Should i join the rowing team?

Question

I'm in high school and i'm a sophomore. I'm good at upper body strength because i workout it out regularly. However, my arms are really long so i don't know how that will affect my ability. Also my cardio isn't very good at all. Is cardio that important because you just sit in a boat?

I tried this workout on the school cable machine called the seated row. I can do 110 pounds with 2 sets of 10. I don't know if that's good. Also my gym teacher (very nice lady) my freshmen year is the coach for the rowing team...But i'm already a sophomore, so will that affect my chances because i only had 3 seasons to do it and rowing is only the spring season in my high school?

Last thing - the muscle usied for rowing is primarily the deltoids right? Are the biceps and triceps also applied?

Answer 1

Cardio is very important. The body in a 2k race starts from stationary and has to get to about 42 strokes per minute in the space of, maximum 30s. Also consider that a winning 2k race should always be better than 6minutes and 20 secs, 5.2m/s, for a coxless four . As well as 2k races there are sometimes 5k races which can last, depending on the direction of tide and water state, from about 13 minutes to 19 minutes (4-6m/s). During these races you will be doing at around 38 strokes a minute. Cardio, I can't emphasise enough, is the most important aspect of rowing apart from technique. This is the reason why there is a lightweight division in which the weight limit is 70kg.

In regard to muscle, the main rowing muscle is the pair of quads strapped to the top of your legs. Lower back is also very important due to the pivoting about the waist through the stroke. Biceps/Triceps are mainly support muscles, upper body strength comes through the shoulder mucles, deltoids.

If you are worried about starting late, don't be, you will have a lot of chances later on in life at university and club level. In opinion you should have a go at some ergometer training and see if you can stomach it. You can find different work outs at concept2.com. Also try doing a 2k piece as hard as you can. For sophomore, 17 yrs old I assume, 7:30-8 minutes will be a good time for a beginner. Also watch the GB Coxless Four at Sydney in 2000, when Redgrave won his 5th gold as inspiration, the video is on YouTube.

Answer 2

Yeah!!! & Yeah.

Answer 3

you should definitely try the rowing team. they can really use strong people. its alot of fun but you'll like it. have fun!

Answer 4

Rowing in a shell is about as intense as it gets , for those that are good.

For strength, you get it by rowing, and its high end cardio to be able to race.  A race is about 200+ strokes over about 7 minutes. The pace will be lower when learning, 16-20 strokes a minute.  Then as you prepare to race they will train at 25-35

strokes a minute.

Its like doing assisted pullups, squats, and sit backs as long as you're in the boat.

Squats work the thighs, glutes, and low back.

Pullups work the biceps, lats, delts, rhomboids, plus forearms, and the smaller muscle under the bicep worked by reverse curls.

Sit backs work the abs, low back, and hip flexors.

Great overall conditioning sport.  Do it to get fit if you are not already. The long arms may be an advantage for you.

Biceps actually contribute very little.  Rowing power is about 60% legs and glutes, 30% upper back, 10% arms.  I'm sure of that since even when I could do a 180 lb cable row, my bicep curl was only about 70 lbs.  Your back muscles are huge and broad compared to any biceps. They go from the spine into the arm, and from shoulder to hip.  My arms are 11 inches around, and were just the same 35 years ago when I was first boat rowing in college.  Rowing brings the elbow back.  Back and Lats.  Bicep curls bring the hand to the shoulder.  Wrong motion, wrong muscle for rowing..