asked you that? Today I began wondering when and why "crew" became associated with "rowing."

The answer I found was: "Crew" first appeares in 1455 in Late Middle English - from the French word Creue which meant to increase or substitute. From old french Creistre
"to increase" derived from the Latin Crescere.
In 1587 is was used in the military to indicate a reinforcement and hence a company of soldiers- by extension an organised band of men.
By 1699 it came to mean a group organized or associated for a purpose. At sea it was defined as the group subordinate to a petty officer (1692). By 1694 it became the collective term for the whole of the persons that belonged to or manned a ship and became at this point the leading sense of the word.

Hence the use in modern rowing as a group who come together for a common purpose associated with a boat.

350 m racing?

2007-10-29T08:31:00.000-07:00

I stumbled upon this old event today: The World Super Sprint competition from Dorney Lake in Berks (10,000 people went to watch it!). There are a few events, one of which is the 350m rowing race- I would imagine this is a lot more exciting to watch than most rowing events.

Apparently there is also a relay involving both male and female rowers in the same event:
Male Scull followed by Female pairs follwed by Male pairs.

What do you think of relays- are there any around you, or any that you have participated in?

Random rowing

2007-10-26T08:09:00.000-07:00

Waldron said that she and her husband considered settling in other New York suburbs, but when they drove into Princeton from a motel on Route 1 on a spring morning to meet with a real estate agent, they knew that Princeton was the right place for them. It was a Saturday, she said, and driving past Lake Carnegie they saw the crew preparing for a regatta. "We were such hicks, we had never seen anything like that," she laughed. "It was just beautiful, and the pear trees were in bloom. We adored it." Read more about the woman behind "Princeton Murders" here

Alternate rowers

2007-10-26T08:02:00.000-07:00

A total of 38 spots have now been allocated for alternate rowers for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The International Rowing Federation, FISA, appointed a committee that decided 38 alternates, or spares, would be apportioned to the national federations which qualified boats for the Olympics. Read the details here.

Truemors

2007-10-25T13:48:00.000-07:00

This site is a great find, courtesy of Rebecca Caroe. The purpose of Truemors is to democratize and spread information. First, from a “citizen journalist/editor” perspective it enables you to “tell the world”—within the bounds of good taste and the law anyway. Second, from a reader perspective, it puts you “in the know” about the latest news, rumors, and happenings, so that “you know better” without having to spend hours every day searching for information.

One funny "truemor" I found about rowing was this: A new sport has been invented in China, that consists of contestants rowing a boat made from a single bamboo cane. The participants either sit or stand on a piece of locally grown bamboo, all in delicate balance, whilst racing ane other and competing at tasks. The races have become a local attraction and villagers hope that the new sport will spread across the region. Check it out here.

More than $100,000 a year

2007-10-24T10:18:00.001-07:00

They forged an unlikely bond, the eccentric multi-millionaire and Canada's best rowers. Read the full story here

For the future

2007-10-24T10:01:00.000-07:00

Central Biathlon- something to put on your calendars for December 8th. The famous fuzzy lettered shirts are awarded to the top four finishers in each event. Check out the event listing here

Don't think I've directed you to this gem of a nugget yet

2007-10-24T09:36:00.000-07:00

Spending a month rowing a boat with five other men might not be everyone's idea of an enjoyable challenge - especially when you have to do it in the nude to avoid chafing. Get the full story here

It's a misnomer

2007-10-24T09:31:00.000-07:00

This is obviously not created by a rower, or anyone who knows anything about rowing- as all the motion and power are only coming from your arms....as opposed to mostly your legs (and some arms) in real rowing. But perhaps it's worth glancing at, simply too chuckle at the ignorance.

"Racing "Billy Carts" down the steepest hill you could find was once the height of fun on a Saturday afternoon. For Dr. Marcio Ferez, the hand-made wooden trolley his father built in the backyard more than 50 years ago has become the basis for a new kind of land-based exercise machine - the CHAMPIOT Ultra. Described as "The Great Rowing Machine on Wheels", the basic elements of the 1947 design including the hand-propulsion system and chassis style are retained in the production of this four-wheeled, steel-framed "rowcycle" that accommodates persons from 4'6" to 6' 6" tall." Check it out here

The best part is she's more than 6 feet tall

2007-10-24T09:26:00.000-07:00

"When she's not attending Eden High School, where she's a studious 17-year-old Grade 12 student, she can often be found with two oars in her arms at Henley Island, practicing anywhere from five to seven hours a day as part of the St. Catharines Rowing Club." If sappy personal rowing success stories are your jam, read this one here

2007-10-24T09:20:00.001-07:00

This is what it feels like some days

2007-10-24T09:18:00.001-07:00

The Americans and the Japanese decided to engage in a competitive boat race.
Both teams practiced hard and long to reach their peak performance.  
On the big day they felt ready. The Japanese won by a mile.

Afterward, the American team was discouraged by the loss. Morale
sagged.
Corporate management decided that the reason for the crushing defeat
had to be found, so a  consulting firm was hired to investigate the
problem and recommended corrective action.
The consultant's finding: The Japanese team had eight people
rowing and one person steering;
the American team had one person rowing and eight people steering.  

After a year of study and millions spent analyzing the problem, the
consultant firm concluded that too many people were steering and not
enough were rowing on the  American team.
So as race day neared again the following year, the American team's 
management structure was completely reorganized. The new structure:
four steering managers, three area steering managers
and a new performance review system for the person  rowing the boat
to provide work incentive.  
The next year, the Japanese won by two miles. Humiliated, the American
corporation laid off the rower for poor performance and gave the
managers a bonus for discovering the problem. - Jason Broome

Rower related to God, and Obama related to Cheney

2007-10-24T09:08:00.001-07:00

What a hoot- it's a must read news bite. Check it out here

Rowing shout out

2007-10-24T09:06:00.000-07:00

10 things to do before you graduate from college
Read it here

Another big one

2007-10-24T09:01:00.000-07:00

The Rowing Canada Aviron National Rowing Championships will be held in conjunction with the Canadian University Rowing Championships on November 1st to 4th, 2007 in Welland, Ontario. The regatta will be hosted by the South Niagara Rowing Club and Brock University. The hook is the humongous jackpot: $17,500 Canadian, split between several events!