Good Sports

by Budd Glassberg

Reprinted with permission from the Zionsville Times Sentinel on July 5, 2006

Getting my Ducks in a Row

“In seeking Wisdom, the first state is silence, the second listening, the third remembrance, the fourth practicing, the fifth teaching.” - Solomon Ibn Gabirol

You see the eight little ducklings in a line quickly following the mama as she waddles toward the pond. One by one they follow her lead into the water and paddle out on webbed feet in chevron form across the pond. Five years ago, I was one of those ducklings feeling oh-so uncoordinated and clumsy as I attempted not to roll my sculling boat as my instructor barked instructions faster than I could react to them. Staying dry that first day on the reservoir was attributed to a combination of luck and fear. I was not the most gifted athlete in my learn-to-row class, but with some determination and a fair amount of reading and practicing, I attained enough skill in rowing to accept a position as an instructor of the classes just two years later.

Now in my third year of teaching the classes, I am very comfortable in my ability to take complete novices in the sport, and within the four weeks of classes, have my students comfortable in rowing recreational sculling boats on Eagle Creek Reservoir without fearing an unexpected dip in the water. This is no small deed. Sculling boats, unlike kayaks or canoes are by nature unstable. It is a rare person who can stand up in one of these boats. To stay upright the rower needs the full ten feet of oars extended from the boat, much like a tightrope walker needs a pole to keep his balance. My novice’s first foray into a boat is usually met with panic at the boat’s desire to tip. Much of the on land instruction about the stroke and feathering of the oars goes out the window the moment the neophyte first makes any movement in the boat. It is this apprehension of falling in the water which prompted me to instruct my students to bring a towel and a change of clothes on the second day of class.

First day is always a tour of the boathouse, an introduction to the boats, a brief description of reservoir right of ways and an instruction and practice on the indoor rowing machines to practice the stroke and return to the catch position. I also demonstrate how to rig the boats with oars and the class watches as I get in the boat, row from the dock and land my boat back at the dock and exit the boat.

Second day, the classmates help each other bring the boats to the dock, rig the boats and await my instruction. I fix the incorrectly rigged boats, pointing out where they went wrong, and then each beginner steps in the boat straps in his or her feet and pushes off the dock. Fifteen meters from the dock, we take turns tipping, falling in the water, and getting back in the boats. Some get back in right away. Others need my coaching and more time, but all accomplish this. The rest of the lesson goes well with the trainees willing to experiment, not afraid of getting wet.

On the third day my ducklings are visibly more confident and some beginning to stroke more with their legs than their arms as is the proper practice. The women are always better at this due to their not trying to muscle the stroke. Still, no one is going straight, but they have been told to expect this. After the fourth day the class is half over and everyone can now boast of some muscle memory and no longer have to think about each of the twenty some point it takes to complete a stroke. Only time on the water and muscle memory kicking in can get these students to this point. In the next two weeks, the students will continue to refine their stroke and begin to relax on the water. Suddenly they will discover that they are getting a wonderful workout as well as appreciating some of the most magnificent mornings in Indiana on the water.

My most recent class graduated last Thursday. All eight ducklings could go off and row on their own. Most of them applied their learn-to-row fees toward membership in the Indianapolis Rowing Center. They can now check out club boats any time they want

It is a very gratifying feeling to see my former students go on to race or just row for fun. I know how each of them feels. It is not an easy thing to learn, so mastering the skill gives each of us a feeling of great accomplishment. And like learning to ride a bicycle, once learned they have the skill forever.

Mark Twain once said, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do.” If you have ever felt a desire to move very fast on top of the water under your own power, do not be put off by the difficult learning curve attributed to learning how to row. You will never be disappointed with your decision to hone your skills at this addictive sport.

Budd Glassberg is a resident of Zionsville who is active in the local running community. Visit www.runz.com for reprints of all his columns. You can reach him by email at budd@runz.com.