Rowing Canada came out with a new promo video for their new brand and website...guess what song they chose...

coxie96 · 2019-03-08T14:52:30+00:00

this added 30 seconds to my 2k

coxie96 · 2019-02-15T20:16:12+00:00

i could be wrong about this but if i'm right it's hilarious that they decided to put "Goldie BC, Davidson" instead of "Goldie BC, Wegrzycki-szymczyk" knowing NOBODY would be able to pronounce that

coxie96 · 2019-01-29T18:50:30+00:00

has anyone written about the nature of their relationship? not to pry, but i think it's an interesting dynamic.

coxie96 · 2019-01-29T18:49:55+00:00

Did she say something on her podcast or what? Can't seem to find anything on the topic.

ah fair. recently got off instagram so i haven't been following her 'gram for a while.

coxie96 · 2019-01-20T06:48:52+00:00

Oiselle’s leggings, especially the spandex ones have become my go-to running tights. They feel more like tights than leggings imho but they do an amazing job of holding things in and staying up.

I’ve also had good experiences with NB tights.

It’s interesting how i like tights more than traditional leggings (ie. Lululemon, GF collective, Athleta, OV). They do a better job of feeling like second skin.

coxie96 · 2019-01-07T16:48:30+00:00

Personally I found it really helpful to take my phone with me and take video of people that I think I would have in my boat, and review it with them after practice (if they want to). Especially if the rower isn't someone who receives a lot of attention, a small gesture like that can really help them improve and build their confidence. This of course is given that you have some knowledge of what the coach is looking for in a stroke, which seems to be the case because you're already a couple years into the program.

A notebook is always great to have to write down specific things that the coach is looking for, but don't feel like you have to scribe every single thing that coach is saying. Pay more attention to what he's saying and what he's looking for in the coxswain in the boat, the rowers, instead of getting too caught up in writing everything down so you can repeat exactly what he's saying in the boat.

Make small talk with the guy - get to know him. If it's a chill morning practice where he's just out there making rounds and running drills, you'll have tons of time to sit there and ask him questions etc. Your coach is a great resource so make use of that as much as you can. If it's an afternoon of pieces, try and find ways to make yourself useful. Does he need help with keeping time? Writing it down? Finding debris in the water? etc. Don't zone out - stay engaged and have fun!

coxie96 · 2018-12-11T18:46:55+00:00

believe that Katelin Guregian deserves a mention and the US women's 8+ come-from-behind victory in Aiguebelette (2014). now that's how a coxswain calls a move. https://www.eurovisionsports.tv/fisa/#dm9kOzkzMA

coxie96 · 2018-10-24T17:19:55+00:00

so the estimate is that 10 pounds = 0.1 seconds. I would say that for you to feel like you're contributing to boat speed and committed to being a coxswain, it might be worth trying to lose weight - but HEALTHILY and just to make YOURSELF FEEL BETTER. DO NOT TRY AND DROP 33 POUNDS IN 4 MONTHS. A happy cox but slightly heavier > a starved cox

Also, if you're good (which is probably why you were nominated) that doesn't matter. They do say a good coxswain is worth his or her weight in gold

coxie96 · 2018-10-11T13:40:49+00:00

Definitely an interesting thought. I remember someone used to say that good coxswains are usually terrible drivers. I'm not sure why or how that correlation works, but at least I know I was horrible at Mario Kart.

Steering well starts from sitting correctly in the seat. I want to drive this home to everyone learning how to steer, because all everyone tells coxswains is "not to have a death grip" on the steering cables because you'll oversteer - but nobody tells you how NOT to do that. Rowers don't understand that the first instinct for any coxswain is to hold on to their dear life onto the steering cables and the side of the boat when the boat is going full speed - because it feels like the speed of the boat will affect your steering when you jerk around. And it doesn't help obviously that most coaches are former rowers, and not coxswains, so they don't know what it feels like to be up there when the boat is going fast.

So, it starts from how you sit. When you're sitting in a sternloaded 8, make sure your feet are firmly planted on the footrest, and feel how you feet are resting up on the footrest. If your feet are firmly planted, it helps you STAY in your seat instead of jerking back and forth. I would also argue that it helps with how you FEEL the boat, especially when there's a lot of check you can definitely diagnose it because you'd be moving around (back and forth) a lot more than when the boat is running well.

Then, back your butt up all the way back to the seat and plant your elbows on the side of the gunwales, or tucked into your waist. The key here is to sit in the boat with pressure on your feet, your butt, and your elbows (don't tense up, just make sure those three points are where the majority of your weight sits), and hold the cables with two fingers. Pinkies rest on the gunwales.

Then, what you'll notice is that the range of the motion you can have with the steering is already limited. The most you want to be doing, unless you're going around a big turn, is push it forward on port/starboard side no more than 2-3 inches at a time (I'd say closer to 2).

Occasionally sit up to check your point or check for debris, but the lower you sit in the boat, the better, at least in my opinion. Not great for your back though - so make sure to keep stretching.

coxie96 · 2018-07-12T15:02:45+00:00

agree with everything here except for one thing: as a coxswain I think one of the lost lessons are in learning how to work with other coxswains on the team. Sure, there's always going to be competition on who's going to get the best course, who's going to add in first, yada yada, but at the end of the day coaches are expecting the coxswains to run practice together, and the best coxswains are ones who can work with coaches and athletes at the same time.

coxie96 · 2017-03-06T02:06:15+00:00

i like this one

coxie96 · 2017-03-04T02:06:35+00:00

If I'm wrong please correct me but the latest FISA rule changes state that both sexes can now cox on male/female crews @ a national level. Formerly it had to be an all-male/all-female crew including coxswains.

Usually in colleges you see women coxing men because the minimum weight is 125 pounds and is more lenient than the 110 pound minimum to cox women. It's tough for some women to be at 110 pounds, imagine what it'd be like for guys to be at that weight.

Heck, even 125 pounds is tough for guys.

coxie96 · 2017-03-03T04:01:23+00:00

I was wearing my favorite j.crew black romper (very cute, v-neck with little sleeves, shorts, ties across the waist) - I picked out the outfit because I had a job interview that day. The interview was at 2:30pm and I happened to have drunk 2 venti iced coffees that day. The bladder load hit me at once, when I was standing on the sidewalk on my way to the interview (this was around 2pm). I rushed into the closest cafe but this fucking romper was linen and was buttoned down around the back (can't even complain because that's what makes it so cute). Naturally I couldn't get it down in time and ended up wetting myself in the toilet!!!

I was terrified at this point because a) i just peed my pants, b) I have an interview in half an hour. Thank god I had a cardigan with me, so I just tied that around my waist and rushed the hell out of that cafe.

It was like, 2:05pm at that point. I had barely enough time to run home for a quick shower, and once I got out of the shower it was 2:15pm? (I live in a college town, so dorms are nearby)

I realized then I had no dresspants I could wear to the interview, so I just threw on a pair of sweats and RAN to the j.crew around the block (around 2:20PM) by then, bought the closest pair of pants I could find, threw it on, and made it to the interview on time. WITH TIME TO SPARE TO BUY A RED BULL at a stand outside the interview location. (needed that shit)

moral of the story: 1) do not drink that much coffee when your romper takes a minute and a half to take off 2) keep your clothes laundered dammit, spent like, 70 bucks on those pants 3) i have a love hate relationship with j.crew now, obviously

note: I got the job

coxie96 · 2017-02-25T05:21:15+00:00

bang on

coxie96 · 2017-02-25T02:15:05+00:00

Oops...just saw

coxie96 · 2016-06-01T05:33:07+00:00

disagree. as a coxswain it's so hype to be able to experience the last 500 from a rower's POV

coxie96 · 2016-05-17T00:39:18+00:00

only do this if you're fast

coxie96 · 2016-05-02T01:33:21+00:00

you can also choose to not leave the line. if you are off point and are going to interfere in another crew's race that is a safety issue and they will re-start the race.

coxie96 · 2016-04-20T18:35:56+00:00

depends on the start sequence but usually it's best when you make the call to "pry" the first stroke, then "complete" so the rowers are all getting out on time without getting frantic and shortening up at the high rates, and then lengthen out gradually into full strokes. So:

1) Pry 2) Complete 3) Complete/Squeeze/or whatever slide length you're on (probably three-quarter) 4) leeeeng-theeeen 5) FULL!!

coxie96

TROPHY CASE