Re: Take two scullers

"PaulS" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> "David Gillbe" <david.NO^&[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>...
> > PS wrote:
> > > Seat the heavier of the two at stroke (For most boats; You can look at
> > > them from the dock, and if there is an over-generous dip of the stern,
> > > try trading them round.), and that's about it.
> >
> > Though I can understand the logic of doing that in terms of lifting the
bow
> > out of the water, in almost every mixed double I've ever seen, the woman
> > (and hence, the shorter and lighter rower (usually)) tends to be at
stroke.
> > Any thoughts as to why that would be?
>
> It's not so much the lifting out that would be the objective, but the
> "not digging in".  For both ends of the boat really, I guess that's
> what makes the Mixed races so interesting.  My wife and I borrowed a
> boat for a race and only had one chance to practice in it, I should
> have realized that trading round and putting her at stroke would have
> been a better balance when I was having to rig all teh way up and she
> was having to rig all the way down while we were in the usual order.
>
> I've rarely seen the lighter/shorter rower at stroke, and would have
> no idea why anyone would do it, other than the example above where I
> should have done it, but did not.
>
> - Paul Smith


>From my experience teaching learn to row classes for the last few summers,
women for the most part make a better stroke, at least while they are
beginners. I hate to admit it but it is true. Most men who are starting out
in the sport are under the impression that the faster the stroke rate the
faster that boat will go. As most of us know this isn't always the case.
Women seem to be able to pick up the concept of slide control MUCH quicker
than men, i don't  really understand why, but this is probably why you see
women stroke mixed doubles.

Robin