Doing rowing a bad idea when im short?

Question

im about 5'4 and i wanna do rowing.

would it be harder for me since im short?

Answer 1

Your stroke will be very short, so you'll have a tougher time getting as much power to propel  the boat from you to the water as someone a lot taller.  You are shorter legs, torso, and arms, and each one makes a difference.

If you are very powerful, you might pull it off.  We had a guy 2 years behind me, 5'6" in the power seat, 5, of a heavyweight boat.  Only 165 lbs.  But shoulders and back heavil7y muscled.  A swimmer, and martial artist, ad possibly a gymnast, just immensely strong.  The guy in front of him was a foot taller.

Great technique will ensure you can get all your power to the water.  Many guys fail there.  So smaller but more discliplined and hard working smaller or slimmer athletes can make it, too.

If you are slim and short, but charismatic, consider being a coxswain. A good eye for timing, and ability to pull the best from people without pissing them off can make a huge difference.  Many coxswains make you want to rip their heads off.  If your boats win, and you can make them laugh, your a good coxswain.

Answer 2

You don't say whether you are male of female.  One member of my team has multiple national and international championships as a lightweight single and double sculler (a woman).  Generally sculling (two oars) seems to work a little better for smaller people as the total force at the catch does not have to be as great, and there is no coxswain to pull around.

You should do it if you want to.  Rowing is a lot of fun, and racing is not the only fun part about it.

Answer 3

not really harder. plenty of people on my team are short.

but they are lightweight. so if you join a crew with lots of lightweights then you will fit right in! just make sure you can pull your own weight!

Answer 4

No.

Answer 5

yes it will be harder

I would suggest getting on a rowing machine and working on short fast intence rowing. Like all you can pull for 1:30. This will help your stregnth.

Answer 6

it would be a little hard...but don't let it stop you at all. my team has many that size we have had 6 national championships wins. maybe you can row lightweight? thats a good option, or coxing could work too if you are really small.

Answer 7

Try it!  

You don't say whether you plan to join/try out for a team.  If you want to row on a college or university team, you *could* be too short, depending on the competitiveness of the team.  On most US high-school teams, there is a place for everyone, but not everyone is in the top boat.  When you consider that most top rowers are quite tall and that rowing in a team boat requires your body to match everyone else's, you can see that, yes, it might be harder for you.  I still think it's worth a try, though, especially if you are relatively strong for your size.

There *is* a lightweight category in competitive rowing, but not all teams put out a lightweight boat--that would be something to ask the coach.

However, if you just want to row by yourself or with other like-minded rowers, your height is no obstacle at all.  Learn to scull, find a boat you're comfortable in, and just row--it's a great sport!