How I stay warm at regattas with a wind chill and rain
Hello again Reader
We are all here because as masters rowers we enjoy our sport. Many of us see plenty of ways that rowing could be improved for masters – from different events, to ways clubs can be better aligned to our aging bodies, and improvements in training programs for 1k racing.
We aren’t shrinking violets and so masters step up to help solve these problems. Many of us volunteer, coach, and administer our clubs and regattas. We are part of the solution.
Since starting Faster Masters Rowing in 2019 we have lobbied and spoken out in support of masters rowers trying to get clubs and federations to understand that their traditional ‘pathway to high performance’ is not an appropriate model for masters. At best, we are on a pathway of managed decline! Many now recognise masters’ needs and have started to introduce changes and improvements.
By opting in to receive this newsletter (and reading it each week) you are part of the solution, Reader. I’m hugely grateful to you for doing this.
I want more.
You and I are among the early adopters, the group of people leading change in our sport. We now need mass adoption by more clubs, athletes and coaches if the change we desire is to happen within a few years.
To this end, I want to meet your club committee, your club board, your club Captain and President to offer them sponsorship in the form of free services from Faster Masters Rowing.
That’s where I need your help.
Can you hit reply to this email and cc these people, adding a short note of introduction so that I can write to them with a sponsorship offer?
Yes it’s a real offer. Yes I think it’s an attractive ‘deal’ for a masters group. Yes, I am also trying to grow the masters rowing community and to build our ability to influence the decisionmakers in our sport.
I see this as a two-way street. You help me to continue helping you.
Let’s do this!
Rebecca
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Boathouse Chat for the Weekend
Fellow lightweights. What are your tactics for beating the Big Boys? I’m often out-gunned in a single but also crew boats. I’m 6ft 3 in and only 67 kilos. I do focus on technique as one way to beat the big guys and I suppose a higher rate could work. What training advice is there? Or is it a case of just accepting my fate?
A reader asked me how I manage to stay warm when racing, especially if it’s raining.
Out of interest, how do you cope and what do you wear as in gloves, socks, thermals etc for racing in cold temperatures regattas, like in Tassie, expected 1-3 ℃?
Here’s what I did this past weekend rowing in Wanaka (early morning 2 degrees, high of 15 with a wind chill too).
I layer up, big time. I pack 3 changes of clothing per day of the regatta.
We were wading out to wet-launch our boats into the lake. I am bare footed, have my warmest leggings on; socks in my waist band. Get in the boat and put the waterproof socks on first (before fixing up so my feet start to warm through).
I wore four layers on my torso – silk undershirt, t-shirt, thermal long sleeve and a waterproof jacket. I had a neck warmer (half fleece, half cotton) and a beanie hat too.
For my hands, I have shooting mitts which are sheepskin but leave my palms open to the oar handles. Those are fine most of the time…. pogies don’t keep my hands warm, I’m afraid. And if I get wet I always change my clothing so I stay dry on land, even if it means putting wet clothes on to go out to race.
How do you stay warm at regattas?
Calling Australian Masters…. heading to Tassie?
If you are reading this in Australia and heading to Tasmania for the Rowing Australia Masters Rowing Championships – how warm will your feet be?
Last time I was at Lake Barrington I remember that even though there were pontoons, some people waded out to beach launch. And it was cold along with a daunting wind chill.
I can ship waterproof socks from NZ to arrive at your Australian address in time for the regatta…. AU$95 including shipping to any Australian postal address.
Two sizes
Women US 6.5-9 (Euro 39-42) UK 6-8
Men – US 9.5-12 (Euro 43-46) UK 9-11
Hit reply to email me your order [Include your address details].
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