What happens if despite your best efforts you finish the row with a new set of blisters? Rowing blisters are our most common injury. Many are the theories and practices but here’s what I do and what I advise my athletes to do: The blister is still raised and filled with fluid. Use a sterilised needle (pour over boiling water or dip in meths) to pierce the blister and drain the fluid. Press the blister flat and apply some antiseptic…
Sophie Mackenzie runs through her chosen stretches for rowers who have tired legs and tight muscles. This is a sequence you can do after rowing – best tried as a crew. Sophie rowed for New Zealand and is a double world champion in LW2x. She published her Stretching Poster for Rowers in April. Downward dog – hamstrings – Picture 1 Downward dog is probably one of the greatest full body stretches. One of the main target muscle groups are the…
I have a question involving rowing recovery. Basically I hate going to bed sore and waking up feeling worse, and I’m wondering what is the best position to sleep in and how to potentially use pillows as support for my traps lats and lower back? We took this question from a reader to our expert rowing coach advisors. Mike Davenport (Coach and rigger) advises I’m thinking that it’s more than a “position” issue, and maybe structural or muscular. I suggest…
The feet first approach There’s a reason behind the well developed stereotype a rowing teams and sliders – your feet need it after all that time spent in the boat! Whether it’s down to the stresses and strains [1] placed on your joints while you’re competing, the many hours spent with your feet in shared shoes during training, or the time spent wading in and out of the river which has doubtless left you damp on a number of occasions…
Wash and waterproofed? How to waterproof your functional rowing gear What is going on with my rowing gilet. After washing, the impregnation is all gone. No hydrophobic effect. Water pures to my skin. Everybody knows it- rowing gear and functional clothing are washed and the impregnation is gone. But: Here is what experts say: Functional gear can be washed , evenb should be washed after wearing it 10-15 times. What do I have to do so that my functional clothing…
Spray or wash Again and again I get angry about the loss of impregnation when I wash my rowing clothes. I already have the topic with my rain gear or ski clothes. What do I do with functional clothing? How should I reactivate the impregnation? Basically there are two approaches: Wash in or spray on. if necessary Impregnating detergent Impregnation spray Time to impregnate? First after washing in a separate wash or as a combined solution After drying How…
Enjoy the Douro River – The UNESCO world Heritage Row and socialize – along the banks of one of the most beautiful rivers in Europe. Rowing in Europe offers the wonderful possibility of rowing vacation in Portugal: Portugal’s most magnificent river –the Douro river. The River The river and the Douro Vinhateiro (wine growing-area) of the Douro Valley in Portugal has been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Traditionally, the wine was taken downriver in flat-bottom boats called rabelos, to be stored in…
Tours in Amsterdam Amsterdam is NOT the Capital of The Netherlands. Due to its Canal / Grachten system it is a wonderful and exciting rowing area. Wikipedia says….the Amsterdam canal system is the result of conscious city planning. In the early 17th century, when immigration was at a peak, a comprehensive plan was developed that was based on four concentric half-circles of canals with their ends emerging at the IJ bay. The canals served for defence, water management and transport. The defences took the…
How would I go to sleep after a long rowing day? My hands are sore, I got a sunburn, my behind feels week and I am really afraid of the next morning. If you are really sick, go see a doctors. Do not wait with heavy sunburns until the next da. Try to find somebody to bring you to a doctors or a pharmacy. They will check you out and help you. I suggest seeing a physician or chiropractor to…
Rowing and age The age in a rowing boat doesn’t matter. Take a look at the FISA Master Regattas … the participants are 90 years old and older. FISA has recently expanded its categories and added an additional age group. Rowing tours usually have participants in the age groups from 45 to 75 years. Volker from Rowing in Europe reported about a guest at the age of 80. He was one of the most active people in the tour boat.…
