Rowing Performance: Overcoming Height & Weight Challenges

Questioni started rowing as a novice senior year in high school with a 2k time of 7:45. By the end of the season I made it in to the 1st varsity boat and w

Rowing vs. Canoeing & Kayaking: Olympic Differences Explained

QuestionI was just wondering what is the difference between crew and canoeing/kayaking in the olympics? AnswerHi Zack: The difference is like comparing ba

Weightlifting Programs for Rowing Performance: A Structured Approach

QuestionAl - I have been trying to cover all fronts in order to get my 2K time down.  Recently Ive been trying to lift every other day, but I always f

College Rowing Strategy: Overcoming Limited Competition

QuestionIm going to be a high school junior and Ive been rowing since freshman year. Since my school is the only one in my county that offers rowing we hav

Rowing Workout Plan: Achieve National Level Performance

QuestionQUESTION: Hi, im a junior in high school, and i started rowing 6 months and have gotten very serious about the sport.  Im 67 and about 200lbs.

Optimizing Rowing Score: A Senior's Guide to Performance & Comparisons

QuestionHello Mr. Pepper, Ive just been reading through a couple of the Q and As on here, and Ive had this nagging question for quite some time now, that I

Maintaining Focus During Long Concept2 Rows: Tips & Strategies

QuestionI am trying to row for 1 hour in order to post a reasonable time on the Concept 2 website but find that after about 40 mins I lose concentration an

Rowing Time Improvement: Personalized Training Advice for a High School Athlete

QuestionHello, my name is Tyler Del Rio, 17, senior in high school, and have been rowing since freshman year. My current weight is only 135 and I am about

Optimizing Trainer Settings for Masters Swimming (70-79)

QuestionI am competing in a Masters Games for the first time in the age category of 70-79 with events of 500, 1000, and 2000m. The training manuals confuse

Optimizing Your Taper for Masters Swimming Competition

QuestionWell Al, your advice to a geriatric rookie on spm was so fantastic, that I just had to ask for specific advice on tapering, because there are confl

College Rowing Admissions: A Guide for High School Rowers

QuestionMr. Pepper,    I am a high school senior rower, and I am going to row at the Head of the Charles in October. I have been rowing in

Optimizing Stroke Length for Rowing: Technique & Efficiency

QuestionHi Al,  Watching the various videos on the ergs, I notice that some rowers on the recovery phase reach right forward to the wheel, whereas oth

College Recruiting Timeline: Junior vs. Senior Year - What You Need to Know

QuestionI read on your site that scholarship candidates are typically identified in their junior year.  My college counselor refuses to acknowledge th

Sculling Split Analysis & College Rowing Prospects for High School Athletes

QuestionI am currently a high school 15 year old junior. I recently won a 2.3 mile (3.8k)sculling race with a time of 12 minutes which would be a 1:58 spli

Improve Rowing Performance: Addressing Recovery & Fatigue

Questionhey, i was wondering how to improve my rowing performance, because, for a 6k my urg split is 2:10, but when i get out on the water, i seem to alway

College Rowing: Lightweight Programs & Admissions Impact

QuestionHi, I have a set of questions that have been popping into my mind recently. Im part of a good school that competes in many high level junior rowing

75-Year-Old Achieves Australian Rowing Record in 500m Fly & Die

QuestionHi Al, Im a geriatric (75yrs) who has maintained a high standard of fitness for the last 40 years through martial arts, running, boot camps and wei

Preventing Sliding Off the Bike Seat During Sprints: Technique & Solutions

QuestionHi Al,  Can I ask a stupid question?  In the 500m sprint today, I partly slid off the seat on the recovery phase.  I wondered whethe

Preparing for a 6km Ergometer Test: Canada Games Tryout

QuestionI dont want to be like everyone else who seems to be on this site, asking how to lower their erg scores but i do have a question. In about a week

College Rowing: Emailing Coaches & Making Connections

QuestionI am a high school senior and I am currently looking at rowing in college.  I am going to visit some colleges soon and I wanted to make a meet