Archive for February, 2009
The launch is broken, and Ryan our Boatswain is out of town. In an effort to restore it for tomorrow’s fun race, Ryan called from Washington DC (from a bar) to talk me through the diagnosis and possible repair. Unfortunately it needs a part that is on back-order so it won’t be ready for the race. But it was fun anyway. Here’s pics. While we were down there, Jessica noticed the motor in the water and demonstrated perfect technique of lifting it out! Thanks Ryan! Thanks Jess! Woooooo! See you all at the banquet! 
Simon
Coxie with Moxie Trinity Laurino started this thing on Facebook. Step into the Wayback Machine and fill this out about your first year at LARC! The longer ago it was, the more fun the answers will be!! Click on Comments and post your answers.
- Susan Lillestol
1. When did you join LARC?
2. Did you do a LTR or are you a returning rower/coxswain?
3. Who was your First Coach (or Boat Captain)?
4. Are you a Port, Starboard, Bi or a Cox?
5. Did you date/marry someone from LARC or force your significant other/ spouse into rowing too?
6. Did you car pool to practice?
7. What’s the earliest practice time?
8. What was your latest?
9. Its 6:30 am, where were you?
10. Have you ever hit a buoy?
11. Have you ever hit a seagull? A Sea Lion?
12. Are you currently active with the Club?
13. Best Day on the water?
14. Worst moment on the water?
15. How did you find LARC?
16. Are you chipper in the morning or grumpy until after your first post-practice coffee?
17. Have you ever caught a crab or for coxswains hit a buoy during a race?
18. Do you have a favorite call, one that makes you sit up and row hard even when you’re exhausted?
19. What is your favorite post-practice breakfast place?
20. Favorite race?
21. Least favorite race?
22. If you could go back what would you tell your novice self that you’ve learned since?
23. Did you go to the LARC banquet?
24. Favorite rowing accessory?
25. Do you remember your first boatmates? Do you still talk to some of them?
26. Any unfulfilled rowing fantasies?
It seems a good coxswain is always hard to find and this problem isn’t unique to the LARC. I see it here in Atlanta and I hear from college coaches about the difficulty of getting and training good coxswains. I’m sure there are many factors for this, uhh, short fall but one of them is that we don’t do enough to advertise this unique position within the boat. To that end, here are my top ten reasons to love coxing.
Top 10 Reasons Why Coxing is Awesome
10. All of the adrenaline rush without the taste of vomit in your mouth after a race.
9. You’re the only one who really gets to enjoy the scenery.
8. No blisters.
7. Sincere appreciation from your rowers, often in the form of free coffee.
6. When else in life do you get to tell anyone to “squeeze their buns like a dime-store stripper picking up quarters” ?
5. Cutting a tight turn and using that to pull away from other boats is just plain fun.
4. Its a great way to vent aggression. I mean, yelling isn’t just allowed its expected.
3. Its a wonderful way to improve your public speaking skills. I’m quite serious about this- who needs ToastMasters when you have a crew to cox.
2. Truly sincere appreciation from your rowers, often in the form of lifelong friendships.
1. Because after it stops being scary, it starts to feel like home.
Here’s a time-lapse video of boat maintenance, created by Stan. Thanks for sharing!
The club has gone to the polls, voting on the 2008 awards. Stay tuned for the results, which will be posted here after they’re announced at the Banquet, coming up in a couple of weeks. Here are the awards categories:
1. Male Rower of the Year
2. Female Rower of the Year
3. Novice Rower of the Year
4. Golden Wrench
5. Coxswain of the Year
6. Menace of the Year
7. Unique Fashion Sense
8. Coach of the Year
9. Boat Captain of the Year
10. Officer of the Year
11. Sunshine Award
Good luck to all the nominees!
So yesterday was boat maintenance. We got a stack of things fixed thanks to the great attendance. As you can see from the pictures we had a great time as well. Thanks, everyone for coming and helping. See you at the next boat maintenance day! P.S. I forgot my camera so apologies for the cellphone pics, ha
Congratulations, Jessica for being featured as Rower of the Day today at Concept2.com!
Here are some photos from the Long Beach Erg Sprints. Congratulations to everyone that took part in this race. Mark May came in second in his division with a time of 6:43.9. Well done, Mark!
Hi LARC,
This was written in response to the incident with the single the other week but its really about best practices on the water. As a member of the Board, legally my butt is on the line for any ‘incidents’ out there but more than that, I want you all to be safe and have fun. -Trinity
A few quick notes on best practices for anyone who coxes:
- Don’t assume you’re always going to overtake a single quickly just because you have more rowers. They are lighter, can move faster and are more agile.
- If you are overtaking, don’t be afraid to ask a single to move to starboard. There should be plenty of room on the Channel for a single and a four without having to cross over to the middle of the channel.
- Remember no power pieces in the channel!
- If passing the boat in front is going to take significant power and time to get around, just drop a pair and stay behind them. Do some pause drills or square blades. Don’t push it especially during high traffic hours.
- Budget your time wisely. Don’t be caught at the head of the channel at 7:58am when your rowers need to be on the beach at 8am. Leave a good 10 minutes to get down the channel and docked.
- Also, give your mouth a rest occasionally and listen. You can very often hear other boats when you can’t see them.
- Though there is a temptation to relax once you’re off the Main Marina but DO NOT relax until your rowers, boat and oars are all dry, on land, properly in place and secured. Your job does not end until that moment.
Here are some photos from last Saturday at the Cock and Bull pub. Thanks to Stan for reminding me to focus the camera. All the shots prior to these are all blurry, haha!
