Thank Heaven for Novices

Those of us lucky enough to watch the novice races Sunday got a respite from the incessant perfection we are used to seeing from the CHASS crew team.  We saw boats from several schools make wild turns, row with a less-than-synchronized stroke, and generally soak themselves with splashy oars.  Some schools were apparently coached by retired demolition derby drivers as boats crashed into the bridge and each other, resulting in at least one broken oar and a missing bow ball.  There were enough crabs caught to make the men from Deadliest Catch jealous.

But we also saw the future.  For all their trials, each boat that crossed the finish line brought a new group of rowers into the clan, a new group of rowers who will fall in love with the river, with the spirit of teamwork and with the sense of accomplishment all their hard work will bring.  Not since we took off the training wheels or watched tiny ballerinas frowning in concentration have we so obviously seen our kids put their all into learning a new skill.  They made us proud with their determination and their heart. 

We sent 16 new rowers down the river Sunday and more will get their first races in the weeks to come.  These novices give us hope for the future of the program.  If they manage to stay on the right side of Peter’s Island.

Spectacle on the Schuylkill

When the CHA novice octuple set out Tuesday afternoon, it promised to be a great day for rowing.  The sun had come out and the temperature had risen to 70 degrees.  Spirits were high as the boys rose to the challenge Chris set before them; square blades all eight with feet out of the stretchers.  But maybe it was Alec, subbing in at coxswain, who jinxed the team with his admonishment, “Guys, keep your hands level.  I don’t want to go swimming today.” Or maybe it was Chris himself who brought on the ire of the crew gods, for just as he told the team, “Great stroke, good job” all nine went for that swim.

The sight of nine soggy souls clinging to the side of the boat stopped traffic on the river.  At one point, another team’s coach, who clearly didn’t have his priorities in order, mused, “Maybe we should get the kids out of the water.”As the varsity quad rowed over to lend assistance, or at least mock the hapless swimmers, the boat was righted and all hands were back on deck.

Rumor has it that Tuesday’s episode made rowing history.  Apparently, an octuple has not flipped on the east coast in 10 years.  And no one has seen Bruce so amused in a very, very long time.  Good going, men!

2nd Manny Flick!

More Spring Break photos

Crew Jackets For Parents

Pat Shotzbarger saw that the folks at St. Augustine had great jackets (modeled by Betsy Bailey) and thought our parents might be interested in them.  They’re great for river conditions:

100% waterproof, windproof nylon shell with PVC coating; Nylon mesh body lining; One interior pocket with velcro: Two front zipper pockets; Adjustable velcro cuffs

We can have the logos embroidered on the front as St. Augustine has.  Pat is working on getting ordering and pricing information.  If you are interested please let Chris know.  crorer@springside.org

Launch Drivers

As permanent members of the Philadelphia Scholastic Rowing Association (this group actually runs the races) we are required to provide launches and drivers for Schuylkill regattas during the season.  A number of you have signed up for this and there may be more people who are interested.  On March 22nd, Bruce LaLonde will be offering a training session for launch drivers at 11:00 am.  If you can’t make it we will try to have another session in the very near future.  Please let Chris Rorer know if you plan to attend or would like to have another scheduled time.  crorer@springside.org or call Chris on her cell at 215-990-4315.  Chris will be at the boathouse for spring break.

Springbreak 2008 Photos

Crew 101–Helpful Hints To Novice Parents

Crew 101  Click on link for a four page Word document containing helpful hints for parents of novice rowers put together by Jean Leatherwood. 

CHA Rower at Junior National Team Tryouts (Submitted by Don Leatherwood’s Dad)

(Disclaimer: The entry below is written by a parent and from a parent’s perspective.  It may appear ignorant or embarrassing to actual rowers, but after all that’s what parents are for.) The Men’s Junior National Rowing team is selected in two different ways.  The Eight and the Four-with are selected out of a pool of 24 rowers who are invited to the “ID” Camp in June.  All the remaining boats (1X,2X,2-,4X and 4-) are selected with boat trials in June by head to head racing.  Try-outs for the ID Camp are held in several of the major rowing areas of the Country.  New Jersey, Mercer Lake is the Mid-Atlantic testing center.  Erg Score, Rowing accomplishments and reference letters are submitted first.  The actual testing starts with erg work and is followed with two on-water sessions. On Saturday at Mercer Lake about 25 rowers showed up for the Junior National Team tryouts. (about half Seniors and half Juniors, many with parent/s).  They were all good.  They came from big rowing schools on the East Coast including Exeter, Chaminade, St Augustine, LaSalle, etc. Colin Campbell, the Jr. National Team Coach, threw them a bit of a curveball with the erg work: 6 X 500m separated by a 5 min. rest. ….BUT, they were instructed to pull a 2K pace for the first 4 and then pull harder for the last two with the last one as the best.  This was an interesting way to test the rowers since it looks at several different issues: strength, endurance, coachabliity, the athlete’s ability to know their own limitations, and pacing. I learned that a some of the group started strong but finished slow, (I spoke to the other parents.)  I asked Don how it had gone and he mumbled something about “maybe ok.”  I later learned Don pulled 1:36 X 4. 1:34X1 and 1:32X1. After the erg work the rowers were separated into groups for the water.  As the rowers split into these groups a difference became apparent. One group (the first looked like the “big guys”.  They came out of the boathouse with a swagger, their heads held high, walking out in ones and twos, smiling and brimming with confidence.  The gaggle of waiting parents quickly picked up on what was happening.  As each of these rowers emerged and headed for the “fast” boat, people almost clapped.   Seven of these rowers walked out in good time with the bossy little coxswain. Don was not among them.  The crowd waited with rapt attention to see who the last of the titans would be.  Time dragged on and nothing happened.  Some of the waiting parents were forced to take a second breath.  Whose son would it be?  The tension was palpable.  But I had to smile; no one does late like my son.  After way too long (at least 30 seconds), he emerged, grunted in my direction and headed to the “big” boat.  Then things really got interesting.  As I watched, Don took up his spot to pick up the boat.  He carried the boat second from the end which I took to be the two seat.  (In larger boats like an eight the best/strongest rowers are generally in the back 5,6,7 and 8, the hardest technical seats being 8 and 7.)  As they approached the water however, I noticed the rudder was on the wrong end of the boat.  I thought to myself (and almost said out loud), “that coxswain just blew his chance, they have the boat backwards.”  The boat went in the water and I noticed the seats were also backwards.  As they left the dock I stood in disbelief, Don was not in the two seat, he was in seven!  My son, the seven seat of a boat with some of the best HS rowers in the country!  They rowed two eights. Don was the 7 seat for the “big” guys in the morning and the afternoon sessions. At first, I was concerned for him because he had not rowed sweep since last summer.  In spite of this, he looked solid on the water: I’m not a crew Coach but I think our program is very effective at producing fine technical rowers.   Making the ID camp for the eight and four/with looks like an uphill battle, Coach Campbell stated that he is looking for erg scores below 6:20 and there are a few kids out there with them.  However, I think Don carried the flag well and shed a positive light on our little Blue Devils.  Hopefully Mercer Lake will see many more of them in the future.

Recap of the First Manny Flick

On Sunday, March 16, many parents and loyal supporters of the CHASS crew team took up their usual positions on the banks of the Schuylkill River to cheer on the team for the first Manny Flick race of 2008.  The novices did not compete in this Flick since they are just getting out on the water, but CHASS had boats in six JV and varsity races despite having a number of rowers out due to illness or injury.

            Will Standish did a great job in the Boy’s JV single, coming in third in 6:19.95 even though rowing in a gig in the singles race.

            The Girl’s JV quad of Katie Fitzkee, Larissa Sfedu, Laura Chisholm and Jenn Arcidiacono came in third in 5:41.61 in a tough five boat field.

            Jack Anthony, Sam Bissell, Phil Schweitzer and Buck Wolters won the four boat JV quad race handily in 5:09.37.  When the quad was drilling after the race, Sam tapped a floating Canadian goose with his oar, a move of such technical difficulty it will surely earn CHA bonus points in the team standings.

            Henry Meigs came in second in the Boy’s varsity quad with a time of 6:21.

            An excellent Girl’s varsity quad of Katherine Roberts, Tija Bross, Carolyn Chisholm and Julia Ryan came in second in 5:32.55 to a strong Conestoga A team, but comfortably beat the teams from Episcopal and Sacred Heart. The girls were pleased with their performance since it was only their third time rowing together.  Holly Bailey normally rows in the bow, but is presently out of commission with mono.

            In the toughest race of the day, the Boy’s varsity quad of Don Leatherwood, Pete Miller, Sam Franklin and Marty Schardt came in sixth in 4:50.39.  To put the competitiveness of this race in perspective, the winning boat from Malvern won with a faster time than 7 of 10 of the Boy’s varsity eight teams.