A Karlish shell I rowed had very little contact with the heels surface area. They were floating blocks with circles cut into the heal air space. All of the contact was the ball region of the foot pad. I found it quite comfortable rowing this Brand of rowing shell.
I have often wondered what would happen if you were to do away with the foot stretchers completely and instead applied something more like a bicycle peddle, where the shoes are clipped into the peddle, therefore relying much more on your calf muscles. If you have ever tried to ride a bicycle with your heels planted to the peddles you know that you loose the explosive power that comes from your calf muscles. My thought is it is best to apply force from the balls of your feet, utilizing more muscle groups. I would be interested to see a power curve where this change is applied and compared to the standard foot stretchers. I would appreciate your thoughts on this.
I think it depends on height. If you´re not that tall the strecher can be steeper and it is an advantage to apply more force horizontally. That goes along with more trunk leanback to reach an acceptable drive lenght. For small athletes every inch counts as long as the weight transfer does not influence the boat in a negative way. For 2m-athletes (like Drysdale) it´s simply not possible to use a steep stretcher angle because of the big torso. Forces at the stretcher and even bladework is more vertical - not only with Drysdale. But you are completely right about unnecessary movements at the catch!
You’ll actually find the bigger guys have very little heel movement off the foot plate due to the size of their feet. The lower their feet are in the stretcher there is more unnecessary leverage required to push off
I think this is the most overrated topic in rowing right now. On most devices you cannot even change the foot stretcher angle. Yet still athletes are trying to do weird things with their heels.
@@Peshur if you could move the foot plate it would alter dorsiflexion e.g. less dorsiflexion would be needed if you changed the foot plate, but dorsiflexion can be altered depending on where the foot is placed on the foot plate
A Karlish shell I rowed had very little contact with the heels surface area. They were floating blocks with circles cut into the heal air space. All of the contact was the ball region of the foot pad. I found it quite comfortable rowing this Brand of rowing shell.
I have often wondered what would happen if you were to do away with the foot stretchers completely and instead applied something more like a bicycle peddle, where the shoes are clipped into the peddle, therefore relying much more on your calf muscles. If you have ever tried to ride a bicycle with your heels planted to the peddles you know that you loose the explosive power that comes from your calf muscles. My thought is it is best to apply force from the balls of your feet, utilizing more muscle groups.
I would be interested to see a power curve where this change is applied and compared to the standard foot stretchers. I would appreciate your thoughts on this.
On an actual boat the shoes are clipped in to the boat
I think it depends on height. If you´re not that tall the strecher can be steeper and it is an advantage to apply more force horizontally. That goes along with more trunk leanback to reach an acceptable drive lenght. For small athletes every inch counts as long as the weight transfer does not influence the boat in a negative way.
For 2m-athletes (like Drysdale) it´s simply not possible to use a steep stretcher angle because of the big torso. Forces at the stretcher and even bladework is more vertical - not only with Drysdale.
But you are completely right about unnecessary movements at the catch!
You’ll actually find the bigger guys have very little heel movement off the foot plate due to the size of their feet. The lower their feet are in the stretcher there is more unnecessary leverage required to push off
Paul o Donovan is an absolute monster
How about addressing the dorsiflexion flexibility? I have above normal dorsiflexion flexibility...any guidlines?
Hi Aram, I'd be really interested to see a video about any advice you have for coxswains in both racing and training situations.
Thanks
The Michael Jackson motion. Bwhahaha. Thanks for that! Again, another informative video.
Isn’t having optimal dorsiflexion a big player here? Earnest question btw
I think this is the most overrated topic in rowing right now. On most devices you cannot even change the foot stretcher angle. Yet still athletes are trying to do weird things with their heels.
Aram Training sorry mate I don’t entirely understand what you’re saying....dorsiflexion range not important?
@@Peshur if you could move the foot plate it would alter dorsiflexion e.g. less dorsiflexion would be needed if you changed the foot plate, but dorsiflexion can be altered depending on where the foot is placed on the foot plate
Never push with heels guys. Push with the ball of your feet. But dont overthink it.