Duluth Rowing
By Dave Johnson
July 7, 2003
Rowing from a Nordic ski coach's perspective
Ok I admit it, I am now a rowing fanatic. After living in
Duluth for nearly 20 years, I finally took the advice that
I had been giving my skiers for years and went down to check
out rowing. I had rowed a bit as a kid on a pond in an old
john boat and a few times in small dinghies from anchored
sail boats to shore. I was in decent shape from a winter of
skiing, surely rowing would be easy to pick up. Well my first
week on the water certainly proved that wrong. Pity the poor
fellow who sat in front of me my first day in the quad (four
people, each with two oars or sculling). His arms still haven't
recovered from all the times my oars were out of sync and
collided with his oars. Despite my lack of timing I knew I
was hooked on a great sport.
Rowing shares many of the same attributes that keep me excited
about nordic skiing.
Technique: Rowing requires a mastery of technique
to be your best, yet even a beginner can have fun with the
sport.
Beauty: Being out on the water at 6:00am is every
bit as beautiful as a late afternoon sunset ski through the
birches.
Endurance: Rowing is a full body, low impact (unless
you are seated in front of me) endurance sport. The sliding
seat makes it possible to use your legs and whole body in
the effort.
Teamwork: The best part of skiing for me is skiing
with a friend or small group cruising along at the same pace,
pushing each other in a friendly way. Rowing has this aspect
in full measure!
A lifetime sport: Rowing like skiing is for all ages.
Currently in the Duluth club there are over 20 high school
and college age nordic skiers. They see it as a sport of beauty
that is exciting on it's own, plus is a great way to stay
or get in shape for skiing.
I am now into my fourth week of rowing and am excited about
competing in the my first regatta in Duluth on July 12, 2003.
I have found the Duluth Rowing Club to be a welcoming place
with excellent coaching. They have taken a rank beginner and
turned me into a killing machine in just four weeks (well
maybe not quite that level, but I can at least stay in sync
and have decent technique most of the time!)
Starting a new sport has also been good for me as a coach.
Jeff, Al and Bonnie have all been very patient and informative
in their efforts to train the new rowers. I am normally the
"expert" at my sport, it is great to be the beginner.
It has really opened up my eyes to what it must be like for
that new skier on the first week of practice. In addition
to helping me stay in shape for the upcoming ski season, I
now have new thoughts and ideas on how to be a better coach
for my new skiers.
Photos
Photoset from Dave Johnson (13 photos)
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About the author...
Dave Johnson has been involved with cross-country
ski coaching for a number of years now. After coaching
for powerhouse Duluth East, Johnson recently moved over
to Duluth Marshall where he is working to build their
nordic program.
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