Comments on: National Team Rowers Answer Your Questions

By: Jeremiah Kegera

Jeremiah Kegera — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 05:26:06 +0000

Iam Kenyan who won the U.S.A green card in the year 2008 and after spending all I have I did not got the for interview I need to know why ? since the processing is still there year after year .

By: courtney

courtney — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 02:25:17 +0000

hello, my name is courtney and i row for North Alleghany, and this is my 3rd year of rowing. I want to be on the U.S.A rowing team but i have a problem, my 2K time is 8:30. I told my coach that i want to be on the U.S.A rowing team but she kind of laughed and said that I need to drop my 2K time a lot, and i tried and tried but I still cant drop my time, where I want it. I’m asking if there is a way i can drop my time to be at 7:00. Is there a way?

By: James

James — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 21:07:46 +0000

Hi, I’m a 6 ft. 2 inch., 160 lb. 15 year old freshman rower whose 2k time is right now at a 7:00.5 but my last one was a 7:02.7. Is this something I should worry about? Also is that considered to be a good if not exceptional 2k time for now? I was the 7 seat of my freshman 8 and did pretty well. I was wondering what I would have to do in years to come to be put on the national. Also, I was wondering if you had any good suggestions to get my 2k down into the lower levels.

By: Pete Cipollone

Pete Cipollone — Tue, 25 May 2010 03:55:42 +0000

AJ,

To get a shot at coxing for the national team, there are a couple of different paths and criteria. For better or worse, one of the main filters used is the competitiveness and depth of your program. This makes it harder for coxswains from small programs, but from a practical perspective, it is a shorthand that works. Coxswains that have already made the varsity in a top program and have been winning at the highest levels are better prepared for the rigors of national team training. These coxswains generally get noticed via a recommendation from their coach to a national team coach, and then get an invitation to a camp.

So, what do you do if you are not from a top program? First of all, make sure you are the top cox in your program, then try to win your season-ending event or at least get a “best ever” finish for your program. Then join a club like Penn AC or New York AC to get more experience and exposure. If you can be the top dog in one of these programs and win some national championships, your coach may be willing to recommend you for a shot at the top game.

In short, it’s all about getting into competitive programs, becoming the top cox, and then winning races. If you can learn how to cox fast boats and win, then you can put your hand up and make a run at the national team.

Best of luck!

Pete Cipollone

By: AJ

AJ — Sun, 16 May 2010 14:38:58 +0000

How would a coxswain go about getting recognized for national team development? It seems like there is a clearly defined path for rowers: hit erg score metric, go to ID Camp, go to selection camp, etc. I haven’t been able to find this same sort of path for coxswains and am wondering where to start?

Thanks, AJ

By: Corinne

Corinne — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 19:14:44 +0000

I am a high school rower (4th year rowing) wondering about how you get to the National team level. I went to an ID camp for the jr. national team this past march and need to cut ten more seconds minimum off of my 2k to go to the selection camp. What’s a good race plan for a 2k test on the erg or on the water for those of us stuck at the same personal best? Also, what’s a good stroke rate (roughly) for a 2k on the erg? Any advice for getting to the Olympic level eventually?

Thanks! Wish I could be there but I have a race the next day

By: Elena

Elena — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 14:59:03 +0000

I have increased my training starting in December, (I started with erging) and when I made the transition to increasing my time on the water I pulled my right intercostal. Sat out for about two months and then I pulled left. Have any of you dealt with this injury? If so, how have you gone about recovering? I’m doing my best taking my time to get back on the water but I really do not want to run the risk of re-injuring myself yet again. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

By: Jim Cody

Jim Cody — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 00:12:18 +0000

I’m 53 yo masters rower.Doing 3:18 erg 1k looking to get to 3:08.Have done alot of meters over the winter. Doing 1:32 splits for 500m should I just gradually bump that up to 1k? 600m @1:32 next wek 700m @1:32 and so on???????????Thanks Jim

By: Blake

Blake — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 17:54:27 +0000

I am a rower of 4 years 6’1” 180 6:20 erg I plan to train until I have a 6:00 erg how do I get there and what future will that hold for me?

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 20:43:35 +0000

For the lightweight men rowers,

How many seconds a year once you reach the national team level do you expect to drop, and when in the year do you expect to pr on your 2ks? April? May? July? August?