Monitoring of Performance and Training in Rowing

Abstract

Rowing is a strength-endurance type of sport and competition performance depends on factors such as aerobic and anaerobic power, physical power, rowing technique and tactics. Therefore, a rower has to develop several capacities in order to be successful and a valid testing battery of a rower has to include parameters that are highly related to rowing performance. Endurance training is the mainstay in rowing. For the 2000 m race, power training at high velocities should be preferred to resistance training at low velocities in order to train more specifically during the off-season. The specific training of the international rower has to be approximately 70% of the whole training time. Several studies have reported different biochemical parameters for monitoring the training of rowers. There is some evidence that plasma leptin is more sensitive to training volume changes than specific stress hormones (e.g. cortisol, testosterone, growth hormone). In rowing, the stress hormone reactions to training volume and/or intensity changes are controversial. The Recovery-Stress Questionnaire for Athletes measures both stress and recovery, and may therefore be more effective than the previously used Borg ratio scale or the Profile of Mood States, which both focus mainly on the stress component. In the future, probably the most effective way to evaluate the training of rowers is to monitor both stress and recovery components at the same time, using both psychometric data together with the biochemical and performance parameters.

Does 2000-m rowing ergometer performance time correlate with final rankings at the World Junior Rowing Championship? A case study of 398 elite junior rowers

“…Rowing ergometers are designed to simulate on-water rowing and are widely considered to be valuable for rowing training, the evaluation of a rower's sportspecific performance and the detection of changes in a performer's capability (Mäestu, Jürimäe & Jürimäe, 2005). Time needed to cover a particular distance is likely to be the most relevant measure in the testing and evaluation of an athlete's capability.…”

“…Time needed to cover a particular distance is likely to be the most relevant measure in the testing and evaluation of an athlete's capability. One of the most frequently used "all-out" ergometer tests to assess rowing-specific ability is a test performed over 2000-m (Hahn, Bourdon & Tanner, 2000; Mäestu et al, 2005), which corresponds to the distance used for Olympic rowing events.…”

“…Correlates for 2000-m rowing ergometer performance have been established in many studies, and to a lesser degree, correlates have also been established for onwater single-sculls rowing (for a review, see Mäestu et al 2005). Such studies reveal differences among the strongest correlates and among regression equations used to predict rowing performance.…”

Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race: Performance, Pacing and Tactics Between 1890 and 2014

“…[17] This is also the case in head to head racing, where being in the lead can additionally mean taking the preferential racing line from the opposition, while also giving the trailing crew disturbed (wake) water which disrupts the balance, aerodynamics and consequent pace of the boat. [8][9]18,28] This is in contrast to performance in other head-to-head competitive sports such as short-track speed skating where, in the final stages of the race, the trailing rider has a clear aerodynamic advantage of drafting in the slipstream of the preceding competitors. [15][16] As previously found when comparing cycling with skating, [29] pacing strategies might differ related to the specific nature and characteristics of the different sports.…”

“…[4][5][6] To be able to perform races faster, changes to training techniques, diet, technology, and competitor characteristics have all evolved over time and undoubtedly contribute to improved performance. [7][8][9] Anecdotal evidence also indicates the physical characteristics of the respective crews are likely to have changed although this has not yet been documented in the scientific literature. This is perhaps a reasonable assumption as the race now largely involves international level competitors, drawn from undergraduate and postgraduate students enrolled at the two universities.…”