Looking for a sport that will float your boat? Grab an oar
Rowing is a sport that's often overlooked even though it's an activity that can benefit males and females of all ages. It's also an effective way to build strength and achieve cardiovascular fitness -- not to mention that it's one of the few sports that uses every part of the body.
In addition, because it's still a relatively small sport, it boasts a great sense of community.
Sally O'Brien (17) has formed strong friendships with teammates who train with her on the Liffey weir in Neptune Rowing Club at Dublin's Islandbridge.
"I don't go out on Friday and Saturday nights with my school friends because I have training early on Saturday and Sunday mornings, but being down here at the club makes up for it," she says.
Youngsters usually don't take up competitive or club rowing before the age of 13 or 14 because they wouldn't be able for the oars and the boats.
Pia Dolan (14) joined Neptune last autumn after doing a summer camp at the club.
"I knew I'd get to meet new people and make good friends for life if I joined and started rowing competitively."
Her club mate Sally discovered rowing around the age of 14 as well, and the timing could not have been better -- it was just as she was about to leave her GAA club.
At the age when many girls are beginning to give up team sports, rowing can renew interest in fitness activities while building social skills.
"Girls dropping out of team sports in their early teens is an international phenomenon," explains Sheila O'Flanagan, Director of the Irish Sports Council.
"We are doing our best to create an environment where girls will continue with team sport, but there's no simple solution," she says.
According to Lisa Hayden of Rowing Ireland, the sport suits virtually all types of adults and teens, and all levels of competitiveness.
"What's nice about rowing is you can take it up as a recreational sport quite late. A lot of women will start when they're in their thirties.
Rowing Scull Blades - News
Rowing requires flexibility, strength, balance and coordination. It also demands concentration, especially when working on technical aspects of a stroke. For example, when sculling in a double -- a boat where each of the two rowers has a set of oars
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As well as providing funding, advice and a consistent nationwide programme it helps to supply clubs with larger more stable boats for beginners like the coastal double scull I'm in today. “There are a number of misconceptions about rowing and probably
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What to do at the pool | SherriKayaks
Often, there is the perception that open pool sessions are really only for the more skilled kayaker who wants to practice rolling over the winter, or perhaps wants to learn how to roll. While pool sessions are very useful for those two goals, beginning paddlers should also take advantage of pool practice over the winter. There is much that can be learned and practiced over the long winter months that will make you a better kayaker come spring.
Here is my list of suggested sea kayaking skills that can be worked on in a pool, even when space may be a little tight:
Play with your boat and do a bunch of crazy stunts to get more comfortable with the balance and stability of your kayak.
Instead of getting into the cockpit of your kayak, sit on the back deck right behind the cockpit with your legs straddling the kayak out to each side hanging down in the water. Try paddling your kayak while sitting up on the back deck. If this is a little too challenging at first, put a paddle float on both blades of your paddle so you can stop yourself from capsizing until you get a better feel for balancing. Try getting your feet and legs out of the cockpit while your kayak is floating in the pool. Dangle your legs out to the side of your boat and then try to turn yourself around in a 360-degree circle keeping your butt in the seat the whole time. At different times during this exercise, you will have to balance your boat with both feet hanging over the side on the left side of your kayak, and then again on the right side of the kayak. You’ll have to balance while lifting your legs up and over the front deck and up and over the back deck. Try doing a 360-degree circle like the one above, but do it while seated on the back deck of your kayak. Try climbing out as far as you can toward the bow and stern of your kayak while it is floating.