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These last two and a half weeks away from water have been particuarly excrutiating for me and I've found myself drawn to the erg at the gym day after day. And now my desire to make the transition from coxswain to rower has grown- and GROWN. Only, whenever I mention my plans of possibly returning this fall as a novice rower instead of the top boys varsity coxswain I'm greated with either indulgent smiles or staight forward laughs. THE FRUSTRATION!!! Yes, I'm tiny- I'm incredibly tiny and, true- as of now I have very little strength, but I can work on building up my muscles before september, and I didn't say anything about rowing instead of coxing this spring!!!!
***Are there any little coxies out there (we're talking 5'3"(maybe) and 103 (that drops for spring season) who have managed to make their coaches and rowers (and parents, and friends, and....) take the idea of them rowing seriously? If you've got any advice or stories- ANYTHING- I'd love to hear it!!!*** Thanks so much guys.
User Comments:| Subject: nothing is impossible |
| Submitted by Anonymous Coward on 2002-07-09 00:30:12 |
Comment:
To: Drill Sergent
OK when I first started crew I wanted to row but they needed coxies so, naturally, I coxed. The year wore onand they still needed me so I kept at it. This year I kept begging my coach to let me row and one day he said I could go out in a single. But that wasnt enough. I wanted to sweep. I kept asking but he wouldnt take me seriously. At the end of the year he told all of us that we could go out in random boats for fun. I went out in a double almost five times. That was cool but, of course, I still wanted to sweep. I wanted to do it in a race too. (I am 105 lbs and I am 5'6'"). In the summer we have a summer program so I again asked my coach if I could row and he aggreed b/c it is "just the summer". Little does he know that I am gonna get really good and I'll show him that I am not only usefull on my ass. Plus thins summer I also get to enter a race as a rower.
I hope that this inspires you to go after what you want.
FIGHT FOR IT ) corny-I know
From: Rower Wannabe
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| Subject: Re: From Coxie to Rower- or not? (a bit of a rant...) |
| Submitted by guardianangel (
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
) on 2002-07-09 09:31:29 |
Comment:
Hey Drill Sergeant,
Unfortunately I have no personal experience with this kind of thing as I did the opposite and went from rower to coxswain. But there have been rowers in our club who have been "little" and they have really enjoyed the sport. Here's what I would do. I would try talking to the coach again. I'd let them know that you're serious about wanting to row this fall. Should they laugh at you ask them why. Instead of letting them get away with pushing you're request aside, I would be persistant. I think it's really awesome that you want to try rowing. For one thing it'll make you a better cox because you'll now see things from the rowers eyes. If things with your coaches don't work out you might just want to go right ahead and register anyway. Something else you might want to think about (or may have already thought about) ....Were you thinking or giving up coxing completely this fall or is there some way you can do both? Good luck!!!! Hope this helped.
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| Subject: Re: From Coxie to Rower- or not? (a bit of a rant...) |
| Submitted by cockycoxie (-) on 2002-07-10 15:49:01 |
Comment:
like guardianangel, i went from a rower to a coxie. but, if you want to row, it's a great thing to do as coxie. and if you seriously want to row (i dont know if you want to give up as a coxie) you shou ld be straight forward with your coach (s). tell ur coach (s) that your commited by working out and even going out in a single or trying to go out in a 4+ and gradually move up to an 8+. from my past experience, action is worth more than a thoudand words.....hope this helps
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| Subject: Re: From Coxie to Rower- or not? (a bit of a rant...) |
| Submitted by Anonymous Coward on 2002-07-10 21:19:30 |
Comment:
I decided to learn to row this summer to improve my coxing. My suggestion is that you find a smaller racing single(what my coach suguested), something you can make a bit faster or find a flyweight(ultralight) eight where you wont look so small and will be competeing against your own weight
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| Subject: Re: From Coxie to Rower- or not? (a bit of a rant...) |
| Submitted by Anonymous Coward on 2002-07-23 00:20:47 |
Comment:
To DrillSergeant
I feel your frustration! Like you, I was the little coxie who wanted to row. I'm a bit heavier than you (about 120 lbs), but shorter - only 5'2". I coxed for a season, but then when I tried rowing for a bit I fell in love with it. I trained my ass off last summer - erged, weights.. I had the training schedule of the varsities of my rowing club and so tried to stick to that. I tried out for, and then made novice crew the fall after that..
Now I'm back to coxing as I was "too small" and too weak to make the cut for summer crew, but I plan on starting up training to see if I can make lightweights in the fall. It's an endless frustration as I also feel weak and not capable of making the cut.
It's a tough position to be in, but you can do it. There was another coxie from my rowing club who did the same thing - started up training one summer then went straight to rowing varsity lightweights, didn't even do novice.. she was a tiny little thing, smaller than me, but super strong!
So keep believing in yourself there.. and if you want to row, then train for it and row.. you never know what's possible..
good luck!
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| Subject: Re: From Coxie to Rower- or not? (a bit of a rant...) |
| Submitted by Anonymous Coward on 2003-12-05 16:58:53 |
Comment:
i feel your pain!! im just under five foot, but i weigh more(127)i started crew wantign to row, except we only had two coxes(myself and one other girl) i pull the second highest 2k erg on my team(i beat most of or guys) and have the 3rd best 5k time (out of the girls) but i still cant row...hang in there maybe thigns could change for the both of us!!
<3 lots of love<3
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