Here are some of my favorite San Diego Crew Classic recordings, and I included time stamps of the parts that stood out to me. Thanks to everyone who made these recordings happen and available! The list starts with the most recent one.
2019 San Diego Crew Classic
Fresh from last year! This crew has the lead from start to finish, and I appreciate being able to watch the coxswain steer in this video.
1:44 “I’m gonna keep doing this until it’s time to go.”
I enjoy watching coxswain recordings that include the boat waiting for the start (bonus if I get to watch them lock onto the stake boat!). Sometimes I just have to have my rowers scull forever and ever before the race starts, and giving them a heads up like she does here is an awesome way to be on the same page with the rowers.
3:22 “I am on that bow deck. Eyes forward.”
Such a big lead so early!
3:37 “We’re not here to play. We’re here to win.”
3:45 I learned a lot from these smooth ratio shifts. When rowers don’t shift to the desired stroke rate right away, my tendency is to grill them until we get the number. I am going to try doing a second shift next time!
5:38 Power 15
8:05 Lengthen, power 5
2017 San Diego Crew Classic
Her Head of the Lagoon video saved me last year when I was preparing for it, and it was nice to hear a familiar voice!
0:36 “On THIS one.”
2:11 “Marin is making their move right now. They just took a seat.”
I struggle with delivering bad news because I don’t want the rowers to panic, but learning how to describe the crew’s position as calmly and accurately as she does is necessary. She turns it into a powerful motivation!
4:00 1250m 10
Interesting how they had moves at 750m (2:03) and 1250m instead of a halfway move at 1K. #stretagies
4:59 Last 500m
5:23 “We’re gonna take that sprint early.”
My crew and I talk about different sprint scenarios depending on our position, and I bet they had the talk before the race about when to start sprinting when A, B, or C were happening during the race.
2010 San Diego Crew Classic
Such a cool perspective, isn’t it?
2:49 “We need to establish the rhythm a little bit better.”
He makes this rhythm call to correct the crew then talks about it again at 3:12 “Stay in this rhythm.” and at 4:25 “Hold this rhythm.” This is the type of narrative that my coach is always asking me to do. Not just throwing out random calls but making connections to improve the crew throughout the race.
4:35 “Yeah, that’s it. I felt that change!”
5:03 “Two percent more for pin to release.”
5:30 “Second opening. Cross wind, cross chop. No. Big. Deal.”
5:44 He lets the crew know that they are in the last 600 meters then gives the rowers a preview of what they were going to do with 500m to go. Great preparation.
6:36 “Bring the noise.”
7:43 “Feathering hand only.”
Is this a thing after a race is over!?!? Less tiring for the rowers, I assume?
2009 San Diego Crew Classic
This post from Ready all, row! has two additional recordings from the same coxswain and outstanding analysis.
0:18 The next time rowers don’t help me get my point because I am asking someone to make an adjustment during the countdown, I am going to show them this part!
1:07 Shift #1 from 41
1:24 Shift #2 from 38 to 36
2:52 “You’re quarter seat from the lead… We’re right where we wanna be.”
4:42 “We are going to get a little bit of clearance from the wind these last 500.”
I am trying to pay attention to all the wind calls in crew classic recordings because they are difficult to make during races, and I want to practice informing rowers about conditions.
5:02 “Let’s drop the splits in two to 1:30.”
Something I could do more with my rowers who are well aware of what splits we expect.
2003 San Diego Crew Classic
1:35 Race start
2:45 There is quite a few timing calls in this recording. The crew probably worked a lot on timing during training, and these timing calls might have served as good reminders. And/or maybe the timing was really off, and the coxswain could see that it really needed to improve.
4:35 I also try to go through the halfway mark in the middle of power 10. Spot on.
4:59 “You’re one seat down. You’re one seat away from winning the race.”
Extremely exciting last few minutes of the race!!!
7:35 Three quarter slide at the sprint… Fascinating!
Coxswain's Log 