THE LONG ECLIPSE OF AMERICAN ROWING Is there an official U.S. Technique? The USRA website says: • After the entry of the blade into the water, the body weight is transmitted to the footstretchers using the force of the legs. • The muscles of the back, shoulders and arms just hold firmly, providing a good connection between the legs and the blade. There is no significant upper body lift (opening the angle between the chest and the thighs). • It will appear as if the body swing “takes over” from the leg drive. Body weight hangs on straight arms. Both arms are straight and stretched. • Legs and back finish their work almost simultaneously. • Hands should continue the last inches of the draw with good support against the footstretchers. • Keep the body in a tall position about 10° past vertical.5304 The USRA’s Introduction to Sculling says: After the catch, the drive begins by using your legs to push your body toward the bow, and the stroke is completed with the arms and back.5305 This is not limited to books. The following quote is a voice-over narration of 2004 and 2008 Olympic Singles Champion Olaf Tufte:5306 The drive and propulsion phase begins with the initial push of the legs after the blade is entered into the water. The push of the legs drives the body back towards the bow of the boat while the strong core muscular system holds against the legs. The body, shoulders and arms act as a conduit to allow the power generated by the leg push to 5304 Kris Korzeniowski, USRowing Coaching Education – Level 1, pp. 15-8, www.usrowing.org 5305 Before the Water – An Introduction to Sculling, USRA 5306 See Chapter 166. be transferred onto the handle and ultimately the blade.5307 The ironic thing is that the film itself clearly documents that Olaf Tufte does not row anything like the above description.5308 This obsession in rowing literature with Modern Orthodox Technique is not a phenomenon limited to the Western Hemisphere. Keith Maybery, a well- known South African coach: The full power of the legs is transferred to the oar handle. Keep a firm body with your arms outstretched . . . The knees and legs are thrust downward in the leg drive while the arms remain outstretched. The body has no swing at this point and must remain ‘fixed’ in position. You should ‘hang on the oar handle’ as you continue to drive with your legs, keeping the body posture almost upright. At this point, the back and arms provide the connection between the drive of the legs and the oar handle. As the legs straighten, your upper body posture remains firm, but you begin to lean back slightly, allowing only 15-20˚ of total body movement. Once your legs are completely straight, the pulling power of the arms takes over. At this point you draw the hands toward the solar plexus while opening your chest and shoulders.5309 Does FISA, the international rowing federation, recognize an official World Technique? According to their coaching development program handbook Level 1: In relation to the muscular force, the first half of the drive relies primarily on the legs. Further in the drive, the back muscles enter into action and, towards the end, the shoulders and the arms.5310 5307 CRC Sculling Camps, Effective Sculling Technique, DVD, 2005 5308 See Chapter 168. 5309 Keith Maybery, Rowing, New Holland Publishers, London, p. 38 5310 Nilsen, p. 53 1463
