The Rowperfect UK team had a great laugh on our Facebook page this week as Luke Walton exposed Mens Health Magazine contributor Laird Hamilton for a lack of ergo training knowledge.
Here’s the full Mens Health article
We love the comments under Luke’s post.
Breathe through your nose…WTF. I wish I knew that before. I did it all wrong. I should have just told Coach Gladstone I need to dial it back 30 seconds into my 6k … because my nose can no longer take it! LOL
First it absolutely is a handlebar, Second footstretchers sound like a torture device, Third if you’re trying to get a first timer to complete a 30 minute piece in a way that makes them ever want to get back on, I think breathing through the nose is excellent advice.
I tried to call him out over Facebook to see what his 2k time was, Haha #dontquityourdayjob
I don’t think Hamilton wrote a word of this. I”ve heard him speak and, trust me, he’s a mouth breather.
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If you knew anything about laird Hamilton you would understand why he breathes through his nose . While it may not be taught in rowing he isn’t a rower , just uses the erg to train .. So instead of trying to ” call him out” maybe explain why mouth breathing is better for rowing ..
http://www.mensjournal.com/magazine/laird-hamiltons-high-performance-breathing-20130222
Thanks Christopher – great link.
To clarify – the comments reproduced above are not Rowperfect’s views – they were made by other folks on the FB post.
I, too, think that calling Hamilton out on the breathing is a bit unfair. I coach and cox and one thing I tell my crews is to breath slowly through their nose on recovery to help slow down the slide. This is because novice rowers tend to start panting and they take their stroke in time with this. Quick, forceful exhale on the drive tightens the core muscles and slow, controlled inhale provides a longer recovery time. Is this incorrect?
Valerie – totally agree. For beginners it is a really helpful tool to aide their learning.
To those who’ve done the Boston marathon, your mouth, your nose & your a**e all play a part in breathing in the last 5k!
Looks like the Rowperfect team are up to their neck in arrogance again… See comments above explaining Laird Hamilton’s stance; using the erg as a general fitness tool and promoting nasal breathing as a way towards cardio -vascular efficiency. …
Perhaps you slag anything or anyone training on your rival concept 2 rowing machine?
Perhaps if you, any of you would spend a week in his shoes you would behave quite so cockily?
When you’ve paddle-boarded across the English Channel with him in 7 hours right after he’s run from London to Dover? Or when, perhaps, you’ve surfed Teahupoo on a massive day,?
Or been towed in at Jaws on a 70 foot face on a small board with foot straps?
Or bothered to see further than the end of your elitist noses through your narrow, miserly eyes – that as a professional waterman outside of rowing he is worth a morsel of respect?
I’m sure he’d encourage you guys on your efforts in your own training as his self esteem is built on challenging his ego rather than bolstering it through undermining others without respect.
See you in/on the water, Luke Walton, Rebecca Caroe, etc.
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Mark, I apologise if you’ve felt offended. Of course we will unsubscribe you.
Speaking for myself, I do not slag off other rowing machines. I would expect our readers to call me out if we did. It is not only disrespectful, it is arrogant.
Respect for achievements is willingly given and recognised.
See you on the water too.
Rebecca Caroe.
Most experts use 2 breaths each stroke. Out at the catch and release. I recommend doing this always, even for light work. Breath through the mouth, with relaxed airway, silently. Use 1:1 work to recovery ratio.
Beginners can easily start with this technique.