Rowing: person behind me keeps hitting me with the oar handle?

Question

very painful i feel it hit my spine

will this cause much damage?

what should i do?

Answer 1

Either you are way early, or the other person is very late.

Everyone move with the stroke oar.  You don't move independently.

I once got tired of dodging the guy in front of me and let him pound himself on my oar handle.  He was very early. But he got better since I refused to wreck my stroke for his convenience. It really woke him up.

Complain to the coach and the coxswain, but be sure you are in time and the other person is not, otherwise its your fault.

Answer 2

ooo yuck. it means the person behind you is rushing the slide, and not following you the way they should.

it caused some bruises for me, but no permanent damage

once your teammates get better, there will be less hitting with the oar handle

Answer 3

Well ....it sounds to me like the person behind you may be catching a "c**p" (getting their oar stuck in the water...most likely at the slide "finish") (it can happen at the catch or the finish) I've seen and experienced it. (it's quite painful indeed)  

I think the only way to fix it is to have the rigging (oar) height adjusted.  Make sure your coach knows of your problem....(he or she) has your best interest in mind.

I hope this helps....

(I can still remember how painful it was....geez it hurt.     .....Awww I do miss those novice years.....)

Answer 4

It may or may not cause damage to your spine, but it will hurt the performance of the boat.  You can either try adjusting your foot stretchers or ask the person behind you to readjust theirs so that they are coming up at the proper place because if they are coming up to a point where they can hit you in the back, something is wrong.  Talk to your coach and see where they recommend your foot stretchers to be.  Hope I helped!