[IQ Test]

Hi all,

I'm interested in rowing at university (I'm in lower sixth at the moment) and was wondering whether 5'10'' is a good height to be as a rower. I'm hoping that I'll keep growing to reach at least 6', but I was just wondering whether I'd be able to row at the height I am now.

Thanks in advance : )

[Guy3105]

I've rowed for about 6-7 years since I was around 13 and now row at uni, and at 5'10 you should make a great addition to the squad. Don't be intimidated if there are "massive" guys there as, although they do have a physical advantage, at the end of the day technique and willpower can easily overcome this! Just take current GB rower Mark Hunter for example, he's 6ft and won a gold in rowing at the Beijing olympics 4 years ago - give it a go, it's a truly incredible and intensely satisfying sport.

[restrained]

How about 5'6 or should i just give up hope of being an olympic medalist rower?

[Guy3105]

(Original post by restrained)
How about 5'6 or should i just give up hope of being an olympic medalist rower?

There is nothing to stop you rowing - the Boat Club will always be happy for new members - but realistically, if you're hoping to compete at such an incredibly high level for rowing it would probably be as a cox (AKA coxswain). The cox is in charge - steering the boat, executing the race plan and motivating the crew are all the responsibility of the cox and I know, from personal experience, the massive impact they can have on a rowing crew. For an example of what a decent cox sounds like, here's a cox recording http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iO56DsnXtUM
Good luck.

[Guy3105]

Oh, I should mention that I have assumed both of you to be male (sorry), I don't know so much about the heights of female rowers but if you speak to the rowing coaches at your local/university boat club they will give you a much better idea.

[IQ Test]

(Original post by Guy3105)
Oh, I should mention that I have assumed both of you to be male (sorry), I don't know so much about the heights of female rowers but if you speak to the rowing coaches at your local/university boat club they will give you a much better idea.

I myself am male (hence the logo!) but I don't know about restrained. Thanks for your advice, it's encouraging! I play rugby union (mainly) and squash mostly, but I started using my local gym recently on account of my rugby coach asking me to build some muscle, and I normally use the ergs for some cardio work/ as a warmup. Any tips on technique or ways to train on an erg? I'm working up the the infamous 2k, just because I feel like I should

[Guy3105]

(Original post by IQ Test)
I myself am male (hence the logo!) but I don't know about restrained. Thanks for your advice, it's encouraging! I play rugby union (mainly) and squash mostly, but I started using my local gym recently on account of my rugby coach asking me to build some muscle, and I normally use the ergs for some cardio work/ as a warmup. Any tips on technique or ways to train on an erg? I'm working up the the infamous 2k, just because I feel like I should

Ahh sorry didn't notice the logo! I'm gonna use the excuse of being new(ish) this time... this video is good for demonstrating and explaining good erg technique (although I appreciate it is quite long, you only need to get the jist of it really) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqVmMd7FdAA
And yeah I'm pretty similar, I've taken a step back from rowing to try to put on some more muscle and it's nice to have a change, but as for workouts it depends what you want to achieve. Personally, if i'm warming up before a session i'll do ~5 minutes at around 1/4 to 1/2 my maximum pressure before stretching. If you wanna burn fat you wanna work at around 2/3 of your max for ~20 mins, preferably 2 or 3 times if you're keen. If you wanna work towards that 2k test I would suggest doing some shorter, maximum pressure pieces (such as 2 x 1000 metres or 3/4 x 500m) so you get a better idea of roughly how hard to pull and how to stick with it when the lactate begins the build. Make sure you set the little fan thingy on the side of the erg to ~4/5 too, since whacking it up to 10 (as most inexperienced people seem to do) seems to make the motion feel a lot more heavy and ineffective, and 4 to 5 most accurately represents the feel of a boat.
Good luck with that 2k, don't worry if it's not as good as you had hoped as you will definitely be better next time!

[IQ Test]

(Original post by Guy3105)
Ahh sorry didn't notice the logo! I'm gonna use the excuse of being new(ish) this time... this video is good for demonstrating and explaining good erg technique (although I appreciate it is quite long, you only need to get the jist of it really) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqVmMd7FdAA
And yeah I'm pretty similar, I've taken a step back from rowing to try to put on some more muscle and it's nice to have a change, but as for workouts it depends what you want to achieve. Personally, if i'm warming up before a session i'll do ~5 minutes at around 1/4 to 1/2 my maximum pressure before stretching. If you wanna burn fat you wanna work at around 2/3 of your max for ~20 mins, preferably 2 or 3 times if you're keen. If you wanna work towards that 2k test I would suggest doing some shorter, maximum pressure pieces (such as 2 x 1000 metres or 3/4 x 500m) so you get a better idea of roughly how hard to pull and how to stick with it when the lactate begins the build. Make sure you set the little fan thingy on the side of the erg to ~4/5 too, since whacking it up to 10 (as most inexperienced people seem to do) seems to make the motion feel a lot more heavy and ineffective, and 4 to 5 most accurately represents the feel of a boat.
Good luck with that 2k, don't worry if it's not as good as you had hoped as you will definitely be better next time!

Well then, welcome to TSR! I did a 2k today (not at full exertion for the whole thing, but I kept a stroke rate of about 38 and a resistance of 10) in 7:00. Is that any good? I thought I'd do it at 10 to see how I could do under the hardest conditions

[partoftheweekend]

(Original post by IQ Test)
Well then, welcome to TSR! I did a 2k today (not at full exertion for the whole thing, but I kept a stroke rate of about 38 and a resistance of 10) in 7:00. Is that any good? I thought I'd do it at 10 to see how I could do under the hardest conditions

Thats very good for a first time if you did it in 7:00 flat. Although im a bit suspect about rate 38 on resistance 10?! Most international oarsmen will do about 32-35 and on much less resistance...

[IQ Test]

(Original post by partoftheweekend)
Thats very good for a first time if you did it in 7:00 flat. Although im a bit suspect about rate 38 on resistance 10?! Most international oarsmen will do about 32-35 and on much less resistance...

Unless there's something wrong with the machine, I'm being honest! Perhaps it was just a flukey 2k though, I wonder if I'll be able to do it again...

[AntisthenesDogger]

It's less about height and more about strength honestly. But 5,10 should be okay.