Day 6 – January 2nd
Elliot Rieth
Hometown: East Grand Rapids, MI
Major: Public Relations
Today was jam packed for the Laker Navy. Heading out of the house early to get to practice at 7:30, the men ran through the humidity and the heat of Florida to make it on time. Our first practice started with a chalk talk about a concept that Coach B refers to as the “tip of the spearâ€. We used oars to view the importance of placing the tip of the blade in order to pry through the water in order to better move the boat. Once we got out onto the water, we split into two groups, with the top men being in pairs. I was in the “Nancy Lubbers†with my pair partner, Simon. We performed drills working on “touch†and the drive. It felt good to be back out rowing in the pairs with my friends. Seeing all the pairs glide across the water together was like watching a fleet of ships enter into battle. The smooth motion of all the boats was simultaneously thrilling and calming to me. Once we had finished our drills, we came back into land for a short break.
Our second practice consisted of going out in 8’s. We rowed two thirty minute pieces by sixes, alternating rates to work on the send. The weather did not cooperate, which made these rather difficult. However, it felt good to work and start to feel the progress we have been making throughout the trip. Once we finished our pieces, we came back into shore and took part in a good team stretch. We headed back to the men’s townhouse and enjoyed some downtime. I had some food and took part in some chores around the house before enjoying a quick nap. I also was able to hammock with some team mates and enjoy some downtime with friends before getting ready for third practice.
For our third practice of the day, we went for a swing row and took a 3k test at a 22 stroke rate for score. The team improved well overall on the 3k score, I personally dropped two and a half splits off of my previous test. After the test, the men reveled in their success and went for a quick dip in the lake. Once we dried off, we headed back home to prepare for a wonderful dinner put on for us by the Clermont boat club. The food, company, and conversation were all great. I have truly appreciated how accommodating the locals have been to us, as well as kind. Once we finished dinner, we headed home to watch The Empire Strikes Back and unwind. Overall, a good day to be in the Laker Navy.
Cass Bruins, Women’s Team Captain
Hometown: Colorodo Springs, CO
Major: Clinical Exercise Science, Nutrition
Hello and thank you for choosing the Grand Valley Crew blogs.
My name is Cass, and I will be guiding you through the journey of our wonderful, Monday in Clermont, and second day of the new year! Ready, set, go!
While our afternoon at the beach was quite the treat yesterday, today we came back to full training today with three-a-day practices. This morning was an early practice on the water in 4+’s. We had a technical practice; primarily focusing on the drive sequence. It was a HOT morning on Lake Minneola.
Our second practice was a long one. We went out in the 8 and did about an hour and a half of pieces. The pieces at the low rates are one of the best and worst things ever. It seems like we row for hours, but you can really feel the propulsion per stroke and that’s a huge part of our focus this week.
A few of us took some R&R time hanging out and hammocking (some pun intended) at the house before our after noon practice. A huge part of the Laker Navy’s bonding is off the water, doing things like that together. It’s something that brings each of us together, because it’s almost always a different group of people hanging out!
Afternoon practice was brutal, not gonna lie. We had a 3k ergo and 45 minute technical row. It was also very hot and humid, making the workout less then ideal. However, per usual, the crew conquered it all! The women started with the ergo, and most of us did very well despite being quite exhausted from this mornings pieces. The technical row to follow was just what we needed as a team. Very clean, powerful, focused, and of course, fun going all 8 for the first time this trip!
Following practice we were treated to dinner by the Clermont Crew Rowing Club! Dinner was amazing and we all ate way too much (Not like that is any different from any other dinner that the team devours). The club was so nice, inviting our club for dinner and they also gave us a bunch of prizes and rowing novelties as well! It was very cool getting to meet the coaches as well as the athletes there and to see how committed they are to growing their new program, similar to how we strive to grow ours. They were very welcoming to the crew and we all appreciated it more than words can explain.
Well I’m not very good at ending speeches or papers or blogs or anything, really. So this is Cass Bruins, signing off! Go Lakers !
Ben Norrix
Hometown: Rockwood, MI
Major: Group Social Studies
After a fun day at the beach yesterday, we followed with a great day of training. The morning started at 6:45 when I had a great breakfast of cereal. I got ready for practice and the team headed outside ready to go. We ran from the townhouse where we are staying to the boathouse. Our first practice today was in pairs. I was in the “Tedâ€. We launched and began doing stationary drills. Three bobs to hands away, Three bobs to the catch, etc. We then did drive drills from one end of the lake to the next. Our focus was putting the tip of the blade into the water and backing in the blade. Once we arrived across the lake we spun around and did back it down drills before transitioning into steady state and headed toward the dock to get ready for our second row of the day.
Our second row today was in eights. We launched and did a quick warmup before we began a 2×30 minute ski jumps around the lake by sixes. We began each piece at a 14 and rose it two beats every two minutes. We switched a pair every six minutes and dropped the rate two beats at that time before beginning to raise it again. We followed this by getting to row by all eight for the first time this trip. When we reached the dock after the second piece we had a team stretch before walking back to the townhouse. When I arrived back, I decided to make some scrambled eggs for lunch. We all then relaxed in the living room and did our homework assigned to us by coach B. At three o’clock we all got up and got ready and headed off for our third practice of the day.
We arrived at the boathouse ready for the ergo that we knew was coming only to find out that we were going out on the water first for a bit. We launched and rowed along the shore line before turning around and heading back to the dock. When the boat was down in tee’s we headed over to where we had the ergs set up. We went in two groups of eight. We were doing a 3k for score. I improved by .6 seconds over my last 3k from a few days ago. Once we had all finished our ergo we ran to the dock and most of us jumped off into the lake for a cool down. We then headed back to take showers and get dressed for a dinner being hosted by the Lake County Rowing Association. We got there and they had provided us with so much food and then gave us a bunch of free stuff to take home with us. They have been such great hosts to us while we have been here I just want to thank them so much. After the dinner we went back and ended the day in the best way possible. Team bonding and watching Star Wars.