Recent images from a few spring regattas is a post from: Max Rigging

You betcha.

Eighty degrees here yesterday, and I’m putting on Sun screen.

But I might be slower because of it. You too.

Here’s why.

The pollen count is off the charts–literally.

Pollen count usually for this time is about 2000. Yesterday it was over 9000.

An all time record.

Those trees and plants are pushing out the pollen like crazy. And guess where it is landing?

On your boat, especially if they are kept in an open area.

Pollen on your hull, when damp from a dew, loves to stay on your hull–especially when the dew dries.

That dried residue is almost like a fine sandpaper. An extra layer of resistence when your hull goes through the water.

See that image to the right? That is a drag on your hull. Literally.

And that can slow your hull down. Way down.

What to do?

Just wash your hull. Every day give it a nice wash.

And before you launch for your race this weekend, give the hull a quick scrub with soap, water, and a little bit of elbow grease.

The five minutes you invest might save you valuable seconds on the water.

Put the pollen in it’s place—on the ground not on your hull.

Race well.

Mike

This warm weather is making you slower is a post from: Max Rigging

It’s rough . . . but hopefully help in some way.

Let me know what you think.

Rigging video from RowingTalks boathouse session is a post from: Max Rigging

Chris Allsopp from US Naval Academy on some things you might not know about rowing

Some of you know that Washington College hosted RowingTalks 2012 last month.

A fantastic group of exceptional speakers and 72 high school rowing coaches joined us for a day of learning, sharing, and laughs.

Here’s the link to the talks, currently up on YouTube. You can watch them for free.

There are rigging tips and tricks sprinkled through out, however the one with Chris Allsopp was rowing equipment stellar.

We also did a rigging session at the boathouse and I hope to have that video for you shortly.

In the meantime, if you are a high school rowing coach, sign up here to get on the list for RowingTalks 2013. It is going to be extraordinary.

RowingTalks 2012 is a post from: Max Rigging

I just blasted through this year’s, stopping long enough to make three presentations on Friday afternoon (1 on rigging and 2 on professional development).

Didn’t have much time to chat with vendors, but I did run into two that you might want to check out.

The first is Onlineskillscoach.com.

Raphael Smith with camera for filming athletes

I had a moment to talk with Raphael Smith, one of the managers. He told me enough to get me very excited about their product.

In brief, it is a combination video and computer analysis of rowing technique. I was impressed by how simple it was to film and do breakdown of a rower’s stroke. Neat thing that jumped out (and almost had me pulling out the credit card) was their compression system so a coach can do analysis of video she just shot  and then email it to the athletes for them to view at their leisure.

Interesting concept. I hope to be able to demo it and report back this Spring. I think these guys are on to something.

Raphael Smith with camera for filming athletes

The other item that I immediate liked were the wonderful handmade oar pendants from RowGlass.com. I will admit that Aliyah Snyder, the creator, is a friend, but that doesn’t bias my opinion of how cool her stuff is. (She makes a lot of other items besides pendants.)

A few of the cool handmade pendants from RowGlass

If you’re looking for a special present for that rowing geek in your life, these could be the perfect gift

A Few Notes from USRowing’s Annual Connvention is a post from: Max Rigging

Numerous creatives were displaying some pretty cool stuff, and that in itself made the trip worth the investment.

Below are snaps of several things being displayed. [Drat, I don't have links. Apologies.]

Even though I had a chance to play with most, I’m withholding editorial until I actually get more hands on time.

More thoughts to come.

And you? What did you see?

Concept2 Dynamic Indoor Rower from www.Concept2.com

Shox-Box from www.shoxbox.biz

WaterRow pink version from WaterRower.com

Oartec Slider

Rowing Simulator

Matt Hopkins' CoxCase

Adjustable shoes from Active Tools

The Rowing Store (some great new ideas in rowing things)

Quick adjustable oarhandles from Durham

John Flynn with PowerView (flight recorder for your row!)

Rowing innovations from the Charles is a post from: Max Rigging

Crew's stuck in a fog bank which rolled in after launching.

The question is not if you should row in fog. It is more like, “What the heck should I do when I’m suddenly rowing in a fog?”

I’ll be the first person to stand on the dock and decline to go out in a thick fog—just common sense.

However, I’ve been stuck in a dense fog more times than I can shake an oar at, as a fog bank rolled in well after we had launched.

So what do you do? What don’t you do?

Darn good questions, and I have some answers, but I wanted to open it up for discussion/suggestions here first.

Got thoughts on rowing in a fog. . . stick ‘em below.

image courtesy of John Leekley: Wild Goose Rowing

Foggy Rowing is a post from: Max Rigging

Apologies all around.

Here is something that I did not write, but I think for anyone involved in rowing, it is a must read.

Regardless of how you feel about the topic itself, it is great background information and discussion material.

Want to discuss it? Chime in below.

Go . . . read . . . is a post from: Max Rigging

That won’t impress some of you, but for us in the Mid-Atlantic states it is impressive—actually more like depressive.

Thought it might be appropriate to throw out a few rigging things that you should NOT do when it is hot. I discuss them in the following video.

I probably could have gone over a few more things while shooting this, but I’m a wimp in the heat.

Oh yeah, let me add this . . . many years ago in my novice-rigging-days, I left a single-skin fiberglass eight out in the hot Florida sun. It was seats-up, and out there for about 4 hours. The glass got so hot that is actually deformed, more like melted, around the slings. It looked like a hot knife has gone through butter. The boat was ruined.

What about you—any suggestions about rigging things NOT to do when it’s really hot?

What Not To Do With Your Rigging When It Is Really Hot is a post from: Max Rigging

As you’ll see in the video, there are several reasons why you should read it.

Here’s the video review:

The Wonder Crew (affiliate link)

The Wonder Crew (Non affiliate link)

Or get it at your local library.

The Wonder Crew: Video Book Review is a post from: Max Rigging