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What is a Power Ten?

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Jun 27, 2017


You may have heard the term “Power Ten” in reference to rowing and racing. Specifically, this term is often said by the coxswain to motivate a crew. A “Power Ten” is, traditionally, ten hard strokes of power. The coxswain often will count out each stroke for the crew. Contrary to common belief, the coxswain doesn’t yell “row” with each stroke that the athletes take. (After all, the athletes all are well aware that they are rowing.) More frequently, the coxswain is providing motivation, giving feedback, or executing a race strategy. The coxswain’s first job is steering (and safety), but that responsibility is usually a silent one.

A Power Ten is an all-out effort, but the term is a bit ironic in a race where every stroke should be pulled your hardest. So why does a coxswain call a Power Ten? Continue Reading ›

Breaking Age Group Records Again and Again...

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Jun 22, 2017

World Record Holder Shawn Baker

The 500 meter row. A staple for many; an all-out fly and die effort. For the fast it’s over quickly yet feels like it takes forever when done at max effort. Many, such as Sam Loch, have tried to chase down a two-decade old world record and come close, but it still sits out there beckoning challengers to try it. Others excel in their age group and dominate many different distances, such as Anne Bourlioux, who owns 35 world records.

Some people battle records for months; others break their own records, almost daily. Shawn Baker has done just that: he’s broken the 500 meter record for heavyweight men, age 50–59, over ten times in 2017. The previous record holders? Shawn Baker himself. Shawn likes to push to that dark mental place often, way more often than this writer does. A brutal 500 meters isn’t something that often crosses my mind as a piece I’d like to do every day.

What pushes someone to want to do such a challenging piece over and over? Continue Reading ›

Field Trip! World Masters Games 2017

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May 23, 2017

This past April, New Zealand played host to the World Masters Games, an international sporting event held every four years. It’s an opportunity for masters athletes in 28 different sports to compete on an international level. Concept2’s Dick Dreissigacker and Judy Geer made the trip to New Zealand and took part in the rowing portion of the Games.

World Masters Games rowing venue on Lake Karapiro in New Zealand.
Continue Reading ›

Pushing Through Lack of Motivation

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May 19, 2017

Some days you can hop on and every stroke feels great, every push of the legs feels so powerful, and other days you would rather be eating a pizza watching your new favorite show. So what to do?

Through trial and tribulation I’ve found a few methods of pushing through the lack of motivation. These methods don’t apply when you’re trying to PR or hold a specific pace or stroke rate, but they can be helpful tricks for logging more meters. Continue Reading ›

All Mom Wants for Mother’s Day is to Row

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May 12, 2017

Eager to scull with mommy

My older daughter, now three years old, has already raced in her first regatta, albeit in utero. Rowing offers pregnant women a low impact option for exercise (always check with your doctor first) that can accommodate a changing body.

In the last weeks of my pregnancy, my stroke on the indoor rower was shorter because of my basketball-sized bump. Continue Reading ›

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