Is the sport of rowing for me?
Rowing is great exercise! The rowing motion
is graceful and powerful at the same time.
Rowing is an excellent way to
exercise most major muscle groups with lower risk of injury than most active sports. Rowing at a good clip is an aerobic workout for the heart and lungs. The sport can be learned by patient people
of most ages from adolescence on, and then maintained into one's older years. It is, of course
, best learned when young. However, nation-wide, there are veteran rowers still going strong in their
80's. Our senior veteran crew averages about 65 years of age. Rowing a sleek, sliding seat shell is an athletic activity--
no doubt about it--whether done alone in a small shell or on a four-oared shell
as a regular member of a Grateful Oars crew.
The Grateful Oars places new rowers with patient, experienced mentors who enjoy teaching
others how to row. The new rower will acquire skills that require some coordination, but
most people can learn the basics in a few rowing sessions. Rowing
is a life sport, and although the basic skills can be developed fairly quickly,
serious rowers will work on technique all their lives.
Rowing is a
vigorous sport, and anyone interested in rowing with the Grateful Oars should
have or wish to attain a good level of physical fitness. As with all sports, the advice of your
physician ought to be sought in advance. Rowing sessions normally
last two hours, including launching and returning the boat to the boathouse.
Rowing with a Grateful Oars crew is strenuous exercise, yes, but it is also lots of fun, and very
social.
Safety is very important to the Grateful Oars. Prospective members should know
that not all regularly scheduled rows leave the
boathouse, as weather may cause the row captain to cancel, sometimes on
short notice, and even at the lakeside. Prospective members should be competent
swimmers. Though extremely rare
on Oars outings, sweep rowers have been known to be ejected from a boat when "catching
a crab", and shells can possibly be swamped in storms or by motor boat wakes.