Rowing 101

Rowing requires the athlete to possess the leg power of a speed skater, the back strength of a weight lifter, the endurance of a marathon runner, the reflexes of a sprinter, and the balance of a skateboarder. At Melbourne High School, you have the opportunity to develop these skills and become a rower.
 
Rowing is a year-round, full-body conditioning sport. The whole body is involved in moving a shell through the water.
 
Basically, the rowing stroke is made up of four parts:
 
Catch - Drive - Finish - Recovery 
 
The crew that's making it look easy is most likely the one doing the best job. This means continuous, fluid motion of the rowers with no discernible end or beginning. Rowers strive for perfect synchronization in the boat with clean catches of the oar blade as it drops into the water. Rowers use either one oar (called sweeping) or two (called sculling).
 
The different size shells are for one, two, four and eight rowers. The four and eight-rower shells also have a coxswain. The coxswain steers the boat, watches the crew for errors, and actuates the coach's game plan for the race.
 
Few sports are as physically demanding to the entire body as rowing. And, since rowing a mile in approximately four minutes places huge demands on the body's aerobic system, rowers utilize oxygen better than almost any other athlete. The best aspect of rowing is that it is a lifetime sport.
 
Now is the time to discover our sport! At a very early age we all gain some experience with soccer, baseball, basketball or football. Rowing, however, is new to anyone your age. You will learn how to row with others who are learning the sport for the first time. And to keep it fair and competitive, you will race against crews with similar experience.
 
The best way to learn about rowing is to experience it for yourself. Contact us to learn how you can join Mel Hi Crew.