Why Do We Call It The Finish?

(if my rowing stuff bores you, this post is a skip!)

In this month's rowing news 'Dr Rowing' answers a letter about the finish. Why is it called the finish...it is neither the end of something or the beginning of something but just the change in direction of body weight and body parts. It's good. Read it if you can get your hands on an issue (Thanks Steve, for mine!).

Speaking of Steve, we did some work in the single today and were talking a lot about the finish. He always makes me stretch as a coach. He's so crazy smart and thinks about rowing...way more than I do...our conversations always help me to clarify what I'd like to teach.

So, today we worked on the finish and I was trying to get him to change direction with his body weight more efficiently, not settle into the seat at the 'finish' (which I'm no longer going to call the finish). And the way we figured it out is that you're not moving your shoulders or torso 'quicker' at the change in direction but that you need to anticipate the change in direction by engaging the core muscles as you snap the handles into the body. This supports the last part of the drive, giving more power to the blade all the way in.

Don't mistakenly rush the shoulders and torso out just make the change in direction more smooth by being ready.

Anyhow...just what I did today. Followed by a killer nap!