RowingChat

3 Essential Rowing Reference Points

13 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The most experienced rowers aren't thinking about every movement: they are hitting three key checkpoints only. The finish, quarter slide and three qua...

Form _ fitness minus fatigue

02 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Tapering is reducing volume while maintaining intensity. Deloading is drop volume and intensity. Remember form = fitness minus fatigue. Timestamps 00:...

You get out what you put in to rowing

23 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Dr Malcolm Howard, Canadian eight Beijing 2008 “People say it was always so easy for you, so straightforward. But it’s always been about the work....

Rigid rowers miss water

19 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Why do so many masters rowers struggle with catch timing despite endless practice? Al Morrow's counterintuitive principle. The causes and cures of rig...

Abrupt training changes cause injury

09 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The risks of abrupt changes of your training and surprising outcomes from practice lineups, rigging, and winter to summer transitions with guest Marle...

Masters rowing in South America

01 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Join Santiago Fuentes to discuss - the growth in masters rowing in South America (country by country differences) - the main rowing events in the r...

Getting ahead or behind the boat speed

22 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Ways to adjust your stroke to match the boat hull speed. Timestamps 00:45 The boat velocity changes through the rowing stroke cycle and you can feel ...

Cardiac Health and Rowing

15 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Hear Becky Wilson for an in-depth review of the considerations for the masters athlete in terms of cardiac health. - Understanding your cardiac risk...

Ratio in strength training

09 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Improve your rowing ratio while lifting in the gym. Timestamps 00:45 Rowing can be improved by strength training Lifting heavy has lots of benefits - ...

White tape on the oar shaft

06 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A visual reference to aide adjustments to blade depth. Timestamps 00:45 Low technology solutions for rowing too deep. The tape goes around the oar sha...

Using Mirror Neurons to Learn

29 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

How watching videos of good rowing can help improve your technique. Timestamps 00:45 Using mirror neurons Parts of our brain get activated when watchi...

Range of Motion

18 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Masters have to pay attention to our range of motion as we age, without it we lose stroke length and raise injury risk. Timestamps 00:45 What this is...

Matt Brittin - what rowing taught me

14 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Looking backwards to go forwards: what rowing taught me about big tech and what big tech taught me about rowing with Matt Brittin. Timestamps 01:00 Fr...

Alex Wolf & Sam Dutney in conversation

08 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Alex Wolf & Sam Dutney in conversation. Two leading thinkers and innovators for masters rowing discuss strength training for masters. The principles ...

Oar protection

01 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Defensive protectors for oars and sculls to prevent the paint wearing off and the spoon degrading. Things you can do to preserve the spoons and handl...

Up your intensity

23 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ways to improve speed of the oar through the water. Keep the stroke rate the same and increase the speed. Timestamps 00:45 This is a long term project...

Raise average boat speed

17 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Three ways to get faster (or avoid slowing down) in training. Timestamps 00:45 Can you increase the average speed of your boat? The net of how fast it...

Coronary Artery Diseases CAD in Masters Rowers

10 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

David Frost reviews Practical and Personal Looks at Coronary Artery Diseases (CAD) in Master's Rowers - download the additional information link below...

Progressive drills for the recovery

02 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Three more drills to learn sequentially which will improve your recovery. These will help fix balance issues. Timestamps 00:45 Finesse really helps in...

Progressive drills for stroke power

30 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How to increase stroke power using three layered drills. Timestamps 00:45 Drills for power These are all part of the Drills Compendium (24 drills + 3 ...

Progressively learning the catch

19 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Learn steps towards getting a good catch using drills. Timestamps 00:45 Am I done learning the stroke yet? Asked an athlete.... only once! The catch i...

Rushing and Shoulder Lifting

05 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What you do on the recovery affects what you do on the power phase. Timestamps 00:45 What you do on the recovery What you do as you approach the catch...

How wide is a boat lane?

25 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When racing, how much space do you have in a buoyed boat lane? Timestamps 00:45 Boat lane width How can you fit a wide boat like an eight into a lane ...

Why delaying back swing is hard

09 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The power phase is most effective when legs drive first and back follows yet so few masters rowers do this. Why? Timestamps 00:45 Good power phase req...

Backing down

31 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Learn how to back down a rowing boat. Timestamps 00:45 Struggling to learn how to back the boat Blades up or blades down when backing? Different coun...

Rowing with knee osteoarthritis

24 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If your knees don't bend more than 90 degrees, what can you do? Ways to get more reach in the stroke if you have knee limitations. Timestamps 00:45 A ...

Why finishes are key for big boats

17 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Rowing a quad, four or an eight? To get good speed and rhythm, you must have good finishes. Timestamps 00:45 Finishes for big boats You row them diffe...

Weather forecast apps for rowing

11 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

3 weather data points you need to know in advance whether you can row the next day. Timestamps 00:45 Rowing is weather-dependent Mostly we want to kn...

Journey to a perfect stroke

03 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Why I'm not finished yet seeking to improve my rowing technique. Timestamps 00:45 There is no stroke I've ever taken which is perfect yet why do I kee...

Why rowers sky at the catch

27 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Why rowers push the handles down at the catch causing the blade to sky - and how to fix it. Timestamps 01:00 Roger Watts told me "oars are still creat...

Ways to activate your glutes for rowing

21 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How to use your glutes in rowing. Timestamps 00:45 Are your glutes activating? David Frost (webinar speaker - Functional Movement for over 60s) said ...

London Rowing Club Masters

14 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How London Rowing Club strategised to win at the British Masters Rowing Championships for the second year in a row. 01:00 James Sexton-Barrow is Capt...

Mixed crew blade parallels

06 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Discover how to adjust your blade parallels when rowing in a mixed crew to get the oar arcs as similar as possible. Timestamps 01:00 Goal is to align ...

Switching between sweep & sculling

03 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How to make swapping easier, the differences, visible signs of what goes wrong and drills to help you swap sides and codes. Timestamps 00:45 Switchin...

Coaching why athletes revert

26 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Discover how to overcome your natural biology to resist movement pattern changes in rowing technique. Timestamps 01:00 A coach was frustrated his at...

Be ready for practice

18 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How to streamline your workouts in order to maximise your time on the water. Learn how be a good student and arrive prepared for your workout. Timesta...

Improving finishes for sweep

10 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Get better at extracting the oar without being splashy and frantic. And why your elbow position is of critical importance. Timestamps 00:45 Finishes ...

Improving finishes for scullers

02 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How to coach the finish so that your finishes are not frantic, splashy or messy. Timestamps 00:45 Finding room to tap down before squaring. Start with...

The taper before racing

25 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How to train in the week before the regatta race. Timestamps 00:40 A taper is a reduction in training volume so you're ready to race on the regatta da...

Policy leadership for rowing

18 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The policy leadership masters sport needs if it is to grow. What can public policy measures do to improve and grow masters rowing? Timestamps 01:0...

Self-diagnosis as a coaching tool

11 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How to improve your rowing using self-diagnosis coaching and progressive drills. Timestamps 00:45 A powerful coaching tool for both coaches and athle...

What to expect from rowing as you age

04 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Masters rowing is about rowing with adaptations. Timestamps: 00:45 Grant Faulkner quote: The speed the clock moves forwards and the things it takes ...

Rowing in Circles

01 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Slowing down makes you faster in the future. What is rowing circles good for? Timestamps 00.30 Rowing in Circles I know I could make a lot of progres...

Harness the voice in your head

14 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Why thinking like a scientist will fix the voice in your head and harness it to coach yourself in a rowing boat. 00:30 Positive self-talk coaching Whe...

The Stages of Masters Rowing

08 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The three stages of masters rowing and a checklist of the skills learned in each stage - Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced. Timestamps 01:00 What will...

Accelerate Sculling Ability

02 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How do you develop sculling ability in those who show potential but aren’t skilled enough to go in tippy singles yet - and how do you do this withou...

Rowing and Alexander Technique

24 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Meet Jonathan Drake who teaches rowing using Alexander Technique methods. Timestamps 01:00 Jonathan is an expert in rowing, Tai Chi and the Alexander ...

Varying levels of dedication

17 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Handling varying levels of dedication to the sport in masters clubs. How do you give the both the person who wants to practice once a week and the per...

Starting learn to row classes

10 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Three innovations to improve your learn to row classes and prevent drop-outs. Time to get your club organised for LTR 2025. What's new that you could ...

Masters physiology at age 50_60_70

07 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Researching masters physiology - aging from 50 to 70 affects your rowing. Timestamps 01:00 Guests from Athlone, Ireland Lorcan Daly and Paul Gallen L...

Your first race

24 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is biggest fear you have doing a rowing race for the first time? How to prepare, what to expect and the aftermath. Timestamps 00:45 Fear is real First...

Coxing your first race

18 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Daunting? Hell yes. Listen to our guide which shows you what "tricks" you need to have and how to use them with your crew. Timestamps 00:30 2 essentia...

Do your club boats suit the membership_

11 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Boat weight classes across your fleet can be assessed against members' weights. Timestamps 01:00 your boat fleet should match the needs of your group...

Sculling in a straight line

04 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Why the blade pathway from crossover to catch is so different between the left and right hands. If you aren't going straight, three things to check. T...

What's Wrong With Masters Rowing?

31 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As a developing sport, there are aspects of masters rowing which we need to improve, change and adapt. Three signs of dysfunction and four solutions....

Cure for the rowing blues

22 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Go on rowing camp! The pros and cons of going on training camp. You'll either love it or hate it. Timestamps 01:00 Going on a camp refocuses your at...

Weight In The Hand

13 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A key concept needed for sculling well, this challenging skill is essential for setting up the recovery. One drill to practice which helps teach how t...

2025 World Rowing Indoor Championships

22 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Meet Chair of the Indoor Rowing Commission, Filip Ljubicic and hear about the future of indoor rowing including an exciting announcement about the e-s...

Major Illness And Training

16 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Hear how people deal with an illness but keep up their rowing. Overall advice is "do what you can". Timestamps 01:00 Many masters try to keep on row...

Get Your Spark Back

08 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Midlife brings challenges. Rowing is a pathway for getting your spark for life back. Join bestselling author, Rachel Marie Martin for tips and to hear...

Catches And Boat Speed

02 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How the catch placement changes with the oar angle. Why an acute catch angle with the oar is easier. Ways to adjust your catch technique as the boat s...

Get Speed On The Recovery

25 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Your boat speed depends BOTH on the power phase and the recovery phase. You've done the work - now get the benefit. Timestamps 01:00 Get more speed Y...

Rowing And Aging Each Decade

18 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What "should" a masters rower be able to do? Training frequency, training volume, training intensity. What is the next big change in YOUR rowing train...

The path to speed is not linear

11 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Reflections on the 2024 Older Athlete and Aging conference learnings. Timestamps 01:00 My learnings from Al Morrow Al Morrow on developing a good "ey...

Synching Schedules

04 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Diary alignment is the hardest thing for masters to figure out. Three tips for you to try Timestamps 01:00 Regular practice in the same lineups helps...

Long term masters athlete development

28 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The athlete pathway for masters is different from other groups. What can clubs and Federations do to enable masters to succeed by changing the structu...

Pyramidal versus polarised training for rowing

14 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Top Crew Academy is a coaching service run by Sam Dutney. He explains the differences and how they apply to masters rowing. Timestamps Different mode...

Ideal Stroke Rate For Head Races

07 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Head of the Charles and all head races demand a good performance. How to find the ideal stroke rate for your crew. Timestamps 00:30 Do you have a...

Packing For A Regatta

29 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What to take, make a list:- kit, tools, food, comfort, medical. Timestamps 00:50 Regattas are busy times There is a lot going on and so it's easy to ...

Resting Heart Rate

23 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What is normal for you? What to expect when you track your normal waking heart rate. Timestamps 00:50 This is important as we age. It's a free way to...

Keep Mobile As We Age

16 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Flexibility and mobility aide our rowing. What you can do to keep mobility will help your rowing and sculling. Timestamps 01:00 How can we stay mobil...

The Psychology Of Chasing Splits

09 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Do you have a split to aim for during workouts? What to do if you don't hit your rowing 500m split and does this matter? Timestamps 01:00 Psychology ...

The Right Boats To Suit Your Athletes Needs

02 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Getting the correct range of boat types and boat weights to suit your club group is important. What to look for, how to assess your fleet and plan for...

Masters Rowing At London Rowing Club

20 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

London RC won the British Masters Championships Victor Ludorum prize in 2024. We talk to coach and captain James Sexton-Barrow about their approach to...

Masters Rowing In The Netherlands

08 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about what it's like to row in the Netherlands from the Royal Dutch Rowing Federation Chair, Seada van den Herik. Timestamps 01:00 Seada was an ...

Masters Rowing in Great Britain

01 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Meet Digger Barnes, he is on the Masters Rowing Commission for British Rowing. 01:00 Masters rowing clubs in UK - they tend to be run by masters rowe...

Belgium Rowing Federation - Gwenda Stevens

25 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Gwenda Stevens is the President of the Belgium Federation. We discuss masters rowing in Belgium, the clubs regattas and the new Masters National Champ...

Masters Rowing in Germany

18 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Georg Gruetzner is the masters representative on the German Rowing Federation. Resource: Structure of masters rowing slides https://www.slideshare.net...

Masters Rowing in Ireland

04 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What's masters rowing like in Ireland? Gerry Murphy is Chair of the Masters Representative Committee for Rowing Ireland. A big increase in member r...

Taking Criticism - Why It Is Hard

30 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Getting coached sometimes feels like being told you are wrong all the time. What can you do as an athlete to enable yourself to receive critiques and ...

Get Your Rate Up!

24 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

You're preparing to race and are concerned you aren't rating high enough. Why rating matters. Two drills you can do to get the rate up. What prevents ...

Hydration For Rowing

19 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Staying hydrated for training and racing can give you hidden benefits. It's very easy to become dehydrated and not realise. Performance improvements a...

Bucket List Rowing

10 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ever since the 2007 movie, we've started bucket lists for everything. Now it's time for you to plan your rowing event bucket list. Timestamps 00:30 Th...

Masters Rowing In New Zealand

09 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What's masters rowing like in the South Island of New Zealand? We meet South Island Rowing chairman, Peter Midgeley. Timestamps 00:30 South Island of...

Speed Murdering Mistakes 3 - Mis-timing the Catch

06 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mis-timing the catch causes the boat to slow down. You can go faster for no extra effort. Timestamps These three things are super-easy to correct and ...

Speed Murdering Mistakes 2

28 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Following last week's deep dive into blades on the surface .... this week we take a look at Rushing Off The Back. What, how, causes, cures. Timestamps...

Speed Murdering Mistakes #1

22 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We start a mini series on things which kill boat speed. And how to fix them. Part One: Dragging oars along the water surface Resource Pontoon Floats ...

Rowing Blisters

14 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Resource Rowing Blisters And Skin Injuries ebook https://fastermastersrowing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2022-Rowing-Blisters-And-Skin-Injuries-Pr...

Rowing With A Taller Or Shorter Partner

10 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Adjusting your stroke to match your partner. What to do to adapt and adjust so you align with a taller or shorter partner in the rowing boat. Timesta...

How To Give Feedback

01 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Coaching adults makes it hard to give feedback. Three things to consider. Timestamps 00:45 Masters may not have a coach. We help each other with in-...

Rowing Boat Phone Mounts

24 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

App alternatives for rowing electronics and how to mount in your boat. Phone mounts and taking a phone in a boat so you feel confident using it. Tim...

Mindset For Rowing

15 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What is a rowing mindset? Do you need one? And can it be trained? Timestamps 01:00 Rowing for life Welcome Jack Burns from Edge Rowing who has an int...

Jimmy Joy - RIP

12 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I heard today that Jimmy Joy the legendary coach and founder of the Joy of Sculling conference died. Today's podcast is my reflections and memories of...

Oars For Different Boat Types

03 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What changes are needed when doing big or small boats - length / inboard. Timestamps 01:00 It's all about gearing. How long are your oars and what i...

Get a longer stroke using rigging

19 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ways to use your boat rig to get a longer arc for the oar. Simplifying why it works and some key principles. Timestamps 00:30 Rebecca's new shiny obj...

Rigging Basics

11 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What rig should masters rowing boats and oars use? How can clubs set up their equipment to suit as wide a range of athletes as possible? Timestamps 0...

Heart Rate Variability as a rowing recovery guide

04 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I am using a daily monitor app to better understand my need for rowing rest and recovery. Timestamps 00:30 US Masters Rowing Camp April 2024 includes...

Setting Rowing Club Priorities

26 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How do masters club groups organise their priorities? Covering training, equipment, coaching, racing/trips/camps, finances - this is a must-listen to ...

9 Ways To Turn A Rowing Boat Around

18 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Different situations call for different turning methods. I bet there's at least one you haven't tried yet. Timestamps 00:45 Turning a boat sounds eas...

Anne Buckingham - Henley Womens Regatta

13 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Anne works with Henley Womens Regatta to guide international visiting crews towards all the resources they need. From accommodation to boat hire and h...