Not sure whether to have a go
at rowing? Not sure what to expect or whether you’ll fit in? Don’t worry,
you’re not alone! Have a read below...
The only thing I know about
rowing is from watching the Boat Race on television! Will I be able to pick it
up from scratch?
Yes! The vast majority of
people who start rowing at Downing will never have rowed before (this was true
all of this years’ Men’s and Women’s Captains, along with the three Lower Boats
Captains that still row) so you won’t be alone. We teach you everything you
need to know, starting with a few one-on-one sessions on ergos (rowing
machines) and in small tubbing boats to make sure you have the basic skills and
confidence before we put you on the river! Downing College Boat Club has some
of the best facilities available in Cambridge as well as British Olympic rower,
Ian Watson as our Boatman(!!!), so between us we should be able to help you
with any problems. Come to the Freshers’ Squash and have a go!
I have previous experience
rowing for my school. Does that make me a Novice or could I be a senior?
Get in touch with either Mike
Whetnall or Zara Goozee, respectively the Men’s and Women’s
Captains, for more information on the senior squad and they’ll help you to
decide which would be the best match for you. If you feel that neither group is
a good fit for you then you could row casually. There are a number of students
who have rowed previously but who don’t row in set squads that you could get in
touch with, and the Lower Boats Captains are happy to help match you up.
I’ve never been a sporty
person. I have just about enough co-ordination to put one foot in front of the
other without tripping up. I really want to give rowing a go. I just don’t
think I’ll be very good at it...
Each year one or two people
join DCBC who are already fit, competitive athletes who have decided to take on
a new sporting challenge. And certainly there are plenty of keen sportspeople,
even if they’re not the next Steve Redgrave, who are interested in rowing as
the quintessential Cambridge sport. However, many of us have a
less-than-stellar background in the sports we played at school – if we ever
repeat the kind of football matches played when on training camp in France and
Spain over the past couple of years, you’ll see what we mean. The mechanical
side of rowing means you don’t have to have the kind of incomprehensible genius
it takes to perfectly time a shot, or make a ball curve – anyone can learn, and
anyone can get good. If you’re not particularly fit, rowing is THE best way to
change that, or at the very least offset all the chocolate-eating that starts
from your first essay and only gets worse. But most importantly, rowing is a
team sport. That does require a kind of dedication that you might be wary of if
you don’t think of yourself as naturally sporty. However, at DCBC we make sure
rowing is more than just a sport. Being out on the river is a pleasure of
itself, and the club is a chance to socialise, meet new people, take time out
of a hectic, book-filled schedule, and learn to excel at, or merely enjoy,
something very new and different.
Everyone talks about
rowing, but what about coxing? What does being a cox involve?
Coxes are the people who
steer the boat in the right direction and give instructions to the rowers on
what to do. However, it’s not just about sitting back and yelling at other
people to pull harder while you sit there being pulled along- coxing is a hard
job! The Cam is a tricky river to manoeuvre and there’s a great skill to be
learned. As well as steering in the right direction, they need to provide
information to the crew, make any necessary changes to optimise the speed, and
inspire and reassure the rowers that the race (and the pain) is almost over! Great
sportspeople need a kind of confidence and sharpness of mind to excel at what
they do. Coxes need these qualities in spades, and the ability to direct and
lead a crew through training and racing. It is understandable that if you are
new to the rowing world you might think that putting yourself forward as a cox
amounts to opting out of the ‘real’ sport, but the coxes are a busy and
integral part of any boat club. DCBC enjoyed great success last year, but the
biggest pledge we all made to improve the club is to ensure our coxes receive
quality coaching and really excel, so rest assured you will be very appreciated
and in no way a less vital member of DCBC.
Do you really have to row
at 6am in winter?
It’s probably the least
enjoyable parts of rowing but yes, sometimes rowing involves getting up early
and when the weather isn’t particularly nice. But we don’t do it because we’re
crazy people who don’t like our warm beds; it’s just that the busy lifestyle of
a Cambridge student means that the time when it’s easiest to get 9 people who
are free at the same time happens to be at stupid-o’clock. That said, having
been awake for several hours with a couple of black coffees already under your
belt does give you a perky edge when you’re sat in 9am lectures surrounded by
people still in their pyjamas. But let us assure you, if there’s a choice
between a 6am or an afternoon outing, we’ll always let you have the lie-in!
Do I have to have lycra to
row in?
No, you don’t have to have
lycra and most novice crews don’t for the first term or so. It is, however more
comfortable and practical to row in and when you pull up alongside your
opponents before a race in matching gear you can always see the fear in their
eyes.
Here’s what kit we suggest
until you decide whether lycra is a good investment:
-
Good quality trainers
-
A thick pair of socks and several spare pairs (in case your feet are too small
for the shoes in the boat)
-
Leggings (Primark leggings are cheap and cheerful!)
-
Tracksuit bottoms
-
Several layers of t-shirts and vests (it’s better to remove layers if you’re
too warm than be too cold with no spare clothes)
-
A tight fitting fleece or jumper
-
A tight waterproof jacket
-
A pair of gloves (especially for coxes)
The emphasis is on layers and
clothes that are tight so that they won’t interfere with your movement or get
caught on the seat. And ALWAYS bring lots of water.
I just read this whole FAQ and you didn’t answer my
question!
Email us! We’ll be happy to
help/reassure/educate you. lbcs@downingboatclub.co.uk
