Rowing is a wonderful sport that many people don’t know about. It is extremely teamwork-oriented and causes the team to become a family. Rowing is an intensive full body workout. It is incomparable with any other sport. Even with all of its benefits, rowing is relatively unknown in both high school and college communities. So here are some .gifs that offer a small insight into the lives and minds of rowers and coxswains.
1. When someone asks a rower why their arms are small.
Rowing is a full body sport; however, it mainly works your leg muscles. You may not notice, but when you see a boat race, you’ll see how we push a boat with our legs if you watch closely.
2. When someone complains how sore they are from ONE leg day.
Rowers love leg day. In fact, we have a name for each one: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
3. How we feel after finishing a 2k…
You would think racing 2000 meters would actually be easier than racing 5000 meters. You are wrong. A 2k is basically a long distance sprint. A 5k is much more paced.
4. And then realized you beat your personal record.
Even if it is by 0.1 seconds, you improved and are extremely proud of it.
5. Wanting to make lightweight, but you just had that serving at the pasta load.
I’m not a lightweight, nor will I ever be one. Weigh-ins are very strict and you can only lose so much in water weight. That last bit of carbs may be the defining 0.1 pounds that separates you and your boat from what division you race in.
6. That moment your coxswain turns from quiet and shy to a drill sergeant.
They may look small on the outside, but when they are in the boat they are the most intimidating people in the world.
7. When your coach announces land training.
It’s going to be running, burpees, push-ups, crunches and possibly more erg training. Oh and not to forget the blisters you got from last practice.
8. When someone says they know how to erg, but has never been taught how…
Seriously, non-rowers should be required to take some classes before being allowed on an erg.
9. And you force yourself not to push them off to prevent them from hurting themselves.
Having poor technique on them can result in serious injuries. We are your friends and care about your well-being. Plus, it hurts our eyes to watch.
10. Three words: Mixed boat race.
Some of the most fun races I have ever had were in a mixed boat, meaning half the boat is female and the other half male.
11. Did someone say pasta load?
Before every race we like to carb load, especially with pasta. It is also a great way for the team to just hang out and bond before a race.
12. When someone says rowing is easy…
No. Just no. Race a proper 2k and then we can talk.
13. Then says that rowing is equivalent to canoeing…
The only thing these two sports share is that you are on a boat in the water. Nothing else is the same.
14. Aaaand then refers to oars as paddles.
Once again, there is only one similarity between the two: they are hand-held objects put in the water to help move a boat. Everything else is different.
15. When you know the tailwind you have going up the race course will turn into a headwind going down the course.
Besides having a bad hair day after the race, you also have to work harder during the race because Mother Nature decided to leave her blow dryer running.
16. Getting your first gold medal…
It happened! It really happened!!!
17. And sharing the win with your boat…
The best reward is throwing your coxswain into the water afterward.
18. And the rest of the team.
*Too much cheering to give proper commentary*
19. Going out with the team to celebrate, no matter how you did at the regatta.
The closest greasy burger joint is just crowded with exhausted and hungry rowers (Shout out to Five Guys!). Try rowing 5000 meters lightly, then 5000 meters as hard as you can. See how many calories you burn.
20. Spending Sunday waiting for the next week of the two and a half hour practices of your life.
You know through all of the blood, sweat, blisters, calluses and tears, you survived with an amazing group of people and you definitely want to do it again.
21. Never outgrowing rowing.
You never will.
