Juliet Stouffer
If you’re like me, then doing the same workout every time you exercise can quickly become monotonous. I needed to find something both physically and mentally engaging, a workout that I could struggle with and use different muscles for. That is why this past Tuesday, I decided to try out Rowing Club.
I went into this with practically no experience, having been on a rowing machine only once in my life. Fortunately, I was given a comprehensive lesson by the Rowing Club’s assistant coach, Collin Wyant ’26. Wyant initially joined rowing as an outlet to relieve the stress of academic life, but he ended up enjoying it so much that he stuck with it. Now in his senior year, he is practically an expert and a great teacher to those who are new to the sport, such as myself.
He began by explaining the basic posture that is an essential starting point for rowing: a straight back and arms shoulder-length apart. From there, we went through the motions of an oar stroke on the machines to get used to the movements. First, you push your legs out from a bent to an extended position. Then, lean back slightly until you feel your tailbone against the seat. Finally, pull the handle close to your stomach, keeping your elbows tucked into your sides. While it initially felt unnatural, Wyant assured me that this part of the process was supposed to feel somewhat robotic and that it was a key step to ensuring safe and effective rowing.
As I became more comfortable with the motions, Wyant had me do a sprint circuit to test my speed. I can now confidently say he wasn’t lying when he told me that rowing is a leg sport because my quads were burning.
Although it wasn’t my typical choice of workout, rowing was a fun way to diversify my exercise routine, and I definitely recommend getting involved with the sport. According to Wyant, if you join now, you might just be on the water by spring semester.