All of the 4s on my team are bow loaders. We have 2 boats that we use mostly for lightweight lineups because they’re a bit smaller so I fit pretty well in the coxswain seat. But lately I’ve been in one of the other shells and I’ll probably be racing in it for most of this year. The bow is longer than in the other boats. The headrest is all the way up but there’s there’s still a lot of room between my feet and the end of my seat. To keep myself from sliding around I realized my entire body ends up getting really tense (which is probably not good). I’ve also noticed that for a few days after being in a 4+ both my hips hurt every time I take a step or try to lift my leg. Do you have any tips for fixing that problem?
Ugh, yes, this is a huge part of why I hate bow loaders so much. They are just not at all friendly to short people. One of the things I’ve found that helps – marginally, but at least it’s something – is to stick a soccer ball or a slightly deflated beach ball in the bow to put your feet against. It helps keep you propped up and your muscles don’t need to be in “death grip” mode to keep you from sliding around.
People will tell you to stuff life jackets down there but a) that’s stupid, don’t do that and b) they’ve clearly never done it otherwise they’d know that it does absolutely nothing since there’s a giant HOLE in the middle of them, they constantly shift around, and your feet can get tangled in them (probably dangerous if you flip). I seriously don’t know a single coxswain who’s found this to be a viable option.
I have had the same issue my entire career since the bow loaders were introduced. I have found an ultra-light, thick (about 6″), packing styrofoam that I have cut into the shape of the bow. I can place it in layers in such a way that I can rest my feet on it and have a little bend in my knees to absorb check, etc.
Slightly deflated beachball, I’ve found, is the best solution. They’re cheap, they’re adjustable, they deflate and pack down to a nice travel size and, in the event you swamp or tip over (I’ve done both, don’t ask) – your feet do not get tangled up in the ball.