compression at the catch
nickd
shins are vertical and thighs against chest, and arms outside boat,
and therefore not making full use of leg power. Are there any rigging
adjustments that might assist? i.e. increasing span from 159 to 160
for instance?
donal...@gmail.com
a shorter stroke.
A couple of other things to consider. Can you sit down on your
haunches without toppling backwards?
If not then you may have ankle flexibility issues which can be
alleviated by you having seat height higher(pad/built up seat) in boat/
feet lower(stretcher adjustment. For me I have found flattening the
rake of the stretcher assists though with out making the above
alterations.
The other relevant factor is people have differing proportions of
upper and lower leg which affect "perceived" compression.
Donal
Fordmeister
wrote:
Good points from Donal, the other I would look at is the angle of your
footplate and the position of the feet on it. I would work on your
flexibility before changing the rig as the problems you post are mine
for the first 20 minutes of an outing !
nickd
>
> - Show quoted text -
OK, thanks all for your advice.
Carl Douglas
Compression at the catch is a bit of a hobby-horse for some observers.
What it should mean is how close you can bring your seat to your feet -
in effect how low you can squat. But remember that, unlike squatting on
land, in rowing there is no gravity to bring your bum towards your heels
while fluid drag on the boat is pulling the other way, so to compress
you have to draw heels towards seat. And you should not plan to spend
time in the fully compressed position as this introduces a check on your
action, incurs extra effort (to hold the position) & delays your catch.
You cannot determine compression by shin, thigh or back inclinations to
the horizontal, but very many pundits try to do just that. As Donal has
said what determines these postural details is your own physical
proportions & the relative elevations of shoes & seat. There is no
special virtue in any given back or shin angle - vertical shins are no
indication of compression or over-compression, & I doubt it is possible
for an athlete to over-compress since we can all rise rapidly enough
from a full squat with a force and speed of motion that would lift us
off our seats when rowing. It is, however, very possible to
over-compress on a fixed erg where, unlike in a boat, you have to slow
your moving body to a stop before you can take the stroke & too many
rowers let their knee joints act as shock absorbers - with sometimes
damaging cumulative effect.
Having the "wrong" personal geometry may impede the approach of your
shoulders to your knees. In that case, you may have to do funny things
with the knees to allow a closer thigh/chest approach. But remember
this may incur ill-judged criticism from those who don't have to deal
with the same issue themselves. Do what you have to do, & if you go
faster, that's your best judge.
Similarly, there is no intrinsic case for or against degree of layback -
within normally seen ranges (in which I include that of some of Mike
Spracklen's recent crews). A rower must do what it takes to achieve
their desired length of stroke &, in the end, that's determined by how
much distance they can put between their toes & their shoulders (&, in a
sculler, to what degree they pull past the body). Of course, of you do
lay well back you must not try to lever your trunk upwards but, rather,
should curl it to make the recovery - or you'll do unnecessary work, &
bounce the boat.
That's a set of general observations, FWIW, not an answer to your
questions. But maybe they'll provide food for some thought?
Cheers -
Carl
--
Carl Douglas Racing Shells -
Fine Small-Boats/AeRoWing Low-drag Riggers/Advanced Accessories
Write: Harris Boatyard, Laleham Reach, Chertsey KT16 8RP, UK
Find: http://tinyurl.com/2tqujf
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URLs: www.carldouglas.co.uk (boats) & www.aerowing.co.uk (riggers)
boatie
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