The eights race includes two to six 60 foot long shells, each competing with eight rowers and their coxswain - nine bodies working as one. What follows are 2,000 meters, approximately 240 strokes, of explosive yet controlled fury to the finish line. You can appreciate the tension as [you] slowly back into the starting station - it's like sitting on a bomb and being forced to watch the quickly burning fuse.

J.J. Forster Georgetown University

Rowing is an absurdly simple sport. I can easily guide a beginner through the right technical motions. The difficulty arises when the beginner attempts to repeat those motions on a bumpy race course, at 40 strokes a minute, with his heart rate zooming, and an opponent charging up his stern.

Brad Alan Lewis 1984 USA M2x