On Saturday, October 3rd, Power Ten will be participating in a scrimmage with 612endurance on the Mississippi River, in preparation for our participation in the Head of the Charles Regatta Global Remote Event. Scrimmages give clubs the opportunity to informally test their competitive skills. Power Ten is particularly grateful for the opportunity work with the 612endurance club, whose members includes National Champions and a strong Masters program of competitively experienced rowers. The attached video shows a young Coach Grace in 2015, race practicing on the Mississippi. Coach Miriam Baer, formerly of MBC, can be heard making critical commentary i nthe background.
The following describes what to expect from a LPCR Four Day Youth Learn-to-Row, Summer 2020
The LPCR Four Day Youth-Learn-to-Row program meets MTWTh, 4:00 - 600 pm.
Entry is by pre-Registration only, but is free to any member of the Twin Cities community under the age of 18.
The uncertainty that Covid-19 has brought to community pursuits this summer has been a challenge to all.
At Lake Phalen Community Rowing, we have chosen to follow all Minnesota State recommendations for safety. We recognize that these are changing on a regular basis; every effort is being made from our side to keep current with new information as it is made available to the public.
Equipment is disinfected after every user.
Our coaches and volunteers wear masks at all times while interacting with the public.
Insofar as is possible, social distance measures are respected, though in an environment where participants are out on the water and learning to balance in a narrow boat, these must be balanced with water safety precautions.
We are opting for small Youth classes this summer, with no more than six participants per session. This allows us an almost 1:1 ratio of coaches and coaching assistant volunteers for each boat. Small scale, perhaps, but in these challenging times we feel that this is the best and safest way to get novice rowers out on the water. Participants are boated in training singles or sibling doubles. This is not the easiest way to learn to row: in non-Covid times, novices are more commonly introduced to rowing in boats with eights or four seats--bigger, more stable boats where the larger weight of the boat and its multiple crew member remove much of the challenge of staying balanced and afloat. But there are compensations: learning to row in a single is challenging, but the combination of the "reactivity" of the boat and the necessity of individual coaching mean that the "learning curve" is fast and rewarding.
Participants in our four day Youth Learn-to-Rows are instructed to arrive wearing clothes that can get wet. After being familiarized with the equipment on land, capsize drills are one of the first on-the-water lessons. These drills are both fun and serve to directly familiarize those coaching with their students' comfort level and competency in the water.
LPCR's goal is, that by the program's end, everyone enrolled will have the capability to launch, and row, a single scull training boat.
As of the second week of August, 2020, we are proud to share that that goal has, so far, been met.
Seeing participants work through the frustrations of being held at the side of the lake, unbalanced and uncertain, through to the freedom to move at liberty around and across the lake, competent and even comfortable in their seat, is highly rewarding for our coaches and coaching volunteers. And on day four's end, the relaxed and smiling faces mean that we have accomplished another goal still: participants who have enjoyed themselves and gained a new, and not-exactly-easy-to-learn skill.
Cimarron RC graciously hosted 612endurance and Power Ten for a Saturday morning scrimmage. The teams continue to work on shorter pieces, starting with a time trials, then followed by matched racing, to ensure that everyone gets the feel of rowing in a competitive event. Covid-19 is making this a difficult summer, and we are grateful for this collaboration, which gives our athletes an opportunity to develop critical racing skills.
James Dundon summarizes the morning's work in his post on MN ROWING HUB:
"Check out our social distancing. We definitely hit the 'Morrow' safety standards today, as we do everyday. We raced 3 x 2k for juniors and seniors and 3 x 1k for masters. Fewer pieces than our normal racing, but now we’re honing in on more speed and recovery. I’m happy to say that our racing produced everything one hopes to experience:
1. Athletes sprinting off the line
2. Aggressive first half in an attempt to break the competition
3. Technical ability seriously tested in 3rd quarter (hoping to god the athlete next to you eases up)
4. Dealing with the agony like a champ
5. Shutting down that pathetic voice in your head that’s telling you to quit.
6. Sprinting for the line
7. Collapsing as you cross the line. You’ve left it all on the race course. The race has provided and you are now stronger mentally and physically.
Thanks to Martin Hyndman and Cimmaron RC, Grace Gardner, Mike DuPont, Ixchel McKinnie and everyone at Power10, Aron Schnell, and everyone at 612endurance for stepping up and making today one of the best."