BACK-END SCULLING
Highlights from Ryan Demaine’s (Headington School Chief Coach) recent British Rowing Webinars on ‘The Finish‘
His mantra is: RELAXATION-RHYTHM-EFFICIENCY with 2 objectives:
- Conservation of Momentum
- Optimisation of Efficiency
Force should always remain on the footplate
Handle force against the feet, do not pull
Weight on the front of the seat/front wheels
Shoulders relaxed
Core and glutes engaged
Drill: Feet out sculling
Body remains stable Simple movement from the elbows. Agile use of the hands, blade is feathered ‘in the fingers’
The handle keeps moving, some sit time, body remains still.
DRILL: Release, arms & body only, add some slide, hold ‘the resistance’ & smooth release
Hands-Body-Slide
Hands in and out at the same speed, a natural movement, flow like the water around you, do not ‘chase’ the blade
DRILL: 1 – 2 – 3 with slight pause then smooth out
Rock over from the hips
Once the knees ‘soften’ the body is stable
Organise effectively to rock-over position
DRILL: Rockover mobility sitting in scull; mini pause when rock-over completed as reference point
