THE LESSONS OF 200 YEARS pitiable to see the number of men who can row only on one side.”8364 Experience suggests that this does not delay progress. In fact, there is anecdotal evidence that athletes actually tend to learn faster in the first few weeks if they alternate sides day-to-day or, even better, mid-session in the rowing barge. Fairbairn: “It is advisable to change oarsmen from one side of the boat to the other, on alternate days. Being able to row on either side is very necessary in order to prevent any oarsman from getting lopsided, and to double his usefulness as well as his chances of getting into a crew. Many a man has lost his Blue from being one-sided, with only one hand that has learnt the intricacies of the finish.”8365 Additional advantages are numerous. From the points of view of both athlete and coach, there is more flexibility, a greater understanding of the separate roles of the inside and outside hands, and a reduced tendency to develop an idiosyncratic lean to one side or the other. One might also speculate that abnormal stresses on the spinal column would be mitigated or at least balanced out. The only possible disadvantage is that the coach can’t later have an athlete with an ingrained technical flaw on one side switch to his unfamiliar side in order to temporarily force that person to regain conscious control of stroke mechanics. Breathing It is self evident that breathing efficiently and effectively is essential to any peak athletic performance, and in most sports breathing is closely monitored. However, it has seldom been even mentioned in the context of rowing. 8364 Ibid, p. 420 8365 Ibid, p. 201 Several things are immediately obvious. At race pace, breathing in and out once per stroke does not provide sufficient oxygen to perform. At least two breath cycles per stroke are necessary for most athletes. Masters rower Greg Benning: “During the Silverskiff on the Po River in 2008, Mahe Drysdale and I passed each other on opposite sides of the river about 1,000m downstream from the turn (he was 7k into the 11k race). I could hear him breathe because we were the only two scullers within 100m and it was very quiet otherwise. He has these enormously deep breaths that sound like a jet exhaust, and he was only breathing once per stroke cycle at race cadence! “I remarked to him later that I was surprised, and he said that’s the way he always does it, doesn’t matter the rating, even in a 2k.”8366 Mahe Drysdale: “That is the aim. Early in the race I am breathing once a stroke, and whether I can do it the whole way depends on how tough the race is. Toward the end sometimes I breathe a little more often, but I try to keep to breathing deeply once per stroke as much as I can.”8367 Benning: “Massive lung capacity!”8368 It is well established and common sense that taking full, deep breaths is more effective than taking short, shallow breaths that do not fully empty the lungs of carbon dioxide. It is also a general rule that when the lungs are full or filling, the expanding ribcage provides a more secure anchor for muscles to lever against. That is why you see weightlifters breathe in before attempting a lift. So it would seem advantageous for rowers to take in a full, deep breath during 8366 Benning, personal correspondence, 2011 8367 Drysdale, personal correspondence, 2011 8368 Benning, op. cit. 2355
