Finalizing for Hooch

We are now 9 days away from the Head of the Hooch regatta in Chattanooga, TN. This is probably the most prestigious race to win after the Head of the Charles. Most teams that don't go to Boston usually end up going so it is no piece of cake. 

In 2009, the "IRA boat" won the Men's Championship 8+ by a decent amount of time on top of riding a ripping current downstream. In 2010 (my freshman year), I got to stroke the boat to a second consecutive victory only this time by no more than 2-3 seconds. The conditions were definitely nowhere near the previous year but it was extremely cold. One of the reasons I believe we did not perform as well as we should have is because of the previous training, let me explain. Almost every piece, 6k, tech row, etc... was capped out at a 24 stroke rate, which was great for power but did not help with a endurance at a higher rate. A week prior to the race, we started to build rates up to a 32 but that was not enough for it to be comfortable during the Hooch, which is why I believe we averaged around a 29SR. 

After that victory, we went down to Melbourne for one specific reason: see where we stood with FIT. FIT had just broken the course record and won the Men's Collegiate 8+ in Boston so we knew that they were a great standard to base ourselves off. On the 2-miler, we finished 22 seconds behind, but that was expected. 

This year, the Hooch is going to be one of the toughest races in the fall for JU. After watching FIT finish 28th in the Championship event, I compared their time with the Collegiate event and noticed they would have only finished 3rd. Whaaaa?! I may say. But this is nothing compared to what's next. The third place finisher in the Collegiate event was Georgia Tech. Not only am I surprised they did so well but they also finished 6 seconds behind FIT. And right behind them, was the upcoming team Notre Dame with only a 2 second gap between them and Georgia Tech. Of course, both teams will be trying to take the Hooch title away from us this year. 

Now at practice, things have been quite different. The line-ups have changed a few times as the coaches have been trying to find the right set of guys for this race. After great new 6k ergo scores from a lot of people including freshmen and sophomores, time trials, and seat races, the practice line-up has (in my opinion) found its current top boat. Today was the last time trial around the island (8km race) before the Hooch, and the top boat consisted of Andrew SOLOWAY, myself, Mick MAYER, Greg VANOEKEL, Bernardas VINGILIS, Parker LAWLER, Brian COSMILLO, Andre KLEIJN, and Matt OUTLAW. Mick and Andre have really proven their strength on the ergo and the water as well as technical focus. Greg is finally back to practice after a small week off for a lower back problem. And matt has demonstrated that he wanted to stay in his seat after last race. The reason I am happy after today is because everything I asked from them before going out on the water was accomplished. Being sick this morning I asked them to back me up 100% and help me beat our weekly goal (27:30). The race went well and was probably the most technically sound boat I've rowed in since we came back to school, the power was there and when it was time to have balls, everyone laid it down. The final time was 26:18, which made me extremely positive about the guys even if I didn't show it. The current was hard hard to go against and screaming fast in the other direction; on average the boat pulled a 1:38 average split. 

I have good expectations for this entire team. The top boat needs to be faster, the second boat needs to be more confident even though they've gotten faster these last two weeks, and the frosh boat needs to simply kick some ass. 

Head of the Charles

After not getting a bid last year in the collegiate men's 8+, JU sent in a new bid for this year's 47th regatta. As we had hoped for, we finally got the bid, but was later told that we were to move up to the championship men's 8+ since we had raced in the Copley Cup in San Diego. With a lot of strong and experienced guys gone, this year's team is a little young. Hard decision for our coach so he decided not to go to save money and time because of the attendance of the top collegiate and international crews. Of course I was pretty deceived when I heard the news because it was going to be a good step forward for us and I was looking forward to be in Boston again.

Even though we aren't going, our neighbors are. FIT is sending two men's 8+'s, last year's V8 in the Championship event, and their new second V8 in the collegiate event. Their new addition, Jessica MELLINGER will be coxing the V8 who will be leaving last I believe in their event.

Good luck to both boats!

And Racing Begins...

Ahhhh, it's finally here, that moment we've been waiting for. It's not as bad as winter training waiting but still, it's a pain! lol
We are preparing the Head of the Hooch by laying down some race pieces this Saturday at the First Coast Head Race here in Jacksonville.
We are racing two men's 1x, two men's 2-, three men's 4+, one men's novice 8+, and three men's 8+. I will be racing in one of the 4+ accompanied of Bernardas VINGILIS, Chase ROWE, Brian COSMILLO, and Andrew SOLOWAY. Now for the men's 8+ I will be racing with Brian COSMILLO, Greg VANOEKEL, Bernard VINGILIS, Chase ROWE, Jared LOW, Parker LAWLER, Matt OUTLAW, and Tom RICHARDS.
These are some of the best line ups and I'm not doubtful that these will be great learning pieces to understand what we need to do for the future races.
These last few days have been iffy as I feel like the bow 5 is very immature about a varsity boat. I have to admit that it is hard to switch from a 2V to a 1V but it's definitely doable. I believe that it will all come together in time, there is no rush, but kinda!
Tomorrow should be a lot of fun because there barely is any competition.
Come out and support us please!!!

It Had To Happen!

Usually when things in life are going well including pulling sweet splits, having nice line ups, etc etc...karma comes running up the alley and kicks you in the shin.
Something had to happen! And this time it happened to poor Andy DAVIS. After a tough workout on Saturda, which started with a 30min test ergo at rate 20, we went on the water to finish up with 3x10min pieces at higher rates; after a bad first piece, our line up (of people who aren't usually in the boat) pulled it together and was able to do better. Of course by the end of the second piece, Andy's leg had fallen asleep and his lower back wasn't doing so great either. So what's next? Hell, let's do the last piece by 6s. For the first few minutes, it wasn't too bad and we actually were holding the other 8s, but when it came time to up the rates, we fell back; I could only bring it up to a 26 and that was for the last 2 minutes. After that, which I classify that piece as one of the toughest I've had to do, we went in. Oh, but we aren't done here... To dock our boats, we have to arrive at an angle and pull in our oars; as I looked back, the first oar came sliding in and then Andy's also started to until his back seized up, and hit the post, which in the end shifted the shell into the dock and broke the bow off. To end this delightful story, we carried him out of the boat since he could not move.
With hours spent back and forth from the hospital to his house, he finally found out that he had two bulged disks and a tear. This is not good news for him nor the team. He will be doing his best to recover, but you never know what will happen with time.

With that, our first race First Coast Head Race is coming up this weekend.

Go Dolphins!

Speed. It's there.

I have a subtle idea of the exact line up of the what would be a current V8, and it's a solid one. The other day as all three 8's were out doing pieces at low rates, and witnessed some real speed. I'd say about 6 out of the 8 planned (in my mind) wee in that boat and it definitely felt just as strong if not stronger than last year around Hooch time. This is making me optimistic towards the rest of our training. 

Today Brian COSMILLOand I raced one of the pairs for the first time in the around the island time trial and did pretty well as we only finished 5th and 3 mins behind the top boat which was the 8. Of course we had to finish practice with a bang so we ended up in the water trying to dock. Very eventful morning! 

Finding speed is augmenting every day and practice so my goal for this season is to be part of the top 15 on the C-MAX rankings.

Different Works...

After these last few weeks of fitness, and team gathering, we have started to really focus on posture. This last week was awful for my lower back but important for my rowing. If you know me, I over-reach at the catch and end up on my knees. Not this year though! I'm working really hard and keeping a solid figure throughout the entire stroke.
Now that this part of the movement has been engraved, we are moving the catch.

Finally a day of clean water, and of course Coach makes us do most of the practice right in front of the boathouse (it was worth it though).  As we worked on reaching the extremities together at a stationary state, the rest of the boat was able to catch my rhythm and flow with me. Towards the end of practice, we started to move the shells by doing the add-a-pair exercise, which consists of starting with one pair and adding a new one every 10 strokes. The tricky part is to accelerate with the rate with the speed of the boat. Being in the Quantum made it even better as we hauled threw meters with deck-passing puddles.
Overall, I'm excited to see how all this work will show by 8s as we approach our first race.

There is an outline of the V8 at the moment but anything can change.

Two and a Half in

Now that I have regained my spot on the front line of the ergo room, I am working hard to creep up to the top three spots. Yes, my work has been somewhat consistent but others have been in and out causing my struggle to do so. This year we are blessed with a strong frosh, Chase ROWE, from Sarasota Crew. Being a grand person, he is able to pull a lot lower splits than this year's top ergos. This would have been a little different if last year's senior Dylan KOSTEN would have been present. I am glad that he can show his strength to the entire team though because you can observe his dedication to making the V8, apparently taking example on last year's frosh. Another frosh who has been showing good scores is Andre KLEIJN from Pittsburgh rowing; a little work is needed though. 

We have been attacking every practice with mountain high energy and strength to show who is the best individually and as a boat, which is making all the top rowers become faster. The water training has been alright as we have been mixing the better people with the not-so-good people so that they can use them as examples. With King Racing 's Quantum being here all week, more of the rowers have been taking advantage of it as a tool to be faster than the crews in the Micasa or the Big Bob. 

This year, every race has its little countdown laying on the fridge waiting to decrease day by day, which reminds us how training isn't that long until racing time. 

All around, I am pretty content with the '11-'12 team and looking forward to connect a lot more, like last year, so that the not-yet-reached goal of winning Dad Vails is accomplished. Feathering starts tomorrow, and we are a month away from the First Coast Head Race.