We were sent this case study by a coach. It’s an interesting study in athlete skill acquisition.
I am coaching a 4+ for Henley. We had some illness this week so I could only get my stroke side onto the RPs. We did 3 sessions on linked RPs. A combination of race prep sessions. UT2, 500mts and starts.
Bowsiders, one on bike (sore back) one ill. The boat was going pretty well last week. Good run, good speed and tracking straight.
But since the RP work with the strokesiders only quite an obvious change.
Cox now has to continually drag the rudder to keep the boat straight. As the power comes on just after the catch the stern lifts level but to bowside. The whole boat twists in the water then drops onto the bowside at the finish.
It took me several minutes to work out what was going on then I realised that the guys that had been on the RPs were getting much better grip to the water and timing of drive that the bowsiders simply couldn’t match them!
Anyone had a similar experience/ observations?
