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Did you know?

The StrokeCoach is now WIRELESS!

After being out for almost a year the StokeCoach with SurgeRate has been a great success. Rowers and paddlers from all over the world are saying how easy it is use the StrokeCoach with SurgeRate.

So what makes it so easy to use? Our old system of a magnet traveling over a reed switch sensor has been replaced with an accelerometer. NK's proprietary stroke algorithm, combined with a sensitive three-axis accelerometer, gives immediate accurate stroke rating in any boat.

So why is this so significant? It allows you to do more things with a StrokeCoach. Do you row in multiple boats, but are not always in stroke seat? Well now you can see stroke rate every row regardless of the lineup. Do you do a variety of water sports? The StrokeCoach works in a rowing shell, a canoe, a kayak, and a dragon boat. Do you want to see your stroke rate during drills? Now you can see your stroke rate while at arms only.

Drill Sergeant: by Frank Biller, Head Coach, University of Virginia Men's Rowing

Boat Strap Drill

Purpose: Feel connection at front end, timing of seat and hands
Skill Level: All levels
Equipment: Erg and Boat strap

Attach a boat strap to seat and connect with the handle. Having the belt run through the buckle allows to easily adjust for each rowers length and catch position quickly.

At desired catch position; seat, upper body angle, hand level - the strap should be straight but not under tension. See picture 1:

As the athlete starts to push off the foot stretcher, they will feel whether their hands are on time or behind, which in essence is a function of body postion and core strength. They can feel the connection, or, more importantly, how to adjust so it feels right.

In mid- drive position, the strap should still be straight as the shoulders, hips and hands should move at the same speed. Past mid drive the handle speed increases and the strap gets loose. See picture 2.

Arms and shoulders are still hanging on the handle, upper body opened up slightly, legs at about 90 degrees, pressure on whole foot. This is a very strong position.

The goal is to avoid a weak position, in picture 3 the seat gets ahead of the hands, the handle gets pulled down (see level), a weak position results. In the boat this athlete would sky the blade and then row it in.

Another common mistake is that the athlete opens the upper body too early, which means the seat stops, but the upper body and hands get going. This will result in not using the legs properly. A good correction here is to adjust athlete's position on the seat (pelvis angle more forward). Again, very easy to feel disconnect. Play around until you hit it right!

This kind of drill is perfect for the ergometer as athletes can play around and feel their positions and power application. Good additional exercises are:

• First quarter drive (catch drill)
• Legs only
• Legs and body only

For the more advanced: try it out on slider...Enjoy.

Guest Author: Margot Zalkind, Executive Director, Foundation for Rowing Education

How Does a Coxswain Learn How to be a Coxswain?

When rowing in a sweep boat, rowers may ignore the important fact that in a 60-foot-long shell, only one person sees where the boat is going. Rowers speak of the Zen aspects of rowing - getting into one's own head, one's own space and staying completely focused on the stroke, the technique and the finesse. But who is "minding the store?"

A good coxswain avoids chaos, and, if one is lucky, motivates the crew while steering a beautiful course. But as many have realized, coxswains are sometimes not taught. Some coaches treat the coxswain as their cherished "coach in the boat." Some do not. The coxswain is sometimes referred to as the least-coached member of the boat.

While many coaches agree on how to hone a great rower, often there is inconsistent information given (or not given) to the coxswain.

To fill in the gaps and to be sure that consistent, safe advice is given, the Virginia Scholastic Rowing Association and Foundation for Rowing Education, with partners USRowing and Nielsen-Kellerman, recently presented to more than 250 coxswains from all over the mid-Atlantic region.

The organizations worked for months with coaches, coxswains, rowers and referees to create content with the critical information needed to keep rowers and equipment safe. The workshops covered weather, peer pressure, rules, protests, breakage, steering and how to communicate on the water. The presenters made it fun, and tossed out prizes for correct answers.

USRowing Referee Commission member Ray Duff and Paul Phillips presented on the rules of rowing and on what the referee demands on race day. John White, another USRowing referee, presented safety guidelines. Every attendee also received a copy of the USRowing Safety Poster.

While the basics were covered, the all-important fun of being a coxswain was not ignored - racing was a vital part of the day. Walking down the halls during presentations, bursts of enthusiasm were heard as novice and experienced coxswains alike practiced their commands and delivery. Calls like "I have their two seat!" and "Check it down. NOW!" resounded throughout the building.

Former national team coxswains Pete Cipollone and Joe Manion, along with coxswain and University of Massachusetts assistant coach Laura Simon-Rich and coxswain/referee Vanessa Chipman Flory, presented on practice strategy, race day, voice, equipment, steering and communication.

When Cipollone spoke of winning the gold medal at the 2004 Olympic Games, emotion both from him and for him filled the huge auditorium. Lee West of VASRA and the USRowing Safety Committee said that she had never heard Cipollone's story of the eight and its realization that it was winning. "I have been around rowing for years, but this gave me chills," she said.

The event was part serious education, part storytelling and part festival, all spiced with great pizza. The hope was that with more education, the sport can not only better, but safer.

"I wish my daughter had attended workshops like this two years ago, when she started coxing," said one parent. "Then, I wouldn't have worried so much."

Like this article? You may be interested in: The Coxswain Encyclopedia

NK Calendar

UPCOMING EVENTS

Have you seen NK's new event calendar yet?
Check it out and share an event

SIRA: April 17-18

Melton Lakes, Oak Ridge, TN
Come visit NK's booth at SIRA's!

Dad Vail Regatta: May 7 - 8

Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, PA

Stotesbury Regatta: May 14 -15

Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, PA

We want to hear from you!

We want to know what you would like to see featured in upcoming issues of the NK Newsletter! Got a question that you think would be interesting and informative to fellow rowers? Have you had an interesting experience using a NK product? Has an NK product made a difference in your rowing or workout routine? If so, we would love to hear from you.

NK will send you a FREE StrokeCoach with Surgerate if you submit a story and it gets published in a future issue of our newsletter or gets quoted in our next catalog. We will send you a FREE NK T-Shirt if your question or idea for an upcoming feature is published!

Please send entries to: newsletter @ nkhome.com Be sure to include your name & contact info. Submitting a story for consideration assumes that you give NK the right to reproduce your story in part or in its entirety.

Have something to say? Share an inspiring story, technical knowledge, or an interesting article. In return for an article that we publish in the newsletter, you will recieve a 10% discount on any one item from the NK Store. Submit your articles to: newsletter@nkhome.com

We have had such positive feedback about our Rowing Newsletters from people like you that we have decided to extract the articles and dedicate a forum to them. Feel free to bookmark the page, make suggestions, ask a question, or just leave some love for NK.
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