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.
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…. awesome, Trinity!
This comment came from Jill:
“I don’t know about the quarter buns one… I think my buns and legs get a great workout when I am in the coxwain seat… I’m always trying to push the boat with my legs… not sure how effective it is… but, my my legs are usually more sore after coxing then rowing.
JIll”
Ha- ya know that’s another I meant to add- anyone who says its not a workout sitting in the coxswain seat must be flopping around like a fish ’cause it is one heck of a resistance work-out.
I love it, Trinity!
We miss you!!!
I have tried coxing a couple of times. Even though I’m a total rookie with pretty bad stage fright, I found the experience incredibly gratifying. I think it is a unique opportunity at LARC and unless you are the right size, one probably wouldn’t find the opportunity many other places.
(I swear I’m not just saying that because I need more coxswains for my team…! But it would be nice, I won’t lie)
Miss you guys too! The funny thing is I get terrible stage fright too. I always have and I imagine I always will. In fact, I used to stutter as a child. Coxing has actually been really useful in mastering my stage fright and being able to speak in public is an incredibly valuable skill no matter what you do for a living.