The
glass-like water shimmers as the sun's rays beam down. Stroke, swish, stroke,
swish is the sound that the oars make through the water as the floating 8 men
shell glides atop the water. Body's calm, minds aggressive. Rowing takes one's
body to a whole new dimension of pain and mental toughness. One must persevere
through all odds to stay with the other crews racing against them. "BREAK
THEM!!!!!!!" the coxswain screams through her mike as they are neck and
neck with the boat next to them. Nothing can be going through the rower's head
except for puling hard and focusing straight ahead. "THERE ARE NO
PASSENGERS!!!!!" yells the coxswain. The energy and speed of the boat
jolts forward with the next stroke. "Last ten; Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six,
Five, Four, Three, Two, One, okay way NUFF" the coxswain tells the crew.
All eight oars immediately rest on the water and the boat glides out. All eight
men, plus the coxswain are exhausted from the workout piece and knowing that
this was only half the distance that they will have to race next week. Yes,
this was ONLY a practice.
Rowing is one of those sports where
either you love it or hate it; there is no in between. Over the centuries,
starting with the first race back in 1852 between Harvard and Yale, the sport
of rowing has slowly turned into an international renowned sport. While it is
popular at the collegiate, Olympic and recreational levels, rowing is not the
“coolest” sport to do at the High School level. The concept of sitting on a
boat, rowing with an oar, and doing the same body motion over and over again
does not always intrigue kids to even try the sport. The brave few who do are
immersed into the painful, but rewarding sport of rowing. Many schools do not
even offer crew as a sport because of its expensive equipment and limited
availability of coaching. Private schools tend to have crew, while public
schools do not. Also, friends normally grow up together playing sports and the
fact that one cannot start rowing until one’s first year in High School, limits
the eagerness to start a new sport. For these reasons, the participation in
crew is reduced greatly compared to the typical high school sports, such as
football, field hockey, track, soccer, etc…
However, rowing is slowly becoming more
popular at the High School level as the physical and social benefits are
starting to be realized. The beginning of some rowers careers start with their
parents pushing them to start crew based on what they have heard from
college-athletes who were recruited. Some of the top schools in the Ivy have a
very strong recruiting pull from admissions, so this makes rowing a very
attractive sport to do for some students who wish to pursue their athletic
career past high school. Another incentive that high school student-athletes
have in doing crew is that it really keeps the body in shape. Rowing works out
the entire body from head-to-toe, including the brain.
The rower must
constantly be aware of his or her surroundings and make adjustments to row
better. Half of the battle is having good technique on the water, as that
translates into more power. Not only is there power to send the boat down the
race course, but power to overcome all odds and win. The power pumps through the
blood of all eight rowers. The consistent, numbing pain in taking each stroke
in the water never lets go, but the desire to achieve great things can
wash-away. No one is forcing you to take the next stroke. You have to want it.
This is what makes rowing one of the best lifestyle choices that you can ever
make.
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