learn to scull

I learnt this year in my Edon scull. It has detachable pontoons so you don’t fall in when learning and learn good technique and not worry about staying in the boat. Now I row nearly everyday in the lakes and rivers around here. I’ve taken the pontoons off but plan to put them back on for the winter when the water is colder just in case. I love it.

I really want to learn to scull this summer, but the rowing association has closed it registration. Anybody know where I can take lessons?

Aaron Marcovy, who was part of Oxford’s winning 8+ this year, is my coach’s son! He’s going to be teaching sculling out of our boathouse in Cleveland this summer for $30/90 minutes. I definitely think it’s worth it. If anyone has advice on how I should schedule lessons (every day for a week or once a week for seven?), let me know!!!

I sculled a few times last summer, but I really want to get good at it this year.

I bought a rowing machine a while back (because I heard it’s better on yer knees than running). That seemed to help get the technique a little quicker. The real deal is a little bit different, but the rowing machine helped. I’d recommend getting the form down on the machine first, then go sculling. The biggest difference is that on the boat you have to rotate your ors and your hands are independent. On the machine you don’t rotate the handle and you hold one solid bar. But, otherwise, the motions are about the same.

I fell in too my first time. Takes about 5 times to get somewhat comfortable and a lifetime to perfect. Get out there and try it! You can do it!

Here’s a picture of me rowing last year.

Been sculling since May 2005 :)
Love it.

Well I did manage one lesson over the summer and I loved it. I really don’t know why I didn’t continue. It’s amazing to me how people get so dedicated to a sport. There were teachers who were seventy and waking up early every day to go sculling. I admire them and hope to continue someday. There was a moment there where I was actually doing the stroke right and it was effortless and relaxing, made me love it even more.

I learnt to scull because at that time in school I was the only girl in my year learning to row/scull, and they can’t put me into a novice boat as I’m about 3 years older than all the beginners (hence problem with race entries etc). So they put me in a single scull and sent me off.

First time I did it I fell in. Then I never fell in again. It took me something like a few months to get comfortable though =P But sculling, oh, it’s just such a lovely feeling—sitting just above the water, feeling the clean catch with your blades, getting hold of the water and pushing the scull on its way. Definitely must be done by all boat-lovers at some point!