frightened sculler

Mike Sullivan

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Aug 31, 2005, 12:19:20 PM8/31/05

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I've had a couple new people in the last month that have been
out in the Aeros, and have been terrified.

One had fallen in the week before when I wasn't there, and
was quite safe, and could swim just fine, but just seized
up and wanted to come in.

Another was a woman who'd come back for more lessons
after that incident I wrote here of the most uncoordinated
group of people I'd ever seen.

In both cases, neither was prepared mentally or with
their equipment for me to send them in swimming - which
was my first reaction. On the other hand, I didn't want
them to leave the lesson frightened off the water (they
were truly seized up - I know some of you instructors
have seen it, they won't row, they gingerly draw the blade
trying to find their way back to the dock).

So I doffed my tshirt and shoes and jumped in the water
and swam to each one on that day.

Had them take off their socks, feet out of the stretchers
and put their feet in the water. I apologized telling
them I wasn't trying to be rude or rough with them,
but then I splashed them with water, from in the water
while talking to them. I had them splash some water
on them themselves, making sure it was liberally applied
to their head.

In both cases, they rowed away much more comfortably.

Now I've got to go get some antibiotics.
Mike

JD

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Aug 31, 2005, 8:27:22 PM8/31/05

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Sul:

I have applied your method of having new scullers take a couple of
strokes, then put their hands on their heads. I always thought it
helpful if for no other reason than making a point: There, you've
flipped. It's over! Now go row the boat! JD

daniel...@hotmail.com

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Sep 1, 2005, 10:05:41 AM9/1/05

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I wish I had flipped in my first few outings....as it was the first
time I flipped was at uni doing a "Black Bouy" in winter(Chiswick
bridge to the Black Buoy and back c.9 miles)I was hit by a double (who
were on the wrong side) I flipped, passed out (due to the cold I guess)
apparently I was pulled from the water by some canoeists, given
resucitation and woke up in Charing Cross hospital ! My coach (a
certain tall man from UL) visited me in hospital and let me know I
still had 3 miles to complete !
I don't think knowing the proper capsize drill would have made any
difference, but it did make me pretty damn nervous about sculling the
Tideway for a few months !

andy....@ps.ge.com

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Sep 2, 2005, 10:27:51 AM9/2/05

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First time I went out in a scull I was given a janousek and some blades
and left to my own devices, somehow managed to get about 2000m from the
boathouse, then it got dark and I had no lights, so I decided to go
back, flipped it about 1/2 way home, wall one side and trees the other
so couldn't get out the river, managed to get back in the scull with
the help of a bloke in a barge, and then paddled very slowly (and
coldly) back to the boathouse, which was locked up and everyone had
bu99ered off...

I'm not in that club anymore!

koos....@wanadoo.nl

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Sep 2, 2005, 4:05:12 PM9/2/05

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Well that is the most stupid way to start in a skif and really very
negligent from the members of this club. You must have felt pretty
damned alone. As I learn to row juniors from the age of 10 and also
some adults the recipe is patience, confidence and always safety. Show
them that you are nearby and first and foremost of all let them
experience instability with the sculls flat on the water and the hands
near the body. Aeroplane, pushing one scull up and the other down and
see how the boat reacts. Let them make a few strokes while the are tied
to a rope you hold. Or else have a launch nearby and go closely with
them on the water. Oh yeah to clap with your hands on your first
outing in order te flip is a really terrible bad advice at that
particular moment. And to be on the wrong side....that is killing.

Carl Douglas

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Sep 2, 2005, 6:34:13 PM9/2/05

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koos....@wanadoo.nl writes

>Well that is the most stupid way to start in a skif and really very
>negligent from the members of this club. You must have felt pretty
>damned alone.

It is also a clear reflection of insouciant attitudes towards rower
safety which still prevail in corners of UK rowing, even right at the
top of its administration. And, sadly, it is the same story across the
rowing world.

In Britain, & now in the US, it is beginning to be seen that such
attitudes can have dire adverse consequences which are nolonger
tolerable in law.

I can only express great relief that the sequence of acts of blind folly
by that club, which left Andy in such danger, had no worse consequences.

Recently a client of mine went for an early morning scull. Believing no
one else was out, he was somewhat surprised to be in a head-on collision
with another crew from his club. I asked if there was a log sheet on
the boathouse door to register who was afloat & who had returned?
Apparently not considered necessary. I asked why he still had not taken
up my suggestion, following a rather similar mishap, of investing in a
small mirror, which some of my friends find gives invaluable advance
warning of hazards? It seems it is still not thought worthwhile.

Carl
--
Carl Douglas Racing Shells -
Fine Small-Boats/AeRoWing low-drag Riggers/Advanced Accessories
Write: The Boathouse, Timsway, Chertsey Lane, Staines TW18 3JY, UK
Email: ca...@carldouglas.co.uk Tel: +44(0)1784-456344 Fax: -466550
URLs: www.carldouglas.co.uk (boats) & www.aerowing.co.uk (riggers)

remigo

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Sep 5, 2005, 12:45:27 PM9/5/05

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After a year of sweep, my first time in a single (very recently) went
cheerfully enough. I moved along a bit gingerly at first, grew more
confident, toppled, swam with the boat to shore where it was easier to
get back in, rowed home, couldn't wait to go out again.
Unfortunately, the next time I went out, it was in a double, which
terrified me. My partner (another newbie to sculling after a couple of
years rowing in eights) was so full of confidence, it left me with
none. We got home dry, but my heart was in my mouth the whole time, and
I have no wish to go back again. I think I didn't/don't mind going in
the water if I tip myself in; our river's not particularly radioactive
and I'm a strong enough swimmer. I just can't handle having to trust
one other person not to dump me in the drink.
Is this something I should ask a coach about, or a shrink?

Thanks,
C

J Flory

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Sep 5, 2005, 2:08:32 PM9/5/05

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Two newbies in a 2x would be scary - you were probably right to be
nervous.

Find an experienced sculler to row bow with you at stroke - perhaps
your coach can locate someone for you. Then try to relax and just
trust them to take care of the set if you bobble. An experienced
bowperson who is detemined not to get wet can handle some rather
extreme blunders. Your skills will probably improve much faster than
they would in a 1x where initially you're preoccupied with balance.

Rather than just rowing along, it may help to decide how many strokes
you think you can reasonably manage without a mistake (5? 10? 20? or
whatever) and then stop to bask in the glow of your accomplishment and
reorganize yourself before starting another set. Much less depressing
than having every stop be due to a mistake.

As you gain experience and feel you can spare a bit of attention for
steering you can switch seats with this person. Then you can imitate
their stroke and progress further.

Going back and forth between 1x and 2x (and 4x if you have access to
one) makes you better in both boats.

Good luck!

sue t

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Sep 5, 2005, 8:37:31 PM9/5/05

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A 2x is also a good training tool for sculling if one holds the balance
while the other rows. You don't get a lot of practice balancing but it does
give you good stroke practice. Also, if the person holds balance
consistently, you can feel the effect of your strokes on the boat/balance.
Also good resistance training as you're hauling around another body.