Caro's Chronicles #7
Weighty Matters – Food and Physics
"She’s fast, but she slows down the boat." This implies an individual is strong, but weak technique or has a poor weight to power ratio. The latter is remarkably important in rowing particularly in smaller boats.
The reason for this being that, an additional 5 to 10 pounds per rower in an 8+, if it increases the overall horsepower, will not be as negated by the increased resistance of (drag) of boat riding lower in the water. It’s already large size means the momentum is so great drag becomes less of a factor.
As you move to smaller boats, the increase in drag from a boat riding lower (due the weight of the rower) means that more power is necessary to compensate, while the advantage of momentum is less due to lower overall weight.
This is why you may hear that Oxford or Cambridge boating their heaviest crews to date, but simultaneously hear that lightweight rowers are challenging times set by heavyweights. Though there is some debate on this topic, the overall principle still states the ideal rowers have low weight/high power ratios.
It logically follows Fat = Bad.
This is true of most sports, beyond the physics, comes body image. Do you look like a good rower? This is not simple vanity. Weight has significant connotations, let me explain:
If a heavy individual has equivalent power to a lighter individual, the lighter person is ‘hauling butt’. To be heavy then means you are potentially and unnecessarily burdening your teammates.
There are other factors, such as skill, compatibility within a boat, etc. However, it niggles uncomfortably in the back of my mind. This has an arguably larger impact on heavier rowers like me and coxie (two classes where their weight has the most potential to impact performance).
Although weight to power ratios are not decisive factors in success, the worry they generate and the effect they have on rowers is note worthy. Weight is a significant source of personal angst and social critique but also a means to struggle together; (for example; lightweight parties).
I do not know how much this holds true of male rowers but relations to food and weight among female athletes is a fascinating microcosm of logic and illogic.
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1.) 30' Bike
2.) 60' SS + abs
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