Spring Break Day 6

After not being able to row yesterday due to extreme wind and cold, today we got back out on the water for two full-length practices–one in the morning one in the afternoon. It was in the low 30's this morning but warmed up in the afternoon as the sun came out. With the race on Saturday closing in, we did practice our sprints and starts. Our boats are feeling more set and coordinated as our trip is coming to an end.

Name: Brian Strauch

Major: Computer Science
Year: Freshman
Position: Starboard

As a novice rower, the John Hunter Regatta this Saturday will be my third race ever! In preparation, today we began working on our race starts and solidified our technique while rowing with all eight men. After a long winter of indoor practices, it’s a great feeling to get a competitive edge back in the boat, and more importantly, it’s extremely rewarding to see all the hours spent on the erg pay off.

This morning’s practice took the men’s varsity eight and novice eight crews across the old Olympic course and all the way to the far east side of Lake Lanier, where some of us learned to feather the blade for the first time, and others improved our technique. The wind was light and steady, a welcome change from yesterday, and my novice boat was quick to build up speed. By the second half of the row, we could feel ourselves gaining confidence with the oar and feel the boat simultaneously picking up speed beneath us. We put a lot of meters in, and we rewarded ourselves with some well-deserved naps in the afternoon before our second practice.

This trip has already been the highlight of my time on this team, and I can’t wait to see where our determination will take us on race day!

Name: Mike Abbasi

Major: Computer Engineering
Year: Freshman
Position: Port

I am excited to get back on the water after so many months, and I think the spring break trip is the perfect opportunity to jump back into learning and relearning techniques. This afternoon we rowed with all eight oars and it was a definite improvement to this morning and yesterday. The temperature rose and the sun came out so it was an enjoyable practice. The water was also much calmer so practicing feathering was a lot easier and more effective.