THE SPORT OF ROWING middle ground. Mike Spracklen, Marlow Rowing Club, Canadian National Team, 2000s: “The power that the blades apply at the finish of the stroke determines boat speed. While every part of the stroke is im- portant, the boat travels only as fast as blades push it at the end of the stroke. An accelerating blade that is covered to the last moment contributes to a long stroke and a strong thrust. The longer the blades are kept in the water the greater the [cumulative] force they produce.”8764 The success of the Evers-Swindell 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2008 World and Olympic Champion Women’s Double was based on the middle ground. Dick Tonks, New Zealand National Team: “The catch pressure, light or heavy, must be main- tained to the finish. . . . Once the rowers are on their feet and start squeezing off the front, they must keep the pressure on the footstretcher constant. The legs should feel like they’re accelerating throughout the en- tire drive phase. “The catch cannot be too aggressive. The blade should not hit the water so hard that it bounces or the movement stops, be- cause the boat must accelerate from the moment the blade hits the water.”8765 The success of the U.S. 2004 Olympic Champion Men’s Eight was based on the middle ground. Mike Teti, U.S. National Team, 1990s-2000s: “You push, you hang your body weight and try to get as much momentum on that oar handle as possible. “Acceleration starts from the point of entry and continues to the release.”8766 “I have a picture of ideal rowing in my mind, and I would use a guy like James Tomkins, stroke of the [1998-2004] Aus- tralian Pair, as a model.”8767 Teti also respects and approves of the technique of Matthew Pinsent, Steve Red- grave’s World and Olympic Champion pair- partner from 1991 through 1996, Steve’s World and Olympic Champion Coxless- Four-partner from 1997 through 2000 and James Cracknell’s World Champion pair- partner in 2001 and 2002 and four-partner in 2004. Teti: “Pinsent is also pretty classical and technically proficient. “I’ve been in a boat with both of these guys, so I know. You feel length complete- ly. You feel completely connected. It’s like you’re doing a slow-motion dead lift, a slow-motion clean, and you can feel every muscle working in harmony.”8768 The overwhelming majority of success- ful crews in world history have applied their maximum sustainable force at each point from entry to release, the Golden Mean be- tween the possible extremes of rowing force application. It’s hard to dismiss that much wisdom and real-world experience. Kernschlag The concept of Kernschlag has also had a number of enthusiastic adherents since the beginning of rowing history, and almost all have relied on reason rather than experience to justify their choice. Edward Brickwood, 1866: “It is a well- known and indisputable law that the greatest power can be applied in the first half of the stroke, that is to say, before the oar becomes level with the rowlock, and that the further aft it goes subsequently to passing that point, the more that power decreases. Such being the case, it is only common sense to endeav- or to do as much work as possible when it will tell the most, and when it contributes to 8764 Nolte et al, p. 146 8765 Ibid, p. 172 8766 Teti, personal conversation, 2004 8767 Ibid. 8768 Ibid. 2466
