Should College Club rowers race shorter distances?

[crewu]

Let's face it, the training to prepare for a 2K is daily - which rules out a lot of college students who may otherwise be interested in club rowing.

Why not shift to a shorter distance and have closer and more exciting races and less demoralizing race experiences for the vast majority of rowers?

It works for the Masters.

[lt.wolf]

Masters racing at 1k is done for monetary reasons and to accommodate shorter timed centers between races to fit all the age groups with all classes of boats. A full 2k course is utilized so there is a safe traffic pattern and warm up area.

Just because you change the distance does not mean athletes are still not demoralized

You could always add in handicapping if you want to make it “fair”….

[fearlesselite]

Track has multiple distances
Swimming has multiple distances

Why can't rowing?

500M, 1k, 1500M, 2k

2k relays? 4 pairs race a 2k in the same lane. That would be wild.

[crewu]

I like your thinking Fearless.

Never mentioned making it more 'fair'. The goal is to make it more inclusive and broaden participation.

[sandor]

Poll is to move to 1000 meters - it is a hard no for me.


But i love the idea of mixing up races, especially for the purpose of head to head racing.
Clubs may better afford smaller boats (2x, 4x, 4+)
Create a day of racing sprints, stake turn, relays, lock-to-lock on the canal. All sorts of competition potential.

Championships can stay 2k, but for those that stay local, racing can be more fun & inventive.


Training isnt the point, racing experiences are the draw.

[lt.wolf]

“2k relays? 4 pairs race a 2k in the same lane. That would be wild.”

Safety, potential damage and liability

[Scull8tor]

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/121 ... lyde-park/


https://youtu.be/gELuLBEWL0o

[rowing]

Same could be said for the perennial C and D finalists at IRAs. Who are they kidding?

I vote for an automatic drop/death rule. Fail to make at least the B final at IRA more than four years in a row and your program is automatically sent down to the 500m sprints league. Win the 500m sprints league two years in a row and you get a chance to knock back on the IRA door again.

[SwissSculler]

In general, we should have more head to head racing also in the fall. Do that over 1k in the fall (does not require any special training or peaking) and ditch head racing which sucks anyhow. Now that would get more people hooked, especially walk-ons/novices.

We did that this fall, had a head race for “ranking” and then Henley style racing with consolation bracket (two races minimum for everyone). Had three varsity teams and two clubs.

Head race in the AM, side by side duals in PM. Static refereeing over 1k. Pushed through brackets and 25 races in one hour. Now that was fun.

[sandor]

In general, we should have more head to head racing also in the fall. Do that over 1k in the fall (does not require any special training or peaking) and ditch head racing which sucks anyhow. Now that would get more people hooked, especially walk-ons/novices.

We did that this fall, had a head race for “ranking” and then Henley style racing with consolation bracket (two races minimum for everyone). Had three varsity teams and two clubs.

Head race in the AM, side by side duals in PM. Static refereeing over 1k. Pushed through brackets and 25 races in one hour. Now that was fun.

It sounds fun.

Races should simply be made to fit the host’s body of water - if you have a good 1250 with a narrow dogleg 300 meters in, do it.
More racecraft is exciting.

I also don’t think that 2000 meter racing is what is holding back more uni clubs from forming.
Boats, storage, water access….bigger issues arise long before details of training/racing.

[KitD]

It sounds fun.

Races should simply be made to fit the host’s body of water - if you have a good 1250 with a narrow dogleg 300 meters in, do it.
More racecraft is exciting.

I also don’t think that 2000 meter racing is what is holding back more uni clubs from forming.
Boats, storage, water access….bigger issues arise long before details of training/racing.

"Racecraft" describes it perfectly. Managing bends, stream, steering sans neatly-buoyed lanes etc, makes for far more intense and skilful racing, especially in coxless boats.

The obsession with 2k drag racing is making the sport stagnate IMHO. Reddit juniors don't consider anything other than 2k multilane "proper" rowing. Leave the multilanes to the elites or large championships. Get everyone else out racing on the local lake or river.

[fearlesselite]

“2k relays? 4 pairs race a 2k in the same lane. That would be wild.”

Safety, potential damage and liability

How about this -
- First pair rows the first 500, second pair rows the 2nd 500. The pair has to have overlap over a 15m space (similar to track)
- 6 lanes, 3 crews. Boat A rows up the coarse in lane 1. Boat B rows down the coarse in lane 2. etc etc. Could shorten this to 1,000m

Or we can have races go 3x2k for points.

8's race 3 2k's back to back at 10 min centers. Points system. Adds some strategy into the mix.

There are tons of things that can be done to make rowing interesting. Rowing is boring AF to watch for 99% of people.

[oldman]

“2k relays? 4 pairs race a 2k in the same lane. That would be wild.”

...

There are tons of things that can be done to make rowing interesting. Rowing is boring AF to watch for 99% of people.

It's boring AF for me and I'm their coach, but rowing races are for the competitors, not for the public.

[sandor]

“2k relays? 4 pairs race a 2k in the same lane. That would be wild.”

Safety, potential damage and liability

How about this -
- First pair rows the first 500, second pair rows the 2nd 500. The pair has to have overlap over a 15m space (similar to track)
- 6 lanes, 3 crews. Boat A rows up the coarse in lane 1. Boat B rows down the coarse in lane 2. etc etc. Could shorten this to 1,000m

Or we can have races go 3x2k for points.

8's race 3 2k's back to back at 10 min centers. Points system. Adds some strategy into the mix.

There are tons of things that can be done to make rowing interesting. Rowing is boring AF to watch for 99% of people.

Even the NFL, as a ratings juggernaut in the US, can only attract 4-5% of the US population.

Sports viewing just does not matter to 95%+ of people.

[JD]

Why make the change? Most would want to race 2k just like the big kids. And rowing in eights and fours allows for a great measure of modulation of effort, especially if you're not in great shape, inexperienced or unwell. It just means you're trying to survive. Lastly, there are a lot of good club coaches. They have training and experience and prepare their crews well. Those college rowers are ready to go 2k.