It has been a month since the last, and much has happened in the rowing life.
SPRING CAMP
Camp Bob Cooper, South Carolina, USA
Eat. Sleep. Row. Asshole.
Those were the 4 main things the crew did this year at camp, spring training. Eat a ton. Sleep a bit here and there. Row 2 times a day, 1 1/2 hour per session. And 'Asshole' the card game on our free time (Varsity and Novice men bonding time).
From my personal perspective, spring training was a great success. As should be for any effective rowing camp, lodges were right next to the water, food was right next to the water, and the water was relatively "rowable". Camp setting, along with close proximity, allowed for inter-squad bonding. During much of the pre-camp season at the University, Varsity and Novice squads would not normally mingle much. Camp changes things: for the better. Some friends left as better friends, some left as better acquaintances/friends, and a pair even left as a couple. In crew (and for just about anything else for that matter), better relationships between people are the most important.
From the rowing perspective, 3 hours of rowing (in both calm and chaotic conditions) per day for a week does things to you. It makes you stronger. It makes you smoother. It makes you a better rower. As part of the Varsity men's squad, I know there will little lineup experimenting, but that just meant more time to practice with relatively set lineups. For that one week, each person was unspokenly "assigned" a role in the boat, with the duty to perfect that role.
Rowing with the women
Twice I've rowed in the open women's 8+. They do not realize it but their technique and togetherness is usually quite amazing. The women are mostly weaker, but their technique makes up for that lacking ten times over. The men are strong, but technically inferior. I believe it may have to do with the masculine, ultra-competitive mentality. Each guy thinking for himself, each guy thinking he can out pull everyone else. As a researcher from U. of Cambridge once said, "to be successful, rowers must develop sort of a...schizophrenic-type mindset." Rowers much think they can out-power anyone else, but at the very same time, must also think they can be anyone else's perfect pair. Hence the saying goes: "Pick your best 8, not your 8 best."
