15. Too many even high-class oars are prone to omit to keep the oar
feathered for the full distance of the recovery. They have a tendency to
turn it square too soon. By so doing they incur extra resistance of air
and extra labour on the recovery, and they are more liable to foul a
wave in rough water. The oar should be carried forwards edgewise, and
only turned square just as full reach is attained. It should then be
turned sharply, and not gradually.
16. The instant the body is full forward, and the oar set square, the
hands should be raised sharply to the exact amount required in order to
drop the blade into the water to the required depth, so as to cover it
for the succeeding stroke.
17. The new stroke should be recommenced without delay, by throwing the
body sharply back, with arms stiff and shoulders braced, the legs
pressing firmly and evenly against the stretcher, so as to take the
weight of the body off the seat, and to transfer its support to the
handle of the oar and the stretcher, thus making the very most of weight
and of extensor muscles in order to give force to the oar against the
water.
N.B. Before closing these remarks, it should be added that, with
reference to detail 12, it is assumed that the oarsman, having
progressed to the scientific stage, has so far mastered the use of the
loins as to be able to combine their action with that of the toe against
the strap in aiding the recovery of the body. If he tries to rely solely
on the motor power for recovery from the strap, and the toes against it,
he will not swing forward with a stiff back, and will be in a slouched
position when he attains his reach forward.
The Rev. E. Warre, D.D., published in 1875 some brief remarks upon the
stroke, in a treatise upon physical exercises and recreations. They are
here reproduced by leave, the writer feeling that they can hardly be
surpassed for brevity and lucidity of instruction upon the details of
the stroke.
NOTES ON THE STROKE.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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