Gwenda Stevens is the President of the Belgium Federation. We discuss masters rowing in Belgium, the clubs regattas and the new Masters National Championship event.
00:45 Gwenda has been president for 12 years and she's also an umpire and masters rower.
02:30 Masters rowing in Belgium isn't a big sport. There are 28 rowing clubs in the country - only a few have masters. Gent has hosted regattas regularly in April and May for many years. There has been a lack of entries recently. Until 2 years ago when changes happened.
04:45 The Federation added masters rowing to the national championships three years ago. They worked hard to ensure that there were enough entries. IN September 2023 there were a huge growth with 9 eights racing masters. The April regatta will now have a small boats champs (1x and 2-) and in September for big boats (4x, 4- and 8 as well as a mixed 8).
06:40 There is now a Belgian National Title on offer and Gwenda believes this has accelerated the change and growth in competitors. The standard is high. Gwenda thinks the changes weren't big but had a large impact. She hopes to have a separate masters championships.
08:50 New innovations - they are waiting to see how the event evolves and may have a masters only event with international participants as well from local countries.
Georg Gruetzner is the masters representative on the German Rowing Federation.
Resource: Structure of masters rowing slides
3 Value Bombs 1
01:00 The Masters Officer in the Federation is responsible for the rules in Germany. There are many local groups who run masters events.
02:30 Masters are in many clubs. There are 55 clubs in Berlin alone - but it's variable from year to year. Some masters come to racing from touring rowing - exemplified by a Hamburg club. Most clubs have fine boat regatta rowing and also touring rowing boats.
05:00 Some touring regattas are very long like 100km down the River Rhine. There are four main events - March ergo and long distance events. Starting in June the Meister Championnnat two day regatta. Then in July the German Master's Championships happens which combines with the German champs and University champs in the same week. They use the block format for regatta organisation to enable boat sharing. There are around 650 masters participating each year. The outcome of the triple championships was well received - youngsters respect the masters and masters like staying in contact with the younger rowers. Euro Masters in Munich at the end of July is very popular internationally. Then the World Rowing Masters Regatta in early September which is in Brandenburg, Germany in 2024.
13:00 There are 85,000 rowers in total in Germany. Stimulating novice participation is important and offering them races means the future masters generations is successful.
Adult Novices and young masters Many novices will race and some events also offer races for under 27 year olds. A little like the AA category in USA. They allow touring boats to be used by novices. The goal is to stay in masters rowing for life. The goal is to remove the break from 21 year old students and 27 year old masters.
Wolfgang Fritsch also runs masters seminars for people who want to improve and come from club beginner/novice courses. Clubs often do beginner courses but fall short when people need to improve their technique. This gap is filled by Wolfgang's camps and seminars.
20:00 The structure of masters rowing in Germany has been examined to find the gaps and opportunities to improve. The German Masters champs are open and so other countries can participate as well. Recent years Netherlands, Austria and Belgian rowers participate.
Want easy live streams like this? Instant broadcasts to Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn. Faster Masters uses StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5694205242376192
What's masters rowing like in the South Island of New Zealand? We meet South Island Rowing chairman, Peter Midgeley.
00:30 South Island of New Zealand has an association who owns and runs the Twizel lake which includes a 2k rowing course. The NZ National Champs and NZ Secondary School champs (Maadi Cup) regatta are held there. The Cup was first raced in Egypt after the Second World War in Maadi, Cairo, Egypt. It was brought home by returning soldiers and is now presented to the fasters secondary school boys eight each year.
One club is only masters, most have a masters section. Many are small (20 rowers) half are recreational and half want to race. There's a year calendar which Peter sets. There are 5 major regattas a year and the masters have set events within those regattas. They use the handicap system which counts down additional seconds so everyone finishes at the same time - making a better spectacle for the crowds watching. Every second year the NZ Masters Championships are in the South Island held in September. And the South Island Masters Champs is in June - starting 22 years ago. Now it's got about 25 cups and has 2-300 participants. It's in the coldest weekend of the year! The format starts with a long distance race the first day, 1k mixed racing with a BBQ in the evening. The 1k regatta is on the second day and has a dinner/dance afterwards. Peter recalls racing in the snow at Twizel once for that regatta.
07:30 Peter explains that this year the organisers are 'testing the waters' about moving the weekend to Anzac Weekend in April - which is a bit warmer. The idea of the regatta is to go to the rivers and lakes where there used to be regattas. The size of the regatta now is limiting this. Peter recounts the story of the New Years Day regatta at Picton when the Interislander Ferry came in with a huge wake disrupting the event. Wise coxswains turned their boats sideways to ride the wave, but one boat got swamped. Joseph Sullivan is from Picton Rowing Club who won gold in M2x at London 2012 Olympics.
Rules can only be changed every 4 years - it gets voted on at the AGM. So change is slow to happen. Masters need to get the clubs on board because in NZ we are very school-oriented. The majority of rowers are under 18. The masters are the backbone of clubs - they are in the sport for longer than parents. They're only there for 3-4 years while their child is rowing. Many clubs are run by masters who have the time, money and knowledge as well as the staying power. The average master stays 10 years in a club. Coastal Rowing is going to give good growth for coastal clubs to bring on masters novices. Peter sees the opportunity to advance them faster as they learn to row without balance. This facilitates moving into fine narrow boats later. It's easy to teach the basics of slide control and blade handling.
How to get masters onto a more equal footing with young people in the club. Peter says most masters are seen as second rate. Get onto the committee and be positive - be the oil on the squeeky wheel - and get things done. South Island Rowing has a website with all the clubs and associations including club contact details if you want to visit. There's a club in every town and city in the South Island which has a river.
Want easy live streams like this? Instant broadcasts to Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn. Faster Masters uses
StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5694205242376192
What's masters rowing like in Ireland? Gerry Murphy is Chair of the Masters Representative Committee for Rowing Ireland.
A big increase in member registration has happened and masters are now 18% of total rowing registrations. Clubs see the benefit of having masters groups. There are many other regattas offering masters events - they will put in events entries secretaries are generally willing. Many heads of the river - Galway and Enniskillen - which include masters. Overseas guests are welcome in Ireland.
Most clubs have some form of masters rowing group - including Skibbereen who started a group recently. Gerry's club, Neptune, started an adult learn to row class and most of the graduates are in the rowing leisure group - there are 70 members now. They do tours and exchanges with clubs in France and Portugal. Innovations in masters rowing.
There is a coach education programme.
Most clubs want masters because they see the benefits as they volunteer and grow the club. The 1k Classic (Carrick on Shannon) is a new event which Gerry hopes will become the official Masters Rowing Championships in future.
Future plans - a proper structure for masters programmes development, coaching development, a co-ordinator for masters in every club who can give guidance. It would be nice to get better equipment as well, possibly dedicated masters boats. External guidance to Rowing Ireland may be possible for masters. We love it and we have a smile on our faces - folks are jealous of us. Gerry encourages people to find their level in the sport and enjoying that.
Getting coached sometimes feels like being told you are wrong all the time. What can you do as an athlete to enable yourself to receive critiques and not feel vulnerable?
Resource: How to hire a rowing coach
3 Value Bombs
Improving requires us to know what we are doing right, what we're doing less well and how to change. It is hard not to feel it's personal because it's directed at you. Separate the message from the emotion and the personality giving the feedback. Peer-to-peer coaching in the boat where you don't have a coach enables you to give and receive feedback in an environment where it's appropriately received and acted upon.
03:30 John Zarao [captain sabre fencing team 1984 Olympics] quote
"Competitive sport is a cruel mistress. You are competing on merit, but you can have a gad day - like everyone else. You must listen (not if) to those who know what they're talking about."
John Zarao
Do I want to improve the way I row and scull? If the answer is yes, you have to be open to hearing information about your current state and how to get to a desirable future state. 1 - What is the message being given to you? 2 - Does this message apply to me? 3 - If yes, how can I use it to improve my rowing?
06:00 How you get the information and feedback. Work with the person giving you the feedback. - repeat back to them in your own words what you think they have said to you. Clarify the message until they say to you "that's right" so there's no ambiguity. - challenge your defensiveness and work out why you are so bothered by this message. - focus on the message not the delivery. - apply the message to your rowing / sculling
You have to prepare the athlete to receive your message first. Few people change their position after being shouted at. Ask the athlete "May I give you some feedback?" and stay silent until they answer yes. Because if they aren't ready to receive your message it won't land. "Before I give you advice can I ask if you are interested in improving your technique?" and get the answer yes to this question too.
10:45 Coaches giving feedback
Contextually it's important your athletes know that you only give feedback to athletes you think can improve. Few coaches invest time in someone who you think cannot change. See the feedback as respect from your coach that you're a worthwhile athlete to invest their time and energy in. Receiving love and respect from your coach is desirable and the pathway is changing something which isn't right in your rowing just now.
13:30 Ask your coach "Where am I standing right now in the crew and where do you see me at the end of the season?" This helps you to put a timeline onto your improvement and to understand where you stand compared to others in the group. The attention you are getting may be because you are on a good pathway to improvement. Help each other to receive messages which are not 100% positive is a good pathway to becoming a better rower.
Want easy live streams like this? Instant broadcasts to Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn. Faster Masters uses StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5694205242376192
You're preparing to race and are concerned you aren't rating high enough. Why rating matters.
Three drills you can do to get the rate up. What prevents you getting the rate up?
Resource: Practicing Racing Starts
3 Value Bombs
01:15 First you must know what your ideal race rate goal is for the main body of your race. Your training programme should have increasing race rates to help guide you closer to your race rate goal.
Can you get your oars in and out in perfect time with your crew mates? Increase the quality of precise practice. Have a clearly defined sequence of the rowing stroke cycle. Do these movements slowly and then test under pressure (rate, firm pressure).
Can you practice rating higher than your race pace rate?
20:00 What should your rate be in the race? Challenge your preconceptions about race rate by practicing drills regularly. Get familiar with the feeling of getting the boat up to higher rates.
Want easy live streams like this? Instant broadcasts to Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn. Faster Masters uses StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5694205242376192
Staying hydrated for training and racing can give you hidden benefits. It's very easy to become dehydrated and not realise. Performance improvements and recovery gains from hydration.
Resource: Home Made Sport Drink Recipe (below in notes).
Timestamps
What you are drinking and how to get fluids into your body. It's more than just drinking while training, off the water drinking matters too.
Start with a glass of water when you wake up in the morning. Every time you have a meal or snack, have another glass of water. Snacks might be mid-morning or mid-afternoon. Get into the habit of 2 litres of fluid a day - this includes any hot drink, shake or smoothie count too. Keep a record of your hydration - cricket notation makes it easy to see each 5 glasses of water you have.
02:30 Before during and after training sessions hydration is needed as well.
Drinks need carbohydrate and electrolytes in them. This is part of your recovery from exercise. Carbohydrates help you maximise energy levels to maintain intensity through to the end of a workout. Training works to provoke adaptations. Electrolytes are minerals which get lost through sweat. The air temperature during exercise affects your feeling of thirst. Do not rely on your sensation of thirst - anticipate your hydration needs before you feel thirsty.
06:00 Caffeine drinks - these are worthy of your consideration because caffeine is a stimulant. I drank a half and half Red Bull and water at a regatta when I had a lot of races. I'd learned that Dame Kelly Holmes used this for her race day hydration.
Use sports drink only on regatta days. Use either caffeinated drinks or tablets (noDoze or Pro Plus). Have caffeine every 2-3 hours while racing - half a can of drink 30-40 minutes before your first race or half a caffeine tablet.
From Nancy Clark's Sport Nutrition Guidebook affiliate link to buy.
Flavoured with orange juice and lemon juice or cranberry/lemonade.
Want easy live streams like this? Instant broadcasts to Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn. Faster Masters uses StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5694205242376192
Ever since the 2007 movie, we've started bucket lists for everything. Now it's time for you to plan your rowing event bucket list.
Resource: Download a masters rowing program sample free.
3 Value Bombs
00:30 Things we are going to do in rowing before "kicking the bucket". The Faster Masters Rowing self-guided training plan to help get you fit, faster and the confidence you're doing the right thing in your training. How to train as we age - masters rowers are not the same as youth rowers. If you train three times a week minimum, this program may suit you. Get a free trial download masters rowing program.
03:30 If you already have a program and want to read the articles we write on topics of interest to masters rowers, buy the monthly Masters Rowing Magazine.
Bucket list rowing is about doing things that are special and have value to you. Andrew Turner suggested this episode. Row on famous waters - places which are renowned in the sport of rowing. Row on Olympic courses - Sydney, Munich, Paris, London. The Assault on Lake Casitas by Brad Alan Lewis tells one story of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
The well known Henley Royal Regatta and Head of the Charles are well-known. These can be hard to get entries in because HRR does not have masters events.
Row on the same course in different events like Henley Masters Regatta - a 1k event in July. The London Veteran Eights Head of the River Race is on the Boat Race course and run in March each year. Australia's Head of the Yarra is the premier event in the Southern Hemisphere in Melbourne each November. The Amsterdam Heineken Regatta is uniquely over several different race distances.
Touring Rowing races include the Tour de Lac Leman (around Lake Geneva) and is over 100km long. Also consider the Canal du Midi in France touring event.
What about getting a session with a famous rowing coach? Some join camps which you can join. Best Rowing Books
Troy Howell, Volker Nolte, Marlene Royle, Jim Dietz, Al Morrow - all well known coaches who work with masters.
13:00 What bucket list trip would you enjoy? Ireland with the Tribesman Head and a driving holiday afterwards. Meet rowers from a famous club in your own country - Capital Rowing Center in Washington DC.
More Bucket List Events
Want easy live streams like this? Instant broadcasts to Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn. Faster Masters uses StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5694205242376192
We continue our mini-series on speed murdering mistakes in rowing and sculling. This follows last week's deep dive into blades on the surface .... this week we take a look at Rushing Off The Back. What, how, causes, cures.
Resource: The Finish Posture explained
3 Value Bombs
01:00 These issues are straightforward to resolve. As a coach I can see the solution and until you realise the solution is there, you're ignorant.
The transition from the oar extraction through to when you roll up the slide is our focus area.
08:30 Things to look out for
Look down and see if your elbows are partly bent as you rock the body forwards
Do your thumbs touch your lower ribs?
Are you finishing with handles horizontal or are they drawing down into your lap? Get some video so the finish and your body are in the frame.
The fastest point of boat speed is after the finish. This may sound counter-intuitive - the second surge of speed comes after the oars are extracted and as you transfer your body weight. Rebecca calls this speed for free.
Do 10 strokes normal, 10 strokes separating arms from body to spot the difference.
Want easy live streams like this? Instant broadcasts to Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn. Faster Masters uses StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5694205242376192
We start a mini series on things which kill boat speed. And how to fix them. Part One: Dragging oars along the water surface
Resource Pontoon Floats are a cheap aide to building confident bladework - discount coupon lower down this page.
Timestamps
00:30 We love boat speed, the feel of the boat moving well. Technical aspects which coaches see over and over and are fixable.
Why do people do this? Is this using the water as a balancing aide. Dragging the oars creates friction and slows the boat down.
03:50 Losing boat feel is a consequence of oar drag. The boat pitches fore and aft in the water as we row. The trim is not constant. Moving with the boat on the recovery, you can feel the boat surge as the bows lift out of the water.
Skilled rowers go a lot faster because they adapt and adjust body movements to align with how the boat is moving. When blades drag on the water it's harder to feel the surge.
Confidence, Tension, Fear of the unknown.
Fear - if you worry that the boat becomes more tippy because your oars are high above the water, here's the cure. Pontoon floats give stability and help to build confidence.
Watch the Square Blades Challenge - 3 lessons to advance your skill.
08:30 if you're skilled enough to go in a single scull - when your oars are out of the water - once your arms are straight, your oars are perpendicular to the side of the boat - this is the point of maximum stability, sometimes called the safe position.
What could happen during the recovery and where do your lurches happen? If your oars are feathered, the maximum tip/lurch is until one oar touches the water surface. This is like a stabilising pontoon float. You won't flip or capsize. If your blades are square when you get a lurch - just take that stroke immediately. Never mind how far up the slide you are. Then get the finish stable and focus on the next recovery.
11:00 Know what the worst that can happen is and know that you have a solution.
12:00 For wobbles at the finish, ensure you keep elbows high and finish in the correct hand position. Get weight in the hand too. Use double bounce exercise, the stationary stability drill, pause drills to practice this.
Do your handles stay at the same height after feathering as they were in the drive phase? If you flex your wrists to feather you may not be pushing the handle down. Get some video to find out what you do. How to progressively gain confidence keeping the oars off the water surface on the recovery.
Summary of the cures for blades dragging on the water surface
Want easy live streams like this? Instant broadcasts to Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn. Faster Masters uses
StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5694205242376192
Join our community and get our exclusive Faster Masters Rowing Magazine, packed with tips, techniques, and inspiring stories. Includes four new articles monthly.
