Crew training is the ultimate group exercise experience.
Many of our common metaphors revolve around the image of individuals working “as a crew” towards a common goal.
Experience the unique synchronised rhythm of a crew member in a racing shell – indoors!
A crew using synchronised power curves is up to 5% faster than a crew producing similar power, but discordant power curves. The longer the race, the greater the difference.
The process of synchronising of a crew can be divided into a number of phases:
- Teach the crew to all make the same stroke
- Teach the crew to all do it at the same time
- Acquire proficiency in handling the oar
The Rowperfect can play an important role in the first two phases of this process.
In the first phase the coach has to decide which type of stroke the crew is going to row. Depending upon the time that is available, the coach can decide to use either one of the following methods:
- First determine the optimal stroke profile and then train the rowers to consistently make that profile, or
- Determine the average stroke profile, which the crew makes, and have all the rowers copy that stroke.
The first method can be used when sufficient time is available, generally at the beginning of the training season. This will eventually teach the rowers to row at their highest efficiency.
The second method could be used for making combination crews in the season that have to be homogenised as rapidly as possible.
Training on the same stroke profile initially is most efficiently done during extensive endurance training, later to be extended to intensive endurance training and interval training.
The effect of such training on crew homogeneity is shown in the graphs below.
In these graphs the development of the stroke profiles of a womens novice four is shown. In their first year this crew had been very unsuccessful . At the beginning of the winter training in their second rowing year, the force length curves of the four-crew members are highly different. After 5 months, although different in strength, the stroke profiles have become highly homogeneous. The result? At the first long distance race of the season this crew had become the fastest in their category by far.
These graphs show comparable results of a novice men’s crew.
Similar results have been obtained over the last 5 years with the crews of Cambridge University Boat Club and with the Australian Lightweight coxless four.
Rowperfects can be coupled to greatly enhancing crew synchronisation
As a unique feature ROWPERFECT rowing simulators can simply be coupled mechanically, to truly simulate the dynamics of crew boats, by placing two ROWPERFECT rowing simulators side by side. This is done by connecting the two moving main frames by means of a light cross bar, tightened with four nuts. Two ROWPERFECT units, thus coupled side by side, react identically to a double or a coxless pair. Doubles can be coupled in line to make fours and eights. The interaction between the rowers can be clearly felt and because the rowers sit side by side, differences between rowers are more visible than in the boat. Minor differences in coordination between crew members can thus be eliminated on land more effectively than in the boat.
As a unique feature of the Rowperfect boat simulator, the moving slides of two (or more) units can be mechanically coupled to truly simulate the dynamics of crew boats. This gives the coaches and the rowers unprecedented possibilities for synchronisation of their crew during land training, not hindered by wind, current, waves or problems of handling the oar.
Because the disturbing influence of these factors is totally absent, the crew can fully concentrate on co-ordination and timing. On the crew boat simulator, minor differences in co-ordination and timing between the crewmembers are much more clearly felt by the rowers than in the boat, greatly enhancing the synchronisation process.