Discover how to adjust your blade parallels when rowing in a mixed crew to get the oar arcs as similar as possible.
Timestamps
01:00 Goal is to align the blade arc
Set up the boat for a comfortable row – ideally with all the oars moving through the same angles. Know the dimensions of the athletes – how tall are you relative to your wingspan (fingertip to fingertip).
04:00 We do not have to be rigged identically in the boat. Start with the basics – ensure your set up in the boat is good. Start with getting the finishes parallel. Set up your back seat wheel to the same distance behind the face of the work. 58-62 cm is a normal range in sweep. In sculling, it’s done by getting the gap between your handles the same at the finish. This assumes you are using oars / sculls which are the same length and inboard.
05:30 Rules for adjusting
- Equipment – foot stretchers can be moved easily; can also adjust shoe height to compromise the seat rolling forward (make full compression shorter). Check catch and finish angles for each person.
- Rigging – change the span/spread of the pins – a tighter span gives a longer arc at the tip of the blade at the catch. Change the oar length and inboard – for a shorter person shortening the oar length and inboard has a similar effect to tightening the span.
- Athletes’ bladework – tall people shorten catch angle, less layback at the finish, tap out oars early at the finish. Shorter athletes can row a sequential power phase – using legs before legs and arms rather than simultaneous sequence. Keep arms wider at the catch (sweep use body rotation; sculling use thumbs to push handles sideways over the side of the boat). Hold arms wide in sculling as you initiate the drive for as long as possible. Get the feeling of your feet pushing underneath your handle for as long as possible before the handle starts to move towards you.
12:00 Adaptations are needed
Meeting in the middle is worthwhile – tall people row a little shorter and shorter people row a little longer. Use video to assess how you are rowing – record this at firm pressure to get the best insight.
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