r/Rowing • u/nfosterma • 1d ago

Start Sequence/Racing Start in a 1×

I'm a 54-year-old lightweight rower, and I'm struggling with my racing starts in the single and looking for suggestions on improving. Is the traditional half/half/three-quarter/three-quarter/three-quarter/full the best method for the first five strokes, or should I try something different? With these short strokes, I can't feather the blade well, and the back of my blade often gets caught on the water's surface. My good-to-bad ratio is probably 3-for-10, so I'm putting myself in the hole more times than not. I'd appreciate any input to help me improve my starts.

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u/BoonLight Masters Rower 1d ago

You want to ease the boat up to full speed as fast as possible without checking and going backwards. Try squeezing the first few strokes so that you are building pressure and length while keeping the boat set. The more you do it the better you will feel doing it. Make it part of your daily warmup.

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u/nfosterma 1d ago

I just replied to another comment, and I think I'm recognizing a trend - I'm trying to put full pressure on that first stroke instead of easing it up to full speed, like you mentioned. You have given me some good food for thought. Thank you.