I decided to take a fairly casual tone in this blog as opposed to writing press releases. You run the risk of offending people sometimes when you do that. Hope no one was too put off. The parental support of this endeavor (The World Championships) was incredible. I know how much it meant to the kids and coaches to have parents in the stands and at home going crazy cheering for our crews. I want to thank you on behalf of the whole US team for your commitment to support our efforts.
As we continue to develop the JNT experience the feedback of our the athletes' parents is crucial. If you have a comment you'd like to make I'd like to hear it. Not necessarily about the camp, the selection process or the coaching. Those comments need to be directed to the coaches. In my role as manager this year I'd like to see if I can make some notes for the next time that relate to communication with parents, before and during the event. This blog was one experiment, but there is plenty of room for more development.
nickhaley@comcast.net
Thanks for your support. Go USA!
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Sunday racing
We were so prepared for the storm of the century today that when we woke up to sunshine it was a nice surprise. Conditions on the course were windy, but even at the end of racing I think they remained fair and rowable. Good sign for next year's Olympics.
The boys' pair started the day. Once again, the guys got off the line a bit behind the leaders and once again they showed great maturity and composure as the established their rhythm and began hunting down the crews in front of them. The were consistent and aggressive to the line and took some great strokes. There was one crew that went faster than the US and there wasn't anything we could do about that. I asked Mike after the race if it was a good row and he said it was. I asked him if he was happy and he paused and then gave an uncharacteristic little smile that spoke volumes. "Eighth in the world... that's pretty good I guess..." And they can never take it away from you Michael.
At the 1500m mark of the girls' double race I almost stopped my bike and turned around. The quad was coming next and the race looked pretty set in stone. Boy, am I glad I stayed with it. Maria and Hannah cranked that last 500m like you wouldn't believe and all of a sudden they were going through crews like a hot knife through butter. It was a thrilling finish and a testament to Guenter's training program and the girls "never-say-die" attitude. It ain't over 'til it's over. This year's combined finishes of the girls scullers marks the best the US has ever done. Awesome job girls!
The boys' quad had a good race too, with the best finishing quarter the guys have produced. They did a great job in the middle of the race staying focused and lifting with the pack. They might not have had the speed required to medal this year, but they produced their best rowing in the final.
It bothers me that there are probably people thinking that the girls' bronze medal in the eight is kind of a consolation prize. I hope the girls don't feel that way. Look, that German eight was unbelievable. They finished the course- on a windy day - in 6:20. That is scary fast. They rowed through a Romanian eight that had nearly a full length advantage by the halfway mark. And the Romanian girls aren't exactly chopped liver. The German girls were in their own class today, as were the Italian guys yesterday. I didn't get a chance to watch our girls train and I don't know if they took their best strokes today. But they sure as heck deserve those medals. The French, the Italians, The Aussies, the BRITS-- none of these teams fielded girls' eights. Why? Because they knew we'd beat them. They know how hard the US girls train and they know how good our coaches are. They had no confidence they could overcome that. Our girls earned the rep they have just like they earned the medals they now wear. It's all the same thing. They did the work. They earned the prize.
Would we have brought the girls' eight if we knew exactly how fast the Germans were today? Well, I think if you look you'll see we brought every single class of boat. You'll never know what it means to be a champion unless you enter the race. And our crews demonstrated that they were willing to test themselves against the best- without guarantees of medals or grand finals. That attitude is a valuable one to cultivate.
Well done to all the US crews. They did us proud. And not for nothing-- every single one of the regatta organizers I spoke to said our team was the nicest, most respectful and happy group of the regatta. Job done.
The boys' pair started the day. Once again, the guys got off the line a bit behind the leaders and once again they showed great maturity and composure as the established their rhythm and began hunting down the crews in front of them. The were consistent and aggressive to the line and took some great strokes. There was one crew that went faster than the US and there wasn't anything we could do about that. I asked Mike after the race if it was a good row and he said it was. I asked him if he was happy and he paused and then gave an uncharacteristic little smile that spoke volumes. "Eighth in the world... that's pretty good I guess..." And they can never take it away from you Michael.
At the 1500m mark of the girls' double race I almost stopped my bike and turned around. The quad was coming next and the race looked pretty set in stone. Boy, am I glad I stayed with it. Maria and Hannah cranked that last 500m like you wouldn't believe and all of a sudden they were going through crews like a hot knife through butter. It was a thrilling finish and a testament to Guenter's training program and the girls "never-say-die" attitude. It ain't over 'til it's over. This year's combined finishes of the girls scullers marks the best the US has ever done. Awesome job girls!
The boys' quad had a good race too, with the best finishing quarter the guys have produced. They did a great job in the middle of the race staying focused and lifting with the pack. They might not have had the speed required to medal this year, but they produced their best rowing in the final.
It bothers me that there are probably people thinking that the girls' bronze medal in the eight is kind of a consolation prize. I hope the girls don't feel that way. Look, that German eight was unbelievable. They finished the course- on a windy day - in 6:20. That is scary fast. They rowed through a Romanian eight that had nearly a full length advantage by the halfway mark. And the Romanian girls aren't exactly chopped liver. The German girls were in their own class today, as were the Italian guys yesterday. I didn't get a chance to watch our girls train and I don't know if they took their best strokes today. But they sure as heck deserve those medals. The French, the Italians, The Aussies, the BRITS-- none of these teams fielded girls' eights. Why? Because they knew we'd beat them. They know how hard the US girls train and they know how good our coaches are. They had no confidence they could overcome that. Our girls earned the rep they have just like they earned the medals they now wear. It's all the same thing. They did the work. They earned the prize.
Would we have brought the girls' eight if we knew exactly how fast the Germans were today? Well, I think if you look you'll see we brought every single class of boat. You'll never know what it means to be a champion unless you enter the race. And our crews demonstrated that they were willing to test themselves against the best- without guarantees of medals or grand finals. That attitude is a valuable one to cultivate.
Well done to all the US crews. They did us proud. And not for nothing-- every single one of the regatta organizers I spoke to said our team was the nicest, most respectful and happy group of the regatta. Job done.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Saturday racing
The word that keeps coming to the top of my brain is "momentum." Today's racing saw some spectacular racing and more often than not the battles were won by the crews that seized the momentum at exactly the right time. That's real racing!
A couple of our crews had to race twice today, as the schedule has been compressed. There's a big storm coming tomorrow, so everything has been moved up in order to finish early. The boys's double knew going in they would race twice, but didn't back off at all in their semi. In a close race they got the job done and qualified for the C final. That was some great work and they deserve credit for pushing to their limit and grabbing the highest possible rung on the ladder.
I had a great time following Sophie's race in the single. She raced very intelligently. Knowing she just needed second to qualify for the C final she charged out to a length open water and then sat in front of Zimbabwe all the way down. No sweat. She and I had a chuckle afterwards- the other single in the race was Greece and she apparently only has one gear, because she raced at top speed all the way down. I was on the bike next to her coach who would NOT stop screaming at her, even when she was over three lengths up and clearly going to qualify. Sophie told me she just keep thinking "go ahead, burn it all up now... See ya in the final tomorrow..."
Ryan raced twice today and his coach told me the final was the better of the two pieces. Perhaps he was able to really relax and get into his rhythm. I'm sure he gained a tremendous amount of insight into racing at the elite level this weekend. That his last race was his best means he kept on working at it all the way through. Good man.
The boys' coxed four raced very well. They were a bit stunned by the blazing start of the Serbs, whose strategy of throwing everything humanly possible into the first minute of the race paid off. Our guys rowed well and pushed back, but the Serbs had just enough momentum and confidence to hold it. The US just didn't have enough to come back at them.
The straight four had a similar fate. They just got over powered. The field was very, very competitive and each time a crew moved the others responded. The effect was to drive the pace of the pack up to the point where we couldn't quite follow. I think it was a better row for the guys, but not quite enough to match the leaders.
The boys' pair also raced a gutsy race. When I asked them how it went they conceded that the other guys were simply faster today. No big problems, it was a good row. The South African crew are the top two guys in their country. The same is true of many of the boats in this category. They can row. The US went after it with all their resources, but couldn't find a way to shake them up and grab a spot in the A final. The boys will have a great challenge in the B final tomorrow and it sure is an improvement from our finishing place last year (17th).
The girls' double are also headed to the B final tomorrow. Coach Beutter thought they rowed well. They responded to challenges and stayed within themselves. I know they are fired up for the final, so I'm excited to watch the race.
I was frustrated for the guys in the quad as I watched the race. They were going so hard and throwing everything they could at their competition. At points it must have seemed like trying to chop down a mountain with a feather. The monster guys in the lead boats were unassailable. But as I say, the US boys raced very, very hard and should be proud of their effort.
There are some great interviews and quotes on the world rowing web site. They capture the drama and excitement of the girls' four race very well. It goes without saying that the crew are rockstars and did a phenomenal job. Super aggressive out of the gate and then once they had their lead that sat of the field and waited patiently for someone to try it on. They responded to moves and kept their lead and then simply brought it home. Sounds easier than it was. I suspect the emotions in the boat were the exact opposite to the emotions on the bikes. As a coach, when you see the BIG PRIZE shaping up before your eyes there is a tendency to get pretty wound up. Thoughts like "They could do it" and "Hold on!" and "Almost there!" are going through your mind at a mile a minute. The girls may have known they had it in the bag before the line, but there were some pretty loud exhalations on the shore when the horn sounded. Happy happy happy.
The girls in the pair said they had a good row. It was awfully bouncy out there in lane one to be racing a pair, but they acquitted themselves well. They haven't had the smoothest week of training, but their racing has improved with each race. A great effort to make the A final and compete with the best.
The girls' quad pulled out all the stops. They finished just short of a medal, but with a time that in any other year would have done it. Personal best speed achieved. Great row and great race. Coach was very proud of their accomplishment. One of the Canadian coaches commented to me that he has noticed the American scullers seem to be improving rapidly-- yup!
I know the boys in the eight are disappointed about their result. As I told them: they did what they had to do to get in the race. They improved their start and were a close second in the first few hundred meters. Job done. When the field tried to break away in the second five hundred- a real danger spot for our crew- the guys pushed right back. Crossing the 1000m Italy was in front, but we were dead even with GB and Germany. Job done. We just couldn't keep it going. We ran out of steam, or fell out of rhythm, or maybe a bit of both. That's all it takes. Look at the progression though, over the week, and you'll see a crew that evolved under pressure. Another couple of days and we might have won it. Nothing wrong with the job they did here. It was top work.
A big storm is coming in tomorrow, so I hope we get it all in. Plenty of racing left. Hope you're listening in and following the race tracker. We're almost done!
A couple of our crews had to race twice today, as the schedule has been compressed. There's a big storm coming tomorrow, so everything has been moved up in order to finish early. The boys's double knew going in they would race twice, but didn't back off at all in their semi. In a close race they got the job done and qualified for the C final. That was some great work and they deserve credit for pushing to their limit and grabbing the highest possible rung on the ladder.
I had a great time following Sophie's race in the single. She raced very intelligently. Knowing she just needed second to qualify for the C final she charged out to a length open water and then sat in front of Zimbabwe all the way down. No sweat. She and I had a chuckle afterwards- the other single in the race was Greece and she apparently only has one gear, because she raced at top speed all the way down. I was on the bike next to her coach who would NOT stop screaming at her, even when she was over three lengths up and clearly going to qualify. Sophie told me she just keep thinking "go ahead, burn it all up now... See ya in the final tomorrow..."
Ryan raced twice today and his coach told me the final was the better of the two pieces. Perhaps he was able to really relax and get into his rhythm. I'm sure he gained a tremendous amount of insight into racing at the elite level this weekend. That his last race was his best means he kept on working at it all the way through. Good man.
The boys' coxed four raced very well. They were a bit stunned by the blazing start of the Serbs, whose strategy of throwing everything humanly possible into the first minute of the race paid off. Our guys rowed well and pushed back, but the Serbs had just enough momentum and confidence to hold it. The US just didn't have enough to come back at them.
The straight four had a similar fate. They just got over powered. The field was very, very competitive and each time a crew moved the others responded. The effect was to drive the pace of the pack up to the point where we couldn't quite follow. I think it was a better row for the guys, but not quite enough to match the leaders.
The boys' pair also raced a gutsy race. When I asked them how it went they conceded that the other guys were simply faster today. No big problems, it was a good row. The South African crew are the top two guys in their country. The same is true of many of the boats in this category. They can row. The US went after it with all their resources, but couldn't find a way to shake them up and grab a spot in the A final. The boys will have a great challenge in the B final tomorrow and it sure is an improvement from our finishing place last year (17th).
The girls' double are also headed to the B final tomorrow. Coach Beutter thought they rowed well. They responded to challenges and stayed within themselves. I know they are fired up for the final, so I'm excited to watch the race.
I was frustrated for the guys in the quad as I watched the race. They were going so hard and throwing everything they could at their competition. At points it must have seemed like trying to chop down a mountain with a feather. The monster guys in the lead boats were unassailable. But as I say, the US boys raced very, very hard and should be proud of their effort.
There are some great interviews and quotes on the world rowing web site. They capture the drama and excitement of the girls' four race very well. It goes without saying that the crew are rockstars and did a phenomenal job. Super aggressive out of the gate and then once they had their lead that sat of the field and waited patiently for someone to try it on. They responded to moves and kept their lead and then simply brought it home. Sounds easier than it was. I suspect the emotions in the boat were the exact opposite to the emotions on the bikes. As a coach, when you see the BIG PRIZE shaping up before your eyes there is a tendency to get pretty wound up. Thoughts like "They could do it" and "Hold on!" and "Almost there!" are going through your mind at a mile a minute. The girls may have known they had it in the bag before the line, but there were some pretty loud exhalations on the shore when the horn sounded. Happy happy happy.
The girls in the pair said they had a good row. It was awfully bouncy out there in lane one to be racing a pair, but they acquitted themselves well. They haven't had the smoothest week of training, but their racing has improved with each race. A great effort to make the A final and compete with the best.
The girls' quad pulled out all the stops. They finished just short of a medal, but with a time that in any other year would have done it. Personal best speed achieved. Great row and great race. Coach was very proud of their accomplishment. One of the Canadian coaches commented to me that he has noticed the American scullers seem to be improving rapidly-- yup!
I know the boys in the eight are disappointed about their result. As I told them: they did what they had to do to get in the race. They improved their start and were a close second in the first few hundred meters. Job done. When the field tried to break away in the second five hundred- a real danger spot for our crew- the guys pushed right back. Crossing the 1000m Italy was in front, but we were dead even with GB and Germany. Job done. We just couldn't keep it going. We ran out of steam, or fell out of rhythm, or maybe a bit of both. That's all it takes. Look at the progression though, over the week, and you'll see a crew that evolved under pressure. Another couple of days and we might have won it. Nothing wrong with the job they did here. It was top work.
A big storm is coming in tomorrow, so I hope we get it all in. Plenty of racing left. Hope you're listening in and following the race tracker. We're almost done!
Friday, August 5, 2011
Post-event party
I've had some inquiries about the nature of the festivities that are scheduled after the racing is over. There are three events that will occur:
1) Gear Swap Melee: This will begin before the racing is over. The kids will all be in a mass trading their kit and making new friends. It is an important social tradition at World Championships. Your kids love you and want to see you, but they want the cool German unisuit more :) Best to let them dig in for a bit.
2) Official Post Regatta party: This will run for an hour and a half immediately after the last medal ceremony at the course. My understanding is that light refreshments will be served. This is not considered by the kids to be a "real party"- it is pretty tame and most of the time they're seeing parents etc. They'll take the buses back to the dorms afterwards.
3) Socializing at the Dorms: FISA has recommended some rules for the teams for Saturday and Sunday nights. There will be a curfew (kids back in their dorms) of 10pm on Saturday and 11pm on Sunday. There will be no alcohol allowed on the campus. The coaches collectively have added the rule that only US athletes will be allowed inside our dorm. We'll be checking to make sure all the kids are in by curfew.
So the kids will be allowed to hang out outside the dorm, meet the other kids and generally make a lot of noise and blow off whatever energy they might have left. Realistically, it is very difficult for the coaches to prevent those who really want to from disappearing into the woods for twenty minutes.* They will be told, however, in no uncertain terms what our rules are and what we think are smart activities vs. activities they will regret. They will also be told that breaking the rules may negatively impact their future on any US National Team.
Parents are more than welcome to come and take their kids out to dinner. I wouldn't want to be in the middle of that argument though :)
*This is an informal, personal comment, not and official USRA position -in case you don't have a sense of humor.
1) Gear Swap Melee: This will begin before the racing is over. The kids will all be in a mass trading their kit and making new friends. It is an important social tradition at World Championships. Your kids love you and want to see you, but they want the cool German unisuit more :) Best to let them dig in for a bit.
2) Official Post Regatta party: This will run for an hour and a half immediately after the last medal ceremony at the course. My understanding is that light refreshments will be served. This is not considered by the kids to be a "real party"- it is pretty tame and most of the time they're seeing parents etc. They'll take the buses back to the dorms afterwards.
3) Socializing at the Dorms: FISA has recommended some rules for the teams for Saturday and Sunday nights. There will be a curfew (kids back in their dorms) of 10pm on Saturday and 11pm on Sunday. There will be no alcohol allowed on the campus. The coaches collectively have added the rule that only US athletes will be allowed inside our dorm. We'll be checking to make sure all the kids are in by curfew.
So the kids will be allowed to hang out outside the dorm, meet the other kids and generally make a lot of noise and blow off whatever energy they might have left. Realistically, it is very difficult for the coaches to prevent those who really want to from disappearing into the woods for twenty minutes.* They will be told, however, in no uncertain terms what our rules are and what we think are smart activities vs. activities they will regret. They will also be told that breaking the rules may negatively impact their future on any US National Team.
Parents are more than welcome to come and take their kids out to dinner. I wouldn't want to be in the middle of that argument though :)
*This is an informal, personal comment, not and official USRA position -in case you don't have a sense of humor.
Friday racing
If you've been following the race tracker and listening to the broadcast online you already know most of what there is to know. The commentators are excellent and have a keen eye for rowing and racing. The conditions today were much better. A bit of a tailwind early, but periods of really good water.
Overall I think the team is doing a great job. The kids are focused, the coaches are on their game. No drama, no issues. Very professional. We're definitely still putting some of the pieces together with some of the crews, but progress is being made.
The boys' coxed four had a good, strong piece. They made some nice adjustments and they went after it aggressively. They didn't have the juice to break through into the A final, but Coach Houston was proud of their race. If they continue to charge at it they should have a great race in their final.
The girls' pair hasn't had their best piece yet- there are elements that still haven't come together. That's exciting because they still managed to grab a spot in the A final. When they line those ducks up in a row- watch out.
The boys' pair wasn't first off the line, but they were first at the finish, and watching their transformation from "are we gonna?" to "yeah we are!" over the second 500m was inspiring. They found their groove- loving the tailwind- and stomped on it. Got some momentum going now...
The boys' double gave it a good shot, but found the closing meters too tough to handle. I didn't get a chance to talk to the guys, but I'm sure they are looking ahead to the racing and the challenge that Croatia, Ukraine and Norway will present. Their final will be a big test and could be very satisfying if they are able to get their best strokes in.
What a great race in the boys' quad! Nail biter to the end. The Poles were trying to crank these enormous long strokes while the US just sat up and attacked with with the quick legs. A great, great job by the guys. Outstanding racing under extreme pressure.
They were stoked and so were their coaches. Producing a champion performance right when you need to is very satisfying.
I didn't get to talk to Sophie, but I think that Ryan's row was a little flat. That's disappointing, but when you see some of these scullers you realize how deep this field is. Its great to see countries like Zimbabwe and Azerbaijan fielding these top scullers it is exciting for our sport. At our very best the US can compete at this event. If we're even a bit off on the day it gets pretty hard to make an impression. Hopefully the kids are gearing up for tomorrow and a new shot at it.
The boys in the eight- as I thought- are figuring it out. Two of the three second margin the Germans had at the finish was earned in the first 500m. So the US has found a competitive groove for the body of the race. Now they have one more shot to sharpen up that start. And then all bets are off. Keep sending the good vibes their way!
I think there were some nerves in the boys' straight four today. We were cautioned after a false start and the race was called back. If the crew was even a little tight it will have been very difficult to get an effective rhythm going. The guys are bummed they couldn't do better today, but a top-ten in the World place is still on the line, so hopefully they'll rebound.
Another fantastic piece in the girls' quad. Great, great, great. So cool to see the girls racing successfully against the traditional powerhouses of Germany and Italy. US sculling is coming up, no doubt at all. Can't wait for the final.
Please note: FISA has changed the racing schedule. Now there are some C&D finals tomorrow afternoon. There is a big storm coming on Sunday and it is possible that the A&B finals will be moved earlier in the morning. Keep checking the schedule for updates and changes. And bring an umbrella!
Go USA!
Overall I think the team is doing a great job. The kids are focused, the coaches are on their game. No drama, no issues. Very professional. We're definitely still putting some of the pieces together with some of the crews, but progress is being made.
The boys' coxed four had a good, strong piece. They made some nice adjustments and they went after it aggressively. They didn't have the juice to break through into the A final, but Coach Houston was proud of their race. If they continue to charge at it they should have a great race in their final.
The girls' pair hasn't had their best piece yet- there are elements that still haven't come together. That's exciting because they still managed to grab a spot in the A final. When they line those ducks up in a row- watch out.
The boys' pair wasn't first off the line, but they were first at the finish, and watching their transformation from "are we gonna?" to "yeah we are!" over the second 500m was inspiring. They found their groove- loving the tailwind- and stomped on it. Got some momentum going now...
The boys' double gave it a good shot, but found the closing meters too tough to handle. I didn't get a chance to talk to the guys, but I'm sure they are looking ahead to the racing and the challenge that Croatia, Ukraine and Norway will present. Their final will be a big test and could be very satisfying if they are able to get their best strokes in.
What a great race in the boys' quad! Nail biter to the end. The Poles were trying to crank these enormous long strokes while the US just sat up and attacked with with the quick legs. A great, great job by the guys. Outstanding racing under extreme pressure.
They were stoked and so were their coaches. Producing a champion performance right when you need to is very satisfying.
I didn't get to talk to Sophie, but I think that Ryan's row was a little flat. That's disappointing, but when you see some of these scullers you realize how deep this field is. Its great to see countries like Zimbabwe and Azerbaijan fielding these top scullers it is exciting for our sport. At our very best the US can compete at this event. If we're even a bit off on the day it gets pretty hard to make an impression. Hopefully the kids are gearing up for tomorrow and a new shot at it.
The boys in the eight- as I thought- are figuring it out. Two of the three second margin the Germans had at the finish was earned in the first 500m. So the US has found a competitive groove for the body of the race. Now they have one more shot to sharpen up that start. And then all bets are off. Keep sending the good vibes their way!
I think there were some nerves in the boys' straight four today. We were cautioned after a false start and the race was called back. If the crew was even a little tight it will have been very difficult to get an effective rhythm going. The guys are bummed they couldn't do better today, but a top-ten in the World place is still on the line, so hopefully they'll rebound.
Another fantastic piece in the girls' quad. Great, great, great. So cool to see the girls racing successfully against the traditional powerhouses of Germany and Italy. US sculling is coming up, no doubt at all. Can't wait for the final.
Please note: FISA has changed the racing schedule. Now there are some C&D finals tomorrow afternoon. There is a big storm coming on Sunday and it is possible that the A&B finals will be moved earlier in the morning. Keep checking the schedule for updates and changes. And bring an umbrella!
Go USA!
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Thursday racing
Despite the cruddy conditions today there was some great racing. Unfortunately I wasn't able to see all of it- I got called away from the course for about and hour and a half. So some of my comments aren't as informed as I'd like. Take them for what they are.
It can't be overstated-- experience at this level makes a huge difference. The first full day of racing at Dorney has borne that axiom out. Athletes racing in their first Worlds almost always come away with the same impression: "That was faster than I thought it would be". Those that can re-calibrate their mindset and approach can often make huge improvements over the course of the regatta. Those that can't get left behind very quickly.
The US girls' straight four is one of our most experienced crews and raced with confidence and composure. They quickly established themselves as a crew that has one place in mind. Coach Trond was pleased with their first attempt. "They had a great start and handled the conditions very well."
The boys' coxed four came off the line with the leaders and in reality were able to match the pace for much of the race. There were moments before the 1000m that their competition edged away, but it is an issue that can now be addressed. The guys have a lot of power but the test now will be to see if they can make the adjustments and execute their revised race plan.
Coach Maloney was pleased the composure the girls' pair displayed in the opening quarter of their race. The crew did not match the pace of the fastest crews off the line, but rather than begin to panic they stayed together and built their rhythm piece by piece. It was a good first piece from the girls- a strong start to build from.
The boys' pair also produced an aggressive initial offering. Upon reflection Coach Hargis characterized his attitude as "bullish" with regard to his boys' performance. The pair didn't think their start was the best they could do, yet they were very competitive and they showed good closing speed in the final 500m. Not the biggest guys on the squad, the headwind was a big challenge for the boys. But guess what? The forecast for tomorrow calls for a tailwind.... :)
The girls' double did what they needed to do. I wasn't able to watch the race, but if I were a betting man I'd guess these two are just getting warmed up. Third place was five seconds back, so it wasn't exactly tooth and nail to the line.
The boys' double and quad, on the other hand, may be recalibrating their ambitions for the finals. Of course the number one goal remains the same: to produce their best possible performance. But these two categories are hotly contested by the Europeans and there are some monster athletes in these crews. I haven't talked to the crews so I don't know how the rows went, but clearly a couple of these outfits might be too hot to handle.
Speaking of hotly contested, have you seen how many single entries there are. It is a cornucopia of different styles, shapes and speeds. Both Sophie and Ryan deserve credit for going out there alone and going after their first piece. Coach Catalano was pleased with Ryan's row. The mission was to qualify and call it good. Mission accomplished. No sense in burning all the jet fuel if you don't need to.
Speaking of which, the girls' eight came down the course ; )
The US won the boys' eight last year, much to the surprise of the crowd, who had watched the crew struggle through the heat and rep. There are a lot of pieces to put together in the eight. Look, their competition is really good, but if the guys are willing to stick their necks out and assert themselves early in the race, good things can happen. If they step up, they'll be there. If they don't, they won't. That's what we're here to find out.
Our day finished with some great finishes. The boys' straight four looked much sharper today than yesterday (what a difference that experience makes) and were competing with the fastest crews all the way down. If they put their foot to the floor in the final 500m they'll be there. Coach Kusturic was happy with the row, but maybe not satisfied...
The girls' quad look great. G-Man couldn't quite conceal the smile on his face when they crossed the line. "It was a good row."
It can't be overstated-- experience at this level makes a huge difference. The first full day of racing at Dorney has borne that axiom out. Athletes racing in their first Worlds almost always come away with the same impression: "That was faster than I thought it would be". Those that can re-calibrate their mindset and approach can often make huge improvements over the course of the regatta. Those that can't get left behind very quickly.
The US girls' straight four is one of our most experienced crews and raced with confidence and composure. They quickly established themselves as a crew that has one place in mind. Coach Trond was pleased with their first attempt. "They had a great start and handled the conditions very well."
The boys' coxed four came off the line with the leaders and in reality were able to match the pace for much of the race. There were moments before the 1000m that their competition edged away, but it is an issue that can now be addressed. The guys have a lot of power but the test now will be to see if they can make the adjustments and execute their revised race plan.
Coach Maloney was pleased the composure the girls' pair displayed in the opening quarter of their race. The crew did not match the pace of the fastest crews off the line, but rather than begin to panic they stayed together and built their rhythm piece by piece. It was a good first piece from the girls- a strong start to build from.
The boys' pair also produced an aggressive initial offering. Upon reflection Coach Hargis characterized his attitude as "bullish" with regard to his boys' performance. The pair didn't think their start was the best they could do, yet they were very competitive and they showed good closing speed in the final 500m. Not the biggest guys on the squad, the headwind was a big challenge for the boys. But guess what? The forecast for tomorrow calls for a tailwind.... :)
The girls' double did what they needed to do. I wasn't able to watch the race, but if I were a betting man I'd guess these two are just getting warmed up. Third place was five seconds back, so it wasn't exactly tooth and nail to the line.
The boys' double and quad, on the other hand, may be recalibrating their ambitions for the finals. Of course the number one goal remains the same: to produce their best possible performance. But these two categories are hotly contested by the Europeans and there are some monster athletes in these crews. I haven't talked to the crews so I don't know how the rows went, but clearly a couple of these outfits might be too hot to handle.
Speaking of hotly contested, have you seen how many single entries there are. It is a cornucopia of different styles, shapes and speeds. Both Sophie and Ryan deserve credit for going out there alone and going after their first piece. Coach Catalano was pleased with Ryan's row. The mission was to qualify and call it good. Mission accomplished. No sense in burning all the jet fuel if you don't need to.
Speaking of which, the girls' eight came down the course ; )
The US won the boys' eight last year, much to the surprise of the crowd, who had watched the crew struggle through the heat and rep. There are a lot of pieces to put together in the eight. Look, their competition is really good, but if the guys are willing to stick their necks out and assert themselves early in the race, good things can happen. If they step up, they'll be there. If they don't, they won't. That's what we're here to find out.
Our day finished with some great finishes. The boys' straight four looked much sharper today than yesterday (what a difference that experience makes) and were competing with the fastest crews all the way down. If they put their foot to the floor in the final 500m they'll be there. Coach Kusturic was happy with the row, but maybe not satisfied...
The girls' quad look great. G-Man couldn't quite conceal the smile on his face when they crossed the line. "It was a good row."
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
First heats
This afternoon two US crews raced their heats. Heats are tough at this regatta because most of the time you really have no idea what the other crews have. It's all well and good to watch a crew rowing in practice, but you never know who will be ready to really race.
In the boys' straight four I thought the Canadian crew looked like they really meant it. Right from the start they looked as though they were going all out every stroke they took. An attitude that, should our guys employ just a bit more of, might just enable them to do something special. Because the US took some really good strokes. Through the body of the race they were in the hunt and it seemed as though they could, at any moment, make a play for the leaders. With 250m remaining their instructions were to shut down if they were clearly not up front, which they did. No sense in wasting energy they'll need tomorrow. Hopefully the guys will have a bit more confidence now that they have done it once and stick their necks out in the rep. They have some real skills and they simply have to adjust to what is obviously a whole new level of play. What a great challenge!
The girls' quad looked like seasoned vets- I was impressed by how composed they were and how rhythmical. The German crew that took the lead is impressive. But our girls appear to have the resources to race this field successfully. They battled back and fourth with the Swiss and narrowly missed them at the finish- from the outside and more wind-exposed lane. I'm excited to see what happens with this crew tomorrow. They are taking good strokes and they may have a couple of surprises for their competition.
Tomorrow everyone is racing, so I'll do my best to keep up. Its going to be an exciting day!
In the boys' straight four I thought the Canadian crew looked like they really meant it. Right from the start they looked as though they were going all out every stroke they took. An attitude that, should our guys employ just a bit more of, might just enable them to do something special. Because the US took some really good strokes. Through the body of the race they were in the hunt and it seemed as though they could, at any moment, make a play for the leaders. With 250m remaining their instructions were to shut down if they were clearly not up front, which they did. No sense in wasting energy they'll need tomorrow. Hopefully the guys will have a bit more confidence now that they have done it once and stick their necks out in the rep. They have some real skills and they simply have to adjust to what is obviously a whole new level of play. What a great challenge!
The girls' quad looked like seasoned vets- I was impressed by how composed they were and how rhythmical. The German crew that took the lead is impressive. But our girls appear to have the resources to race this field successfully. They battled back and fourth with the Swiss and narrowly missed them at the finish- from the outside and more wind-exposed lane. I'm excited to see what happens with this crew tomorrow. They are taking good strokes and they may have a couple of surprises for their competition.
Tomorrow everyone is racing, so I'll do my best to keep up. Its going to be an exciting day!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)