In This Issue: The History of the Olympics and NK | Monthly Special: 13% OFF the Stroke Coach Kit | Tech Talk: How Olympians Will Use the Impeller | Drill Sergeant: The Doughnut | For the Health of It | 2008 Regatta Schedule

Despite NK’s innovations in the past 30 years of the company’s existence, we have not developed as rapidly as the Olympics have in the same time span since 1976 (give or take the 2 years). The Olympic Games have come a long way since the “I Olympiad” in 1896, but especially in the past 30 years the profile has been lifted drastically, partially due to increased media attention. Unlike the Olympics NK so far has not been boycotted or been a political focus, which does not mean we have been flying under the radar.

Along with the developments in technology and rowing equipment in particular, NK on several occasions played an important role during preparations for the Games. This month’s special is about the Stroke Coach, the second oldest control unit after the Cox Box. Its functionality has not seen any major change since its  first version was brought to the public in 1984 (Los Angeles Games) and it is still very popular to this day!

The original version looked like the “top slice” of the Cox Box as it had the same screen and toggle for operation. The 1994 version looked like the one today, in the much smaller white plastic case. Almost parallel the company launched the PaceCoach in 1992 (Barcelona Games) which was the first device to measure the boat speed through the water and gave accurate comparison regardless of currents. Die hard fans to this day claim that the PaceCoach was the best device ever, but it required through the hull wiring or an outrigger sensor and offered more features than many customers wanted or needed.

	The first “pocket format” Speed Coach was the “RED” launched in 1995 and was essential to many crews for preparation of the Atlanta Games in 1996. The Red Speed Coach is a much simplified version of the PaceCoach and is very small and light. This was also the first NK product to measure speed with the impeller as we know it today.
	Just in time for crews preparing for the 2004 Athens Games, the Speed Coach GOLD was released.  The GOLD is equipped with a backlight allowing for training in the dark, and more importantly records entire races that can be downloaded onto a PC for post practice and race analysis.
	NK landed another hit for the 2008 Beijing Games by introducing the Speed Coach XL in 2006. The ability to transfer real-time date from the boat to the coach had immediate impact on teams world-wide. All top national teams have adopted the concept within a short period of time, with increased demand in 2008.

USA M4x preparing in Princeton with a Speed Coach XL3.

New to rowing? Coming back? Olympics motivated you to train again?

Monthly Special: Get a complete Stroke Coach Kit for $165 — Save 13% OFF Regular Price

Offer good on orders placed during August 2008.

Kit includes:

Special Kit Price: $165
Stroke Coach Kit Retail price: $189

Get the Stroke Coach Kit >>

There is hardly a
competitor at this
level who doesn't
work with speed
measurement at
some point during
preparation.

Tech Talk: How Olympians Will Use the Impeller

It is an undeniable fact that an impeller on the hull of a shell will cause us to think of additional drag and therefore loss of speed. Anyone who watched the M4- final in Athens in 2004 knows what a close race at this level looks like, when Great Britain edged Canada by 0.08 seconds. So, race with the impeller or not? We have a lot of insight on the different approaches and have identified three main strategies. (Obviously we cannot reveal which country or athlete is doing what.)

Training and preparation only: This group uses the impeller and Speed Coach in training to maximize boat speed and for selections. They might race with it in pre-season races but at some point take the impeller off the boat and the focus off the speed.

Half and half: Probably the largest group of Speed Coach users will travel to championships with the impeller on the boat and will use it to adapt a race strategy to the course. They pay attention to their speed at certain points in the race. The might use it through the heats and even semifinals. Data analysis after each stage often helps for significant improvements in the racing strategy. After rehearsals they take it off and race with stroke rate only for the finals. The fear of losing a tight race remains intimidating to many.

Always with: A select few (and mostly very successful) teams always race with the impeller on the hull. To them the correct and most efficient pacing during a race is worth more than the relatively insignificant amount of drag the impeller produces. Of course the other way to look at losing a close race is “we would not have been that close if it was not for the pacing.” There are world champion teams that built their winning strategy on precise pacing in the final.

In the end there is no right or wrong – the decision is part of a whole picture and plan. Based on observations at last year’s championships in Munich however, there are hardly any competitors at this level who don’t work with speed measurement at some point in the preparation.

Get more tech tips at the Knowledge Center >>

Drill Sergeant: The Doughnut

Although this is not about nutrition, this drill can certainly bear fruits for those trying it out! This is a typical small boat drill for either the single or the pair.

In the pair one athlete simply has the blade flat on the water, holding the handle at steady level. The other rower can row either on the “pick” or at full length. Because the boat is stable on one side it gives a certain feeling of security, but at the same time will provide feedback in regards to connection and timing on the rower’s side. The additional weight of the non-rowing person will slow the boat down and give a good feel for the connection and drive. Looking over the stern, the athlete rowing can also see and feel the impact of “hammer catch” versus the effect of a long and steady drive because the boat will go straighter. What an eye opener in the pair that more power doesn’t necessarily mean more speed!

If the connection at the catch, drive or release is sloppy, the boat will most likely fall the rowing athlete’s side and create an uncomfortable feeling. Proper execution however feels easy, fast and light. It teaches the athlete how to move with the speed of the boat as well as staying connected throughout the drive and release.

In the single it is a bit more tricky, but also rewarding. Choose a side to start, e.g. Port. Hold your Starboard side handle relaxed and light at even level to set-up the boat and follow the stroke while gently dragging the blade flat on the water. Take regular strokes with your Port side. This is especially helpful because you can compare the feel on either side, practice the catch timing with either blade separately and check your connection through the stroke.

In the double you can try the same by letting one oar each go and basically row a pair with a scull each. This enables you to really feel the power application effect on each side of the boat and therefore differences in power application with your partner.

Good luck.

You can bet we'll
be seeing plenty
of rowers paying
attention to
rehydration in
Beijing.

For the Health of It

by Merrill Hilf PT

In less than two weeks, Beijing will be the center of the universe for Olympic junkies like myself. Runners, rowers, and all outdoor sports athletes will have to contend with the weather and Beijing’s notorious air quality. I’ve read that the Chinese have taken numerous steps to decrease emissions of pollutants in the months leading up to the games. They have closed down factories, stopped all but essential truck traffic, and limited citizen’s use of cars. These steps have improved the air quality enough to compare it to downtown Los Angeles, where smog is king in the U.S. However, Chinese officials have said that some endurance events may be postponed due to smog.

The weather is another factor athletes will have to contend with. The heat and humidity is comparable to New Orleans on a summer day, not exactly enjoyable without air conditioning. As anyone who watched the news during and after hurricane Katrina, without cool places to go, and safe water to drink, people became easily dehydrated. If gone untreated or ignored, dehydration can result in organ failure and death. The human body is 75% water, and one of the most common ways we lose water is by sweating. Hot and humid conditions can cause excessive sweating resulting in the first symptoms of dehydration: thirst and a decrease in urination to conserve the output of water. If left untreated, our bodies will do whatever it takes to decrease water loss and further symptoms such as dry mouth, dizziness, muscle cramps, and sweating may stop. The heart will try to maintain cardiac output and blood flow even as the amount of fluid around the cells decreases. Thus, the heart rate will increase to keep the blood pressure up, but as the blood pressure drops, the brain and other organs receive less blood and less oxygen, and this results in dizziness, coma, and organ failure.

Dehydration is serious stuff, but can also be easily detected in it’s earliest stages, and consequently treated. Replacing fluids as you sweat, and not waiting until you are very thirsty or dizzy is very important. Drinking water, and/or electrolyte replacement drinks during or after athletic activities, and monitoring urine output can help determine the extend of rehydration. The darker the color of the urine, or decreased amounts of urine means the body needs more hydration. You can bet we’ll be seeing plenty of rowers paying attention to rehydration in Beijing.

Merrill Hilf has been a physical therapist for over 20 years, a competitive athlete since age 4 (age group swimmer), and believes that the human body is an incredible machine.

2008 Regatta Schedule: Upcoming Events

Here are just a few of the upcoming events where you can see NK products in action. NK will be displaying products, and the friendly staff will be on hand to answer any questions you may have. We hope to see you there!

NK will be at the Olympics Games’ rowing venue in Shunyi. Our distributor for Hong Kong, Mr. Kenneth Hung will at the venue from August 4th to August 26th. Mr. Hung also represents Braca Sports for kayak/canoe. He'll have NK spare parts as well as control units for all products (except Speed Coach XL) and will provide technical assistance at the venue.

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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.