Why We Row

L. D. Banks

An insight into what drives the sport and why you should participate.

ROWING IS A SPORT LIKE NO OTHER. This cliché is used often to describe sports that are all too similar. Rugby, Soccer and AFL, although distinct in their intricacies, are fundamentally the same. Rowing would most be compared to similar lane-race sports like Swimming and Track, but is wildly dissimilar due to its essential ingredient; a boat. 

There are many sports that utilise various equipment, but none that tie together mechanical prowess with complete physical exertion. Rowing recruits every muscle in the body like no other sport. Not in the sense of brute physical contact testing the rigidity of bones and resilience of ligaments, but rather manipulating and completely depleting all of the body’s energy systems whilst balancing a half metre wide boat. The lessons that arise from this pursuit and its necessary training is why rowing is the single most educational experience any boy can receive at Shore.

The aim of a rugby game is to score the most points, and this can be achieved through many ways. Each player tries their hardest, and sacrifices much for their team. But ultimately, the sole aim of a player is not to do whatever it takes to reach exhaustion, it’s to score points, exhausting or not. Rowing flips this on its head. Like a game of agonising chicken, Rowing calls each competitor to see who is willing to hurt themselves the most whilst maintaining the highest level of technique.

Now when described like this, Rowing starts to sound somewhat unenjoyable and insane. And whilst it takes some level of insanity and obsession to be the best in the world, rowing for the most part is like performing in a play. You practise each part so many times that once you’re on stage your unconscious mind takes over and you begin acting off instinct. These practices, for the most part, are not overwhelmingly intense. Many sessions are spent refining and perfecting technique. Tens of thousands of strokes purely focused on one or two aspects of your technique. It is these long hours on the water that are what allow for your unconscious mind to soak in the technique. These sessions are low intensity, growing the heart muscle and training the subconscious mind.

That being said there are a good amount of sessions that challenge you and push you right to, and often beyond your preconceived limit. Yet, these are the sessions that bring you the most satisfaction. Reminding yourself not only of your strength, but that you have no idea what you are capable of, can be very exciting. Many sessions over the first half of the season are spent in small boats called single sculls (skiffs/sculls/singles), and a tough session in the skiff will certainly push you right to the limit. Lining up on the Parramatta River with your seven other crewmates in a single with about 4 km to your next rest, ready to do whatever it takes to finish in front, certainly gives you an opportunity to experiment with technique and race psychology. Five of these pieces would make up the average Silverwater round-trip, with the last piece being the most important. Although your competitors are your friends, there’s no better feeling than beating them.

The single scull teaches not only fitness and technique, but it teaches accountability. There is no one else responsible for your result except yourself. If you want to go faster you have plenty of options, but none of them are easy. Your coach can make technical suggestions, but nobody can row the boat for you. This is a key experience I believe every young man should experience. The realisation that your fate is exactly that; entirely your own. Particularly at such a pivotal time in adolescent male development, Years 7-9, when boys begin their rowing journey. It is also precisely the time that many boys are led astray by the confusing nature of the high school experience.

At a school like Shore, with such a rich history in the sport, there is no reason to not participate. There is no other sport offered at Shore, where by competing in the GPS squad you are brought to a standard that is considered nationally and internationally competitive. Rowing can open up many doors, with a variety of Old Boys competing in international and olympic regattas. But also opportunities to study abroad, where many Old Boys have used rowing as a pathway into University in the US and throughout Europe where it is considered a prestigious sport at the collegiate level. 

I could go on about the benefits of Rowing, but in short I believe this opportunity is often wildly overlooked by boys. I strongly encourage anybody to participate regardless of any preconceived notion of their ability. Admittedly, much of Rowing selection in the younger years (Year 8/9 quads) is done by raw strength and size, but in truth, there is a spot in the crew for anybody who is willing to put in the effort. Plus, every good crew needs an equally good coxswain. Although it can seem intimidating, there is no reason not to give something a try, and as a student at Shore, I feel there is no sport more worth your time. If you’re interested or intrigued feel free to find me or any other senior rower around school and ask questions, or any of the coaching staff. We would love to hear from you.