Re: How to use the legs on the recovery

You won't get back to the catch unless you draw the shell to you in some way.

Mark,

I don't want to leave anyone with a false notion of what Gordon is saying. Not only is Gordon a great coach, but we have become friends, and I would be horrified to think that I have misrepresented what he is saying.

Gordon is not exactly saying 'don't draw the shell to you.' But he is saying 'don't try to use your legs to draw the shell to you.' Instead of the legs Gordon wants you to use the arms.

I think in fairness to Gordon I should quote the four pertinent paragraphs in "Rowing in a Nutshell:"

"The recovery is divided into two phases: The Reach and Body Preparation Phase and The Length and Entry Phase.

"Reach and Body Preparation Phase: rotate your pelvis, making sure not to lose the pressure against the pin toward the blades.

"Relax your belly and allow your knees to come up after your hands are no longer in danger of hitting them. Track your knees toward your toes. Body angle and arm extension, the distance of the handles from the body, should be accomplished by 1/2 slide. Be careful not to reach so far as to pull the shoulders out of the sockets or the shoulder blade off your rib cage. This completes the Reach/ Body Preparation Phase.

"Length and Entry Phase: from this position at 1/2 slide, our length now comes from the continuous separation of the handles from your core as you continue to apply pressure now backwards against the pins towards the blades. It is important to relax your legs and not use them to pull yourself into the stern. Imagine that you are sitting on a skateboard with your hands on the sides of a doorframe. Now, propel yourself through the doorway by pushing yourself through it by pushing out and back towards the blade. The legs are not necessary for this and, in fact, any tension in them will only create difficulties at the entry. Keeping your core firm and body angle set and handles the same distance from your body, continue to push the handles apart, applying pressure against the pins toward the blades for the remainder of the recovery through the emersion of the blade and first moments of the transition into the drive. If the boat is slightly "off balance", continue to keep equal pressure firmly on both the pins and your weight forward and over the center of the boat (don't attempt to correct this by raising one or the other of the handles). Stabilize the boat; do not attempt to "balance" the boat. Make every effort to have your hands as close as possible to the same plane and keep them in this relative position! The symmetry of the hands while applying pressure against the pin in the direction of the blade will not only stabilize your shell, but will stabilize your body. If you find the boat down to one side, it is best for most of us to just leave it there during that particular recovery. At least it will be somewhat stable. Make the correction at the release of the following drive. Be particularly assiduous in making your release at the correct point (see Drive) and keeping pressure on the pins and making symmetrical patterns as the hands come away."

Sorry if I have misled anyone.

Cordially,

Charles

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