Cream of the Crop Coxswains

Today, I stumbled upon what I believe is one of my new favorite rowing websites. Called "Shivspix" it features rowing art by Shivani. A former coxswain, Shivani combines her love of photography, rowing, and the amazing people she has worked with into a first class website featuring stunning photographs, interviews, and advice.

Here are some great advice columns written by the USRowing national team coxswains:

• Pete Cipollone on What Makes a Great Coxswain
  
• Cipollone Shares How to Avoid Being “Noise”
• Marcus McElhenney’s Tips for When You’re Behind
• Marcus McElhenney Discusses Setting the Right Tone
• Ned DelGuercio Shares Tips on Coxing a 2k

Pete Cipollone - coxswain of the 2004 gold-medal winning U.S. men's 8. Pete also World Championships in the heavyweight men's eight in 1997, 1998, and 1999
Marcus McElhenney - coxswain of the 2008 bronze-medal winning U.S. men's 8
Ned DelGuercio - coxswain of the gold-medal lightweight eight at the 2008 World Rowing Senior and Junior Championships

Interview: Coxswain Becca Stahl

Meet Becca Stahl, SU coxswain from 2003-2007. Becca also coxed at Riverside Rowing Center in Boston, MA and the Blood Street Skulls out of Old Lyme, CT. Becca is currently working on her Masters in Early Childhood Education and Child Life from Mills College in California. She has helped the Mills College Crew team as a coxswain coach and recently coxed a race for the Lake Merritt Women's team out of Oakland, CA.

Above: Kim Graham, Jessie Perkins, Becca Stahl, Jaci Vanderhoof, and Michelle Vitaro

Advice for New Coxswains from Becca Stahl ("Chatter Cox"), former SU coxswain:

• Just do your best. Some days are going to horrible and you're gonna wanna quit, other days you'll learn why you love being on the water...
• Listen to your rowers, because when it comes down to it, it's you and them. As I tell everyone, my boat of boys taught me everything about coxing my first semester.
• If you think you're going to hit something, STOP.
• Always look at where you are in relationship to shore and the other boats... this may include peeking behind you.
• Try and learn the vocab as quick as possible so it just comes out naturally.
• Steering the boat everyday will change due to who feels like pulling hard and vice versa.
• If your coxbox breaks, heavens sake, just YELL, don't be afraid of being direct, firm but don't shriek/scream/sound panicked...
• Find your coxswain voice and learn how to use the intensity in it to get done what you want done...
• Last but least, leave your problems on shore and LOVE being in total control.

Above: Knecht Cup medalists Justin Chambers, James Hendershot, Chris Pfaff, Cate Eytel, Zach Ross, Becca Stahl, Kyle Nalls, and Brian Tanis (please let me know if you can identify the eighth rower)

What Becca wishes she knew then:

• Some days you'll hate it and other days you'll love it, but it's truly the best feeling in the world when you can get a boat moving perfectly and you have a great practice/race. The point is to leave each practice behind knowing that you put your best out there and that there is always tomorrow.

Above: Brenden Wirth, Brian Nalls, Andrew Addison, Zach Ross, and Becca Stahl

Best Becca quote:

• I need to be on the water like I need to breathe.

Victory Squat Tuesday

Today we logged a lot of excellent miles on the water. This morning I had an opportunity to cox a mixed four, which is the first time I have been in the John M. Thumm. As a Vespoli DL, the coxswain's seat is nice and roomy to accommodate the snow suit I have been decked out in this week. Although the weather has been fantastic, it always feels colder as a coach or coxswain. While the rowers are dressed in shorts and tshirts, the coaches really layer up and in some cases can be seen sporting brightly colored survival suits. I really do miss being in a boat, and if coxing is what gets me one back into one, I will happily comply!

Speaking of coaches: yesterday Coach Jim dropped his megaphone in the water and I am happy to report after letting it dry out, it is working just fine. My megaphone is still on the fritz, but it usually straightens out after a good bump or two in the launch. Between the megaphones and the motors, there is always something to worry about. It is easy to miss the simplicity of powering your own boat that rowing affords.

"I think that's why I coach... I used to get up early every morning with a clear goal in mind of how fast I was going to be. When I stopped rowing, there was a void in my daily routine. Now I go to bed at night and get up morning with a clear goal in mind of how fast you are going to be." -- Chris Allsopp, freshman coach, United States Military Academy

We have been spending a lot of time in small boats such as the fours and double, in an effort to hone our technique. While the beginning of the week focused primarily on drills, we are now moving into more power pieces. We sent seven rowers, one coxswain, and an observer out during our optional 11:30am pratice. Everyone is itching to try out the double or single and making great progress at that! The afternoon was spent practicing racing starts and longer power pieces.

We finished up with an extended yoga and stretch session, as everyone is starting to really feel the week's efforts. Although some of our teammates thought it looked a little awkward to outsiders, it was much needed. Pictures are definitely to come once they get uploaded! We stuck with the usual -- victory squat, tree, plank, and chair and added some new twists, such as the mermaid and egg. Although thoroughly grass covered, I can say that we all benefited from our poses. A few team members headed to the gym before dinner to get some lifting in.

We ate dinner at Olive Garden and went through many baskets of breadsticks and bowls of salad. Everyone was full and tired by the ride home. Wednesday is our "fun day," which means that we will row in the morning and then take the afternoon off in favor of a fun activity. Until then, SLEEP!

Preparing for the Races

Row2K just posted an awesome video of the CRASH-B World Indoor Rowing Championships. Originally started in 1980 by several former US Olympic Rowers, the "Charles River All Star Has-Beens" are still the official governing body of indoor rowing.

We see the SU records almost every day, but have you ever been curious about the world records in our sport? The current record holder for the fastest 2k time is Rob Waddell of New Zealand, who posted a 5:36.6 and he won the CRASH B Sprints 3 times.

Category	Time	Split	Nation	Year	Name
Open Men	5:36.6	1:24.1	NZL	2007	Rob Waddell
Lwt Men	5:58.5	1:29.6	DEN	2009	Henrik Stephansen
Open Women	6:28.4	1:37.1	FRA	2005	Sophie Balmary
Lwt Women	6:56.7	1:44.1	USA	2000	Lisa Schlenker

This year, the talk of the town was 18 year-old Felix Bach of Germany who broke his erg during the start of his heat with the junior men. He broke the chain and his machine was lifting off the ground, so he was forced to join a later heat with the lightweight junior women. He ultimately posted a 5:51.8, which was 25 seconds faster than the second place Junior Men's finisher. It looks nearly effortless. (Please note that the lightweight woman in the green shirt and pink shorts next to Felix is dipping her hands after she gets past the knees and it becomes particularly pronounced toward the end of the video.)

You can also see from the video that Felix has chosen a coach or friend to motivate him through the piece, especially in the last 300m or so. As you are thinking about Erg Armageddon, think about who you would like your coxswain or motivator to be. It can be a fellow rower, coxswain, or coach. Just remember that the heats quickly follow one another, so it would not be wise to choose someone in a heat before or directly after yours. Think about the key points in your piece that you need extra encouragement, share your race plan with that person, and also think about words or phrases that you really want to hear.

Everyone gets their motivation from a different place. Maybe you just want your iPod. Maybe you just want someone to sit quietly behind you saying encouraging words every now and then. Maybe you want someone to sit there an be quiet until the sprint. Maybe you want someone there shouting in you ear every second of the way. Maybe you want a whole bunch of people cheering for you. Think about what you need and don't be afraid to communicate that with your teammates, family, friends, or others attending the race.

Also, don't forget that our friendly neighborhood rowing association, the CPRA (Central Pennsylvania Rowing Association) is sending members to race. Please be sure to cheer them on as you would your own teammates! They still say glowing things about SU crew since we raced with them at Navy Day in Philly.

The Legend of the Ergman

In the summer of 2004, something strange blew in from the Pacific Northwest. Many did not know what it was. Some feared the river would never be the same. Low and behold, it was "ERGMAN!"

You may not be familiar with the legend of the Ergman, but you have certainly met the man behind the cape, Mr. Steve Loaiza (if you spell his last name incorrectly, he might threaten to take away your Bow Certification). The cape first debuted on the East Coast at the Spring 2005 Erg Armageddon at Bucknell University. He claimed second place in the Master's 1000m competition.

Our fearless coach is currently recuperating from an ankle operation, so we wish him a speedy recovery and hope to see him out on the water as soon as possible!

Since I've just rejoined the team in the Fall of '09, someone will have to explain the significance of the Ergman cape being passed down to a new generation.

Speaking of medals, Susquehanna University has a long history of greatness when it comes to competing at Erg Armageddon. Chris Meharg '03 and Cait Eytel '07 routinely smashed records in both the 2k and 500m dash -- which can still be seen on the Erg Record Board in the Susquehanna Green Room.

Alumni medalists include Jen Brunnet '03, Brian Card '04, Jen Murphy '04, Elaine Wood '05, Laura Jagielski '06, Jasmine Wright '06, Andy DeBrunner '06, Marissa Chamberlain '07, Brad Biondi '07, Brendan Wirth '07, Chris Pfaff '07, Brian Nalls '07, Josh Gregoire '08, Rachel Fetrow '08, and Coach Brian Tomko.

Some of our more recent medalists include James Hendershot, Zach Ross, and coxswain Sarah McGill.

I wanted to take some time to recognize some of the amazing accomplishments of our team in the past, but am looking forward to what the future holds. The most important goal that you as a rower can concentrate on at this point in the season is working toward a personal record at each time you test!

Coxswain Shortage

Winter Training is that time of year where we log more meters on the ergs than we care to remember, and make those nice, warm afternoons on the water seem like more than a distant memory. One thing that we can also forget is the need for coxswains!

I encourage you to talk to your friends, hall mates, and classmates about joining the Susquehanna Crew Team. Being a coxswain is an excellent way to practice public speaking and leadership skills, gain coaching experience and first hand observation of psychological principles, and so much more! And don't forget that joining crew is like getting a new family too.

A cautionary tale...


Having too few coxswains can result in your 200+lb, ex-elite rower of a coach trying to squeeze himself into a lightweight women's coxswain seat!


Talk about check! You have no idea...