Day: August 24, 2013

Coxing Q&A

Question of the Day

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I feel like this is kind of a stupid question but, have you ever coxed a stern loader 4+? My new school has them and I’ve never been in one. Is is similar to an 8+?

Definitely not a stupid question! When I was in high school (’02-’06) we had two brand new Vespoli fours and a couple older stern-loaded fours. I liked the stern loaded fours because there was no learning curve with them like there is with a bowloader.  They’re the exact same as an eight except four seats shorter. Steering’s the same (strings) and you can actually see your rowers, which is the biggest “pro” for me. The only “con” is that unless you’re racing against other crews in stern loaders you can’t look over and see the other coxswains, which is half the fun of racing, unless you’re a length up on them.

Coxing Q&A

Question of the Day

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Hi! Quick question for a coach’s viewpoint. I just finished coxing my novice year and had to quit for the upcoming school year but if I want to cox in the future just for the summers at the local club, do you think a coach would be willing to let me cox a boat? Because I’d be like 8 months out of practice/out of the water so I’d be rusty. Is coxing one of those “muscle memory” type of things? Also, what do you think about the term, once a cox always a cox? Thanks!

I doubt you’d have a problem if you wanted to cox during the summer. Unless you’re coxing for a really competitive team that’s training for Club Nationals, Henley, etc., the summer is usually fairly laid back. With competitive teams it’s basically a continuation of the spring season except you’re typically practicing more than once a day. Masters crews are always looking for coxswains and sometimes they’ll even pay you as well, so if the junior crews aren’t looking for anyone definitely ask around and see if there are any masters eights who need help.

It is a muscle memory thing. I’ve compared it to riding a bike before. If you know the basics, you won’t forget how to do them if you’re out of a boat for awhile.

As far as “once a coxswain/rower, always a coxswain/rower” I agree with it to an extent. I kinda touched on it in this post. My opinion on it is this has always been that if you rowed for few years in high school or college and never got in a boat or stayed involved with the sport after that, then no, you’re not a rower/coxswain for life. If you rowed for four years in high school and/or four years in college, moved on to elite rowing, or stayed with it by casually rowing at your local club, then yes, you’re a rower for life. That’s just me though. Everyone has their own interpretation and opinion on it though.