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Dragon Boat Forums => Racer's Village => Topic started by: paddlerbutt on November 12, 2005, 03:18:51 PM



Title: Who sits where?
Post by: paddlerbutt on November 12, 2005, 03:18:51 PM
who do you put where in a 8woman 12 man boat?

1 - timing
2 ?
3 ?
4 ?
5 - timing
7-8 bigger guys?
9-10 -? girls or boys

If you have a few weaker girls, what is the best place for them?
Thanks.


Title: Who sits where?
Post by: brainiac on November 12, 2005, 07:51:31 PM
Here's some advice I picked up from Alan Carlsson (and his coaching manual):

Fronts: Lighter paddlers with good timing.

Middles: Taller, heavier, stronger paddlers. Rows 5 or 6 should be the mid-boat strokes.

Backs: If you've got a couple of paddlers with dubious technique, put them in 7-8. Try to have technically good paddlers in 9-10 or you might as well put a few sandbags on those benches and forget about the paddlers.

However, don't worry about being too exact in balancing left vs right, front vs back. It's important but don't underestimate balancing "paddler strength". Play around with different crew set-ups. If in doubt, leave your boat neutral or slightly bow heavy.


Title: Who sits where?
Post by: willpower on November 18, 2005, 06:46:34 PM
I've been hearing lots of teams preferring to go bow-heavy, but found that it doesn't allow my boats to glide as well as I know they can... can anyone explain the bow-heavy concept to me please? Thanks!!


p.s. I was at Alan's course too... it's going to be great finally dispelling the myth that crappy paddlers go in the back and the best ones in the front... seen some ppl's feelings get hurt when they're moved away from their beloved stroke position, feeling like they've been "demoted"  :roll:


Title: Who sits where?
Post by: Rossifumi on November 18, 2005, 07:06:02 PM
it's so freaking hard to fight against the image that sitting in the back means you suck.

Zeph has a comical take on that.  Ask him when he gets back from the other side of the planet.


Title: Who sits where?
Post by: Colossus on November 18, 2005, 07:15:22 PM
Quote from: Rossifumi
it's so freaking hard to fight against the image that sitting in the back means you suck.

not on our boat! :D  back = promotion!


Title: Who sits where?
Post by: LARDCore on November 28, 2005, 12:11:05 PM
yup, studs in the back of the boat....


Title: Who sits where?
Post by: beedub on November 29, 2005, 06:21:15 PM
Quote from: Colossus

not on our boat! :D  back = promotion!



Front = "demotion"...where the coach can keep an eye on ya.. :twisted:


Title: Re: Who sits where?
Post by: zephyrantes on January 05, 2006, 04:33:22 PM
I see that I've neglected to notice this thread.

On our boat, the front paddlers are there for MANY reasons.   I would list all the technical "would be" reasons, but we can all see through the intentions of our coach.   Here they are:

1) he likes to keep an eye on the girls (VERY apparent when he has the coach boat)
2) really, it's a demotion to him
3) the smaller paddling compartments mean that he gets to be closer with the paddlers
4) he likes the girls to have a better "eye level" of him when he's standing up
5) he likes to show his bum to the back half when he's "assisting" the front half paddlers