Why Row?
When one takes on the task of rowing one must ask oneself, "What is rowing all about?" In my mind, rowing requires five attributes : perseverance, teamwork, patience discipline, and heart. These are the attributes that a person taking on rowing for the first time must have and nurture in order for his or her crew to win. Only when the whole crew has these attributes mastered will they win, and feel a personal reward that in my opinion no other sport can offer.
When rowing for the first time, a person will quickly learn that there is a lot more to the sport than just pulling an oar, and whilst on their first outing they will stare enviously as the more senior crews powerfully glide by. This is where patience comes in. With time, oarsmen or women will develop the technique that is required in order to move their boat at its optimum speed.
Some people take longer than others to develop the finesse and rhythm that is required in rowing as a crew. This is why perseverance is another attribute that is needed. Every day must be spent with some time on the water, in the gym, or on what rowers fear the most, the ergo. Only through practice, time and time again of the same movement and drills that can make one sick (literally) will they achieve success.
Perseverance is also needed at the point in the race when the pain is unbearable and all that the oarsmen can think about is the crowd on the bank drinking champange and applauding as the boats go by, and how he wishes he was there. Heart is needed as well as perseverance. Digging deep after all the training and finding those hidden reserves that he thought did not exist before. The self-motivation to take the next stroke and pull your hardest, and who knows maybe this time the oar will break and you won't have to row any more. Without heart all the other attributes are useless, one might as well become a spectator.
Team work is an attribute that the whole crew must have. I don't know why, but once part of the Boat Club a person has taken on a whole other family. An oarsmen has to work through the good times and the bad times with his crew but always trust them. He or she must not over-react when their cox sinks their boat, or the person behind you leaves a particularly gooey mess on your back after a hard piece; training has its up and downs! As a crew, the crew must always row as a crew; pulling together, not against each other, moves a boat the fastest.
It does not matter whether you like or dislike someone off the water: when on the water everyone is your brother or sister and friend. This is where discipline comes into play. Keep your private feelings to yourself or talk to the coach, but never undermine each other. Also in rowing training an oarsmen must learn when to and when not to have fun. Sacrifices have to be made but they are ultimately worth it. Victory is the goal. Row hard and there are no boundaries.
Alex Partridge (Captain of Boats)
Why Row?
When one takes on the task of rowing one must ask oneself, "What is rowing all about?" In my mind, rowing requires five attributes : perseverance, teamwork, patience discipline, and heart. These are the attributes that a person taking on rowing for the first time must have and nurture in order for his or her crew to win. Only when the whole crew has these attributes mastered will they win, and feel a personal reward that in my opinion no other sport can offer.
When rowing for the first time, a person will quickly learn that there is a lot more to the sport than just pulling an oar, and whilst on their first outing they will stare enviously as the more senior crews powerfully glide by. This is where patience comes in. With time, oarsmen or women will develop the technique that is required in order to move their boat at its optimum speed.
Some people take longer than others to develop the finesse and rhythm that is required in rowing as a crew. This is why perseverance is another attribute that is needed. Every day must be spent with some time on the water, in the gym, or on what rowers fear the most, the ergo. Only through practice, time and time again of the same movement and drills that can make one sick (literally) will they achieve success.
Perseverance is also needed at the point in the race when the pain is unbearable and all that the oarsmen can think about is the crowd on the bank drinking champange and applauding as the boats go by, and how he wishes he was there. Heart is needed as well as perseverance. Digging deep after all the training and finding those hidden reserves that he thought did not exist before. The self-motivation to take the next stroke and pull your hardest, and who knows maybe this time the oar will break and you won't have to row any more. Without heart all the other attributes are useless, one might as well become a spectator.
Team work is an attribute that the whole crew must have. I don't know why, but once part of the Boat Club a person has taken on a whole other family. An oarsmen has to work through the good times and the bad times with his crew but always trust them. He or she must not over-react when their cox sinks their boat, or the person behind you leaves a particularly gooey mess on your back after a hard piece; training has its up and downs! As a crew, the crew must always row as a crew; pulling together, not against each other, moves a boat the fastest.
It does not matter whether you like or dislike someone off the water: when on the water everyone is your brother or sister and friend. This is where discipline comes into play. Keep your private feelings to yourself or talk to the coach, but never undermine each other. Also in rowing training an oarsmen must learn when to and when not to have fun. Sacrifices have to be made but they are ultimately worth it. Victory is the goal. Row hard and there are no boundaries.
Alex Partridge (Captain of Boats)