Schooled in Sculling

Sculling in a single is like having a coach in the boat. The hull is so sensitive that it will respond to your every move, giving you immediate feedback. The warmer water of summer is a perfect time for small-boat experimentation and play that can be transferred to a sweep boat.

Sara Gronewold, the director of Craftsbury Sculling Camps, told me:

“The comfort-in-the-boat session is a highlight for many scullers. Having the opportunity to manage a single, while pushing the boundaries of stability, can release years’ worth of tension in how we carry ourselves throughout the rowing stroke. While the session often feels like fun and games, it ultimately leads to a generous increase in boat speed.”

Tricks can get challenging, like standing up in a boat to juggle, but Bob Reichart, director of coaches at the Capital Rowing Club in Washington, D.C., leads an entry-level comfort-in-the-boat session that’s appropriate for new and older scullers.

The progression is as follows:

Safe position 1: hands locked around both handles with body in neutral.

Safe position 2: handles tucked inside thighs, core, upper arms; blades feathered on the water for both.

Next, lower hands, lean over, and slap the blades on the water side to side. Progress to light hands and rock the boat—the goal is to dip the bottom of the oarlock pin in the water.

Next, let go of one handle, balance on the other oar, and wave “Hi, Mom.”

Then, practice drawing one oar past your body so it’s parallel to the boat, while balancing on the other oar.

Review the pause positions with blades on the water and hold at the full-reach position. Then, handles down and away to balance with blades off the water. Go to quarter slide and balance.

During the tapping drill, move from the release to the catch, blades squared, and try to tap 12 times.

Finally, practice spinning the boat in place with one oar rowing and one oar backing.

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