Rowing at University in Cambridge

Ten Rowing Myths Refuted

1) All rowing takes place at 4:30am
Rubbish. In fact, novice boats aren't allowed on the water before 7:30am, and even then morning outings tend to be very unproductive, a) because the river is very busy, b) because everyone has just got up and is grumpy, and c) because at least one person in the boat is still drunk from the night before. Consequently, morning outings are an absolute last resort.

2) All rowing takes place in extremely skin-tight kit
Not at all. All you need to be able to row is a t-shirt, a pair of shorts or a tracksuit, and some socks! Tighter kit is better to prevent it catching on the oar or the seat, but skin-tight is not required - provided you tuck it in for rowing, any t-shirt is fine.

3) Rowers are not allowed to drink alcohol or eat anything with any fat in it
Hardly. Formal Halls are an integral part of the rower's life, particularly for novices, and the Lard cupboard is aptly named, full of sweets and cakes to refresh you after an outing.

4) If you row you have to do a minimum of five outings a week
Lies. We will cater for everyone who wants to do any number of outings from one a week upwards. Generally better boats will do more outings and vice versa, but it's up to you.

5) You are bound to fall in when rowing for the first time, and for the next six as well
Only if you jump in. Most novice rowing is done in eights, and capsizing an eight is almost impossible (Magdelene's effort in the 1998 Lent Bumps is now legendary). The only real chance of falling in is from small boats, and novices who choose to have a go will start in plastic Virus sculls, which are extremely stable.

6) Rowers train four times a day, seven days a week
Rubbish, you get Sundays off. Less facetiously, you don't have to 'train' (e.g. spend half an hour on a rowing machine, go for a run, do some weights) at all if you don't want to, although as in 4), the people who train more will get fitter and will move boats faster. However, we won't expect you to train much in novice term.

7) Rowing hurts
Well, it can if done properly. However, in novice term it is unlikely that boats will have sufficiently good technique to move the boat at a speed which becomes painful.

8) Rowing is boring
Only if you don't concentrate, because if you do you have to think about making clean catches, finishing together, hand heights on the recovery, accelerating through the stroke, separation, feathering correctly, outside hand position, raising hands into the catch, catching quickly, leaning into the rigger in front...

9) You have to be 7 feet tall, weigh 18 stones and have rowed since birth to be good
Absolute nonsense. The 1st Lent VIII which won the Lent Headship in 2000 contained three people who were 5'10" or less and weighed similar amounts; novices regularly make it into the top boats in the Mays and the Lents; even Steve Redgrave did not take up rowing until he was 17. In fact, rowing is a very technical sport and (at least in novice term) technique is more important than fitness and strength, so however small or weak you think you are, come and have a go.

10) The girls who row are hideous
Errrrr... no, they're not.

If you would like to get involved with rowing at Trinity, contact the Lower Boats' Captains: lbcs@firstandthird.org