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Message board > Members' Opinion Polls > Members' poll: What's the best exercise for when you're stuck in a queue?

What's the best exercise for when you're stuck in a queue?

Bear in mind ability to get moving quickly if needed, and effects of stream and wind and constrained spaces.

Roll ups		12%

Frontstops tapping		8%

Backstops tapping		4%

Standing up in the boat (i.e. by taking a stroke)		4%

Cutting the cake		0%

Swapping blades between sides		4%

Pausing on the recovery		8%

Everyone swap seats		62%

Total: 26 members' votes

by The Coxing Captain - Sun 23rd Oct 2005, 10:10pm

Your preferences have been duly noted. Coxing instructions will be amended accordingly.

by curious - Sun 23rd Oct 2005, 10:18pm

A question for the coaches: what does frontstops tapping accomplish, other than getting people used to putting their blades in after they've stopped moving forward?

by "Lightweight" Lilie - Mon 24th Oct 2005, 9:25am

curious said: what does frontstops tapping accomplish..?

I thought the [or one of the?] point(s) was to teach you to put the catch in without taking any extra body lean, keeping the core strong. I *hate* frontstops tapping, so it is quite effective on me.

by jpd - Mon 24th Oct 2005, 9:26am

curious said: A question for the coaches: what does frontstops tapping accomplish, other than getting people used to putting their blades in after they've stopped moving forward?

Do you mean nudging the boat forward 5cm each stroke at the front end or just moving the blade up and down? If the former:

* practice putting the blade in as the boat stops moving to them. It's common for rowers to do what you described though :-)
* practice using only the legs through the front end. It's common for rowers' bodies to dive in/out of the front end (you seem to know a lot about that) and even to use their arms (oops).
* practice connecting by pressing the boat down/away with those muscles just under your knee (can't remember what they're called). It's common to not do this as well.

There may be other reasons to do this exercise but I think that covers most of it.

If the latter:

* practice having the blade in the water at the front end before startnig moving (even if this happens after the rowers have stopped moving, this is at least better than not putting them in until the legs are flat).
* prepare for the above exercise (it's much easier to get rowers in time by doing this first).
* practice being loose in the arms/body in the front-stops position.
* get rowers with crap flexibility to realise that they really ought to start stretching, which leads to:
* induces grimaces on the faces of said rowers for the amusement of the coach.

by Mike - Mon 24th Oct 2005, 10:38am

curious said: what does frontstops tapping accomplish?

I think it's also useful, for rowers who are prone to digging, to show how little you actually have to move the handle to get the spoon fully covered. Letting go completely and letting the blade find its own depth can also help with this.

by "Lightweight" Lilie - Mon 24th Oct 2005, 12:08pm

jpd said:
* get rowers with crap flexibility to realise that they really ought to start stretching, which leads to:
* induces grimaces on the faces of said rowers for the amusement of the coach.

Ah, that's why coaches enjoy making me do this so much then..

by Nostalgic lightweight - Mon 24th Oct 2005, 2:35pm

How about stretching in the queue at Asda?

by jpd - Mon 24th Oct 2005, 4:21pm

Nostalgic lightweight said: How about stretching in the queue at Asda?

Bad idea - I much prefer Sainsbury's or Tesco.

by RTT - Tue 25th Oct 2005, 7:41am

Simon said:
Roll ups

Rolls up, surely?

by jpd - Tue 25th Oct 2005, 8:46am

RTT said: Rolls up, surely?

I'm surprised that you haven't renamed them "up rolls"...

by Ow my back - Thu 27th Oct 2005, 1:03pm

Recent field studies indicate that the best excercise for when your stuck in a queue is actually to carry your boat from the P&E to Churchill Boat House...

by I hate queues! - Thu 27th Oct 2005, 3:41pm

Very true. That would have to be my favourite. Although Iain's suggestion of carrying the blades at the same time spices the whole excercise up a wee bit more. Maybe for next time...?

by jpd - Thu 27th Oct 2005, 4:21pm

I hate queues! said: Very true. That would have to be my favourite. Although Iain's suggestion of carrying the blades at the same time spices the whole excercise up a wee bit more. Maybe for next time...?

So you did it without the blades and then went back for them?!?

by Magnus - Thu 27th Oct 2005, 4:32pm

jpd said: So you did it without the blades and then went back for them?!?

No, one crew member can easily carry four blades and a coxbox.