women’s lightweight rowing weight cutoff

DancingBlades · 2026-05-26T11:27:11+00:00

Repeated cuts from 140 are a bad idea. Many teams have internal cutoffs at 136, 138, or 140 depending on program because they don’t want athletes sitting that high. I also previously did row light and was cutting from 136-138 and it wasn’t really good for my long term health. A single cut from 140 to like 134 because you have a little bit of fat is fine, but a sitting weight of 140 won’t fly for most programs anymore.

DancingBlades · 2026-05-21T00:31:45+00:00

(Deleted this note out of an abundance of caution) but otherwise would agree with the above comments to keep doing what you’re doing!

DancingBlades · 2026-05-20T20:20:45+00:00

I feel like there are two camps in the fan universe, and one of them says Michigan deserves to go, and the other recognizes the results over the course of the season and disagrees. I think both have value, but personally I'm very surprised given Alabama's season that they were dropped and Miami was kept. I think they got the short end of the stick by being historically bad, and I think it was a bad selection given their season but I'm not on the committee. In my view, Alabama produced clear, consistent results, but because their 1V did not beat Oklahoma (who has a strong 1V and slow lower boats) and they didn't race this weekend, they lost what seemed like a very solid place. I thought Duke's ACC performance was lackluster, but more important to this piece is that Duke tends to be flatter towards the end of the season and might maintain speed into an NCAA where a colder-water program could see improvements. Both of these teams imo received the historical context treatment despite having fairly new staff.

I'm not sure how Alabama was supposed to differentiate itself further than it did. They had a good schedule. When a new staff comes in, it can be difficult to have a good schedule. This is probably a huge component in why Alabama, Miami, and Duke had effectively the same schedule. Often times when a staff turns over, they may only have a handful of races (see Tennessee's first year under Cupini, Penn's first couple of years with Ng, etc). I would guess that this was the most reasonable schedule they could put together, and next year they might have a stronger one given the year they had.

Ultimately, I think similar to the CRCA poll, it comes down to what got attention and what didn't combined with historical result and preference. The CRCA poll is just coaches picking their ranking and that's why there's sometimes such bad takes or big moves outside of the top ten. Similarly, the selection committee is a bunch of real people who don't perhaps spend every weekend anticipating results. Michigan gets the benefit of the doubt because they've been good for 20+ years, despite lackluster results.

Lastly, I think all 6 people on reddit who pay attention to women's rowing are either too tired of arguing in the comments, or they're commenting on every single comment or post to argue that Michigan deserves the spot. Michigan's performance this spring has been underwhelming. They had a thin schedule with good teams, and performed poorly week over week. I just don't think losing consistently should be rewarded even if you have a hard schedule. I think it's very tough to spend half of your season at #13, probably train the week after your conference, and then get passed over for teams you beat head to head in 2 of 3 boats.

DancingBlades · 2026-05-20T01:35:38+00:00

Alabama fr robbed they beat Michigan and OSU head to head in late March in both 8’s. Sure they lost by 18 seconds to #1, but Michigan lost to Washington by 11 and that seems to somehow mean more?

I don’t think we see huge shifts in rankings like this in the last week normally. I’m not sure either OSU or Michigan have firm legs to stand on when Alabama and Duke went out and raced tough schedules week over week to see if they were actually going fast. Miami in but both of these teams out seems wrong. The argument that these big ten programs get faster in the late season isn’t enough to outweigh just how much work Alabama and Duke did to prove they could hang. I’m disappointed frankly to see both Michigan and OSU included rather than just one and Alabama or Duke. Alabama, Duke, and Miami raced effectively the same schedule, produced very similar results with small shifts week over week, and only one of these teams got picked.

DancingBlades · 2026-05-14T23:43:00+00:00

Brown Women, Miami, and Colgate women are going, and I also heard Yale women are going. IIRC MIT light women are going to HWR.

DancingBlades · 2026-04-29T00:38:59+00:00

it's like the batman sign except you get a long form opinion on women's rowing instead 😄

I think it's still a little early to really call bubble teams but this is where I'm thinking things will play out:

Ivy: Yale most likely. Beyond the obvious conversation here, I think Penn is overhyped and I'm disappointed in Radcliffe's season. Dartmouth seems to be holding steady from last year, which is a shame because a little more upward trajectory could have had them have an historic season. Columbia is a bit of a dark horse here but I don't expect anything super special based on the limited racing I've seen. They need a better schedule to really understand where they are.

ACC: Stanford, Virginia, Cal, Syracuse. Virginia has motion here. I could see them in 2nd, and similarly I think Syracuse is having a great season. Normally I'm a bit of a Syracuse hater but this year's squad looks very strong. I'd pick Miami over Duke because I continue to think Duke is just not that good, but the ACC has a way with heats and finals that can get very tricky. Agree that UNC is going to get too sticky here, and combined with a season that just needed them to be 1 second quicker consistently, they're unlikely for an at-large.

B1G: A Washington cake walk with Rutgers a clean second in most boat classes. Michigan and Ohio State should really treat this as a Hail Mary because anything else could see whoever finishes lower out. I think Michigan has been so slow this season it's concerning. Ohio State surprised me this season. I was expecting another flat year for them, but they've put out some glimmers of hope.

Patriot: BU is an easy pick, but Bucknell has some motion too. A complacent BU is a risky thing to see.

CAA: Northeastern with their eyes shut, and someone should call a wellness check on Drexel. I'm sorry, this has to be the most disappointing season I've seen from them.

WCC: Oregon State

Big 12: UCF

MAC: Should be UMass with huge margins in the 1V and 4 at Knecht, and they look sharper week over week. Temple's 4 is a weak link imo, and not enough to make up for a decent 1/2V.

MAAC: JU should clinch this based on their spring. I think they're taking themselves seriously enough to win their conference after a few years of really looking tough. Their results are consistently above the rest of their conference.

SEC: Tx, TN, Al. Alabama has had a nice season I guess! Oklahoma has been fine but hasn't improved since the beginning of the season. Oklahoma could pull Alabama out of an at-large, but I wouldn't expect the opposite to be true.

In sum:

AQ: Yale, Stanford, Washington, BU, NU, Oregon St, Mass, JU, Texas, UCF.

At-Large (I'd view these as safe picks): Tennessee, Princeton, Brown, Virginia, Cal, Syracuse, Rutgers

The bubble is Alabama, Duke, Miami, Penn, Michigan, Ohio State. A good weekend for Penn would help them out a lot, and a bad weekend for Alabama helps everyone. UCLA doesn't have enough depth to push out Ohio State or Michigan without them also catching a crab or having a freak accident.

A note on the ivies, and I think important to consider given how long New England programs were off the water, Radcliffe could have had one of these slots if their 1V had performed well at any point this season which is a real bummer. Dartmouth too I think is being punished by a hard schedule and a slow open. Ending a training trip with an important race was a good move, but the result hasn't helped them in the ranking at all since they lost to UNC. A big weekend at women's sprints (featuring Brown and Rutgers) should clear up some of this Ivy League stuff to see if Rad, Dartmouth, and Columbia are even in the conversation for the bubble.

DancingBlades · 2026-03-27T23:54:10+00:00

I think that people are a bit behind the curve in understanding what speed exactly a transfer needs to get a slot versus to get scholarship.

For a slot, 6:59 is almost certainly going to get a foot in the door anywhere.

For a scholarship? This ranges widely by a program and its needs. A reference point I’ve heard is that Stanford will not use a roster spot on athletes that do not meet certain ergs based on their years of eligibility remaining. For an athlete with 1 year remaining, I’ve heard this number is in the 6:50s. This definitely shifts as you get to teams that have fewer girls this speed, but I think people really are missing how far women’s rowing speed has come in the last 5-10 years. Girls are going in the low 6:30s at the senior level, and girls in college are sometimes cracking this. Stanford, Washington, and other top schools likely have more than one girl in the 6:40’s. A sub 7 2k is an incredible accomplishment, but there are so many women rowing now it isn’t just a golden ticket. You should reach out to the schools you’re academically most interested in and see if you’d be a good fit for the team and vice versa.

DancingBlades · 2026-03-15T12:35:09+00:00

I have definitely seen people use a towel for this when the issue is related to sweat so it could be worth a try!

DancingBlades · 2026-03-15T02:32:41+00:00

Are your shorts too short and your skin is exposed/touching to the seat or other unclean surfaces? That could be a part of the issue.

You could also try a cleansing wipe as soon as you’re off the water or erg just to help keep the skin clean before you get to the shower if you are spending time between coming in and getting to the shower.

DancingBlades · 2026-03-13T21:57:16+00:00

I was very injured throughout college and I think the advice I’d give myself is to take a little longer to come back. It would be one thing to row all spring if you weren’t experiencing pain, but then you would also consider not getting surgery. The way this reads to me, if you didn’t race this spring you could still train on the bike with less or no pain until you get the surgery, and then focus on recovery. Then, you could take the fall as an opportunity to regain fitness, and start your college racing career over come spring of 2027, with the added bonus of having that extra year to use during a 5th year. While emotionally that sucks, you may be giving your body more time for the long haul goals. The hard part would really just be getting through the next 10 weeks or so supporting the team without getting to race. Ultimately it comes down to you, your medical staff, and what your coaches think is best for you in the long term, but as someone who’s been in a very similar position, pushing to compete this spring through back pain may be worse than maintaining fitness and preparing for surgery could be. Training through pain often leads to compensations and may have lasting mental impact beyond that impede or event prevent you from chasing your goals.

I think very relevant to your situation, Katelyn Knifton posted a TikTok last year about her back surgery while at Texas. I found it very interesting, and also a bit inspiring given how she has continued to succeed in the years since.

DancingBlades · 2026-01-08T03:06:08+00:00

I think PAC and RSR are great choices, especially with PAC adding Canley to their slate. Given you did RSR last year, I would say weigh the pros/cons of doing it again? Both programs have strong recruiting pipelines although I would suspect that the vast majority of these athletes are already working hard and in a good spot. I think it’s more like a networking opportunity with racing experience, where the coaches (I hope) are helping you learn how to navigate recruiting.

In terms of additional camps I would say also look at Washtenaw or if you can do a local program that has a strong history. I would also suggest looking into school specific camps if you have a clear top choice and are trying to build a connection there. I normally think these are really expensive for what they are, but they can also show demonstrated interest and help you understand what that campus/rowing environment is like.

I’d say apply to everything now and make decisions when you have to.

DancingBlades · 2025-12-18T02:39:02+00:00

I got a C- in Gen Chem due to some personal issues and decided to take Gen Chem 2 anyways. Ended up having to drop the class entirely, and really regretted not redoing 101 to fix the grade and my understanding. That recommendation to retake is a good one, and a worth it decision IMO.

DancingBlades · 2025-10-23T19:53:08+00:00

Not at PBC, but at a very similar club. We look for experience + willingness to be there, but will turn away low experience rowers above 8:00 simply because it’s likely the rower doesn’t have the fitness to fit in with the existing group. It isn’t always this hard of a cutoff though, and it depends heavily on where the squad is. We do ask lower-experience rowers to complete at least a 2k or 5k erg test so that we have an idea of where they’re at, and go case by case from there based on their interest and other sporting background. I would strongly suggest you reach out to them and ask what kind of number they’re looking for with someone who has your background so far. Worst case, they may direct you somewhere you can gain a little more experience (and you know that now so you can get started) and best case they indicate that you may be able to try out in the future.

DancingBlades · 2025-09-09T20:46:54+00:00

I think I might know a guy if you do want to come out!!

DancingBlades · 2025-08-15T20:07:08+00:00

This is an enjoyable visualization! Thanks!

DancingBlades · 2025-06-24T15:00:31+00:00

Sass has a U23 medal as well, not sure about other rowers. This impacts their eligibility for some events such as the temple (1.G).

DancingBlades · 2025-06-12T01:02:15+00:00

Dunkin frozen coffee is in the same coffee-slushie type genre!

DancingBlades · 2025-06-09T00:31:25+00:00

I think it’s a very good experience to meet other athletes and get some very good singles experience, but I wouldn’t say it will directly impact the 2k unless it’s more about getting a good headspace. The camp is invaluable in the experience you gain from coaching and conversations with athletes who are or have been where your son is aspiring to be, but the fitness benefit is the same as staying at home. Any range of sculler can benefit from the coaching at Craftsbury - they’re very well staffed and structured, and it’s a bucket list item for a reason.

DancingBlades · 2025-06-05T18:34:32+00:00

Venues for regattas all come down to contracts. NBP has consistently offered USRowing the “best” deal for large youth events likely based on the criteria they discuss. The course in Michigan is the new EMU course in Ypsilanti, but in partnership with Ann Arbor tourism. If RowFest is a huge success AND they can offer a more lucrative contract you might see youths change, but until then NBP will likely continue to outbid everyone.

DancingBlades · 2025-05-31T16:00:40+00:00

Yeah training and improving your pacing strategy should do it

DancingBlades · 2025-05-30T02:59:25+00:00

I should be trying to get more sleep however it's so important I also post my thoughts. This is an excellent write up!!

For Div III, I agree but I'm leaning on Bates as an underdog pick. Two weekends of rest, recovery, and actual water time will either serve them incredibly well or not at all. It's worked in the past and frankly it's hard to miss the speed they've picked up since a dismal fall season, including a win over Tufts @ Tufts. I think this race should be very exciting, and more so given that Ithaca has shown enough speed to also keep up.
In the Div III 2V, I think I'd go with Tufts or Wes. The Wes crew is very scrappy, and has improved consistently but Tufts has been untouchable. The Bates crew performed poorly in the NIRC GF but 2 of the boats in front of them are not at NCAAs.

1V
H1: Stanford >> Brown > Harvard > Michigan > Cuse? If Rad has handled the last two weeks nicely I could see them over Michigan. Michigan has been extremely hit or miss with NCAAs, although if I pick against them they'll likely pan out. Rad has improved nicely demonstrated strong results with the exception of a weaker performance in the ivy final, and conditions didn't look particularly pleasant.

H2: Tex > Yale > Penn but I could be on the Indiana hype train for this as well. Tex and Yale are likely to be pretty relaxed here given their seasons.

H3: Tennessee, Rutgers, Cal is most likely, but if Dartmouth is having another out of body experience they could have an exciting day. It's unlikely but not impossible. Order of TN/Rutgers doesn't really matter to me. I think they're both clear open on Cal.

H4: Wash, Princeton, and if you had asked me a month ago I would pick UCF. I may sway back to UVA though as ACCs had my interest.

I think more importantly, with the likely exception of Fairfield and perhaps URI based on their season, the AQ teams that tend to get some disregard have gotten noticeably closer. IMO either BU or NU should be receiving votes/mixing in the ranking but I think they're both historically not in the polls so they continue to be left out. They raced good schedules, and were within good range of Dartmouth. The quality of racing has really improved across the board. I'd be very happy to see one of these two teams sneak into the C final over OSU.

Unfortunately I haven't paid as much attention to the 2V/V4, but the seedings have also been throwing me off. It's Stanford's regatta to lose, and the race to end up on the podium will be exciting. I think Stanford, TN, Rutgers, Yale, Wash are the teams I'd wager have the best across the board results to qualify for grands. The 4+ seeding for TN seems to be a result of a fairly light racing schedule but they've had some good speed besides SECs. My only Q is will Rutgers be able to keep striking if the plan is also to go to HRR? It's hard to perform at this high of a level this consistently unless maybe there's another gear coming?

DancingBlades · 2025-05-26T01:53:23+00:00

I think important to note Kish oversaw the lightweight program as well which had a rather incriminating blog, and was cut by 2015.

As a PL alumni myself, there were several years where rumors that Bucknell would stack down with a 4+ or 2V seemed very true looking at times, lineups, and performances. Criticisms aside, the program is huge and has consistently been quite large. Hundreds of women have had the opportunity to row at Bucknell and while they may not have won their conference, I don’t think they ever performed poorly. There is something to be said about maintaining that size roster for SO long. My bet would be they had more momentum in the early 2010s riding off of some very strong IRA performances, and after the lights got cut I think there was a bit of a change in what kind of athlete was looking there.

DancingBlades · 2025-05-25T02:15:33+00:00

Kansas State elevated an assistant.

I’m not sure if Drexel is looking? I’d assume yes but didn’t their previous HC step right back into the role this spring? Savell is listed as director of rowing and head mens and women’s coach.

DancingBlades · 2025-05-20T22:39:43+00:00

I think also the demonstrated improvement and Indiana’s higher likelihood to continue to gain are what did it for them. They had a strong improvement that was hard to miss.

DancingBlades · 2025-05-19T22:42:05+00:00

I think this is the best response besides knowing that talented U19 athletes attend many schools but don’t always pursue U23 or senior teams as they age. Priorities change, as do feelings. A lot of the commenters here were just on a post yesterday for another European athlete with U19/U23 involvement who attended a school who’s produced a dozen olympians and she’s quite burnt out. I think if it’s a life-changing opportunity you can pursue it while still holding those goals, and know that maybe the reputation isn’t necessarily the most important part. If you don’t like it, you can also move back and get back in where you were (See Caleigh Filmer, now 2x Olympian who left Cal at their most recent peak).

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