[Previous: "If I ever get a dog..."] [Back to blog] [Next: "Domestic disturbance"]
Well my run as stroke of my crew ended at about two weeks.
The coach today strongly suggested I go back to 1 seat, or "bow seat" -- a starboard-side position -- and he moved a true port rower into the stroke seat.
We did that during practice today. It went much smoother after that.
I've been fighting with everything since I started rowing port. My technique was getting better with each row, but it was frustrating to think that the other ladies in the boat were being held back because of me. And the boat wobbled back and forth the whole time because I was having a hard time keeping my body weight positioned correctly.
In my defense, I think the coach was impatient. Giving up on me after such a short time isn't fair. I've rowed many years on starboard side, while I've only rowed several weeks on port. It's impossible to erase and relearn years of technique in two weeks.
But I'm honestly not that bitter about it. He said that I just wasn't the same on the other side, and it was a shame to take what he considers to be one of my strong points -- my ability to balance the boat -- out of the equation. I couldn't do that on port side because I was too focused on bigger issues. And I know he has the best interests of the boat in mind.
And I feel more natural on starboard, anyway.
So there you have it. My run at stroke is over.