News

Welcome to the Rowperfect newsletter

We have two new products to show off - Dreher Aero sculls and Oars.  Leading oar designer, Jim Dreher again leads innovation by creating an aerofoil shaft.

Duncan Holland reports from the New Zealand Coaches Conference where Mike Spraklen was guest speaker and we suggest ways to teach novices how to cox safely and quickly.

The winner of our competition from the last newsletter for Mark de Rond's book is Mike Knowles of Tideway Scullers.

And we'll shortly be sending you some suggestions about Christmas presents you may want to give or buy.

Happy rowing!

Grant Craies and Rebecca Caroe

The Dreher Aero is a new design for carbon oars and sculls.  The result is the first oar that attempts to overcome air resistance on the oar shaft and blade in the recovery phase.  The result - a shaft shaped like an aerofoil. Follow link for photos and specifications

We also have more photos of the new Rowperfect Indoor Sculler shown in Boston, USA at the Head of the Charles.

Read Duncan Holland's report on the NZ coaches conference.

Olympic cox, Adrian Ellison, replies to our questions on teaching coxing to beginners.

New products in the Rowperfect Shop

Rowing Voice e-Magazine - produced by Rachel Quarrell and Chris Dodd, this independent rowing magazine covers news, features and fabulous photography from around the world.  Buy a subscription for yourself.

Miniature trophy oars in your club colours.

2009 FISA Rowing Calendar

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Duncan Holland writes:

I am rushing this out the morning after the night before.  Yesterday was a big day at the NZRowing Coaches' Conference with a full programme of speakers and then the social highlight, a banquet in the Beehive.  The after dinner speaker was Richard Tonks, head coach for NZRowing. 

The major individual speaker yesterday was Mike Spracklen and he gave us the first of the three presentations we will have from him this weekend.  Yesterday Mike spoke about the role of the coach and how to lead.  He made repeated mention of ethics and standards and hammered the point that a good leader must base her / his behaviour on a sound ethical and philosophical basis.

I am too slow a note-taker to write much of what he said but the following are points that resonated particularly for me:

• Disharmony is inevitable amongst athletes and authority's reaction is often to make rules.  This leads to evaporating trust and the coach gets caught in the middle.
• Squabbles between leaders are behind most trouble in sport.
• "If you tell the truth you don't need a good memory."
• Base your behaviour on values not feelings.
• The two key attributes of a coach are the ability to inspire trust and confidence and the ability to communicate a vision.

It was clear that Mike sees himself very much as a leader of men, as the guru in the group and that Canadian Rowing has given him the space to fulfil this role.  The results are there for us all to see.

Today Mike talks about technique and about Fairbairn. 

More soon

Duncan

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Duncan Holland writes;

After a hiatus that was associated with moving us, and our household across the world to our former home in Christchurch New Zealand we are back at work in rowing.  I have two contracts for the summer; Head Coach for the Avon Rowing Club (NZL) and for Villa Maria College, also of Christchurch and NZL.  Stories and ideas from these new challenges will enliven my blog over the next months and, I hope, years.

This weekend I am at the NZRowing Coaches' conference.  A great opportunity to meet old friends and colleagues and to catch up with what has been happening here while we have been away.  As you all know top level competitive rowing in New Zealand has been a success story over the last few years but the domestic scene has been interesting too.  School rowing is booming, club rowing struggling, recreational rowing growing. A familiar story.

The conference boasts possibly the first major speaking engagement by the legendary Mike Spracklen since his crew's success in Beijing.  Mike has three formal sessions here,

• The Canadian Men’s 8+;
• Technique and Training - Fairbairn,
• The Coach as a Leader. 

I am particularly excited about the Fairbairn session as I am a long time fan of the man.

The other particularly interesting topic for me is a wide ranging look at school rowing.  Under the general topic of 'Best practice' various eminent practitioners from NZL and AUS will discuss School Rowing.

Watch this space!

Duncan.

Duncan Holland
raf.duncan@bluewin.ch

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