Cross posting from the sailing blog

Recently I posted a piece on the school's sailing blog about how to get better. The post is copied below. Replace the word "sailing" with "rowing" and most of the ideas translate directly. Following the picture is a few more comments as we get close to erging and winter conditioning.

A quote from Ed Adams

A recent article in Sailing World quoted multi-class National, World and Olympic champion Ed Adams. When asked by parents "How can I make my kid be the next Olympian, the next gold medalist?," his reply was that "...doing well in sailing is probably 25 percent athletic ability. And it's probably 25 percent preparation: taking the kid to regattas, getting him good equipment, hiring him some good coaches. And it's 50 percent ambition and drive, which is not something you can purchase."

The quote struck me as something our team needs to focus on. No, we will probably not be producing Olympians. Look instead at the quote as a roadmap on how to get better. Yes, there are some physical aspects of dinghy sailing that are advantageous: flexibility in drifters,  light weight in moderate conditions, height and upper body/ hand strength when it blows. The "good equipment" comment is pretty much a non-issue for high school sailing since we rotate boats, but at least now we have our own equipment. It's the 50 percent "ambition and drive" that will allow us to have the greatest improvement and that's on you.

As winter approaches, sailing small boats winds down, but if you have the will you can still improve. First, keep up with all school work. Then keep in shape physically. Excess weight is seldom useful. Cross training with other sports is advised. Study the Racing Rules. Read articles on techniques specific to small boats. Think sailing. Look for opportunities to sail (it would be on a keel boat, or in a mid-winters regatta in Florida.)

We will get on the water again in the late spring/early summer!

I think rowing requires much more of a dedication to fitness than sailing. That being said, at the high school level, novice rowers can be very successful (unlike sailing, where a whole lot of experience is required for success.) As we get close to formal winter conditioning, think about your "ambition and drive."  You start with the physical aspects of strength and conditioning and let coach O'Brien and me worry about the technical aspects of moving boats.