You might have an advantage in rowing IF... (Reason 3, for anyone counting)

By Beth Greene, July 2, 2023

...you are very tall or very small.

In rowing, the two positions are rower and coxswain.  

The rowers - unsurprisingly - are the power in the boat.  While anyone can develop the strength, endurance and drive to do this task, height and mass gives a rower some automatic advantage.  The long limbs of a tall person can drive the boat further each stroke, and weight creates inertia to keep the boat running in between strokes. (Imagine a great basketball or volleyball player... now stick them in an imaginary boat & you've got the picture.) 

The coxswain is the athlete that steers the boat and is the link between coach and rower on the water. They provide technical feedback and motivation, all while calculating distances, weaving around traffic and managing complicated workouts. Because the coxswain adds extra non-rowing weight, it's helpful for this athlete to be small. Are you an aggressive driver? Do you like to be in charge? Do you thrive under pressure?  This is the position for you. 

So... if you hate shopping for clothes because the sleeves and inseams are always too short or too long, make some space in your schedule for Intro to Rowing this fall.  PALS 05600.  We could be your kind of people.