28 August 2012 - Leg Drive

We did legs onl drils tostart off and then did 20 on and 20 off on the way back. at the end we did 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 and full pressure tens in a 40 stroke cycle. I did nt do a great job of steady taping while driving the launch. May have to recruit a parent the next time!

Jack and Zach matching well on the recovery and the drive. Jack can get some more compression and get his arms out. Zach has made big improvements as well and areas to improve are not lifting his head (and hence his shoulders) at the catch and relaxing his lower back through the stroke and especially at the finish. One way to see this is to pause the video at mid drive. If your legs are not all the way down, then your body angle should still be forward. Short snippets of Sam who has a good agressive drive. Mike has to control his recovery. His preparation is good.
Overall comment. Much better with the leg drives but now we need to get the recoveries together as well. Greg: Excellent recovery speed. Need you to get a little more compression. Perhaps 2-3 inches on the slide. Your shins are still not vertical. You are also feathering with your outside hand (although we haven't talked about it yet). You also drive faster with your left leg so try to push evenly. Davis: Good preparation. I realize the knee was in bad shape today and stopped you from full compression. We may need to get you some physaical therapy and knee exercises for that. Also feathering with the outside hand. Campbell.good form and an excellent horizontal drive. Want you to work on your catch and not miss water. Also feathering with the outside hand. Will:an excellent leg drive, the best I saw today but dont let it come at the expense of rushing the last 6-8 inches of the recovery sometimes. You are also feathering withthe outside hand.
Both Campbell and Will are doing a nice job of relaxing the inside elbow on the recovery and having the line of the shoulders parallel to the oar handle.
Greg has a very nice lean into the rigger and good hang on the oar. Davis's left knee could be more vertical. Notice that Greg has initiated his leg drive (and Davis has just started his), whereas the rest of the boat is still up at the catch.
Everyone is feathering with the outside hand and leaning away from the rigger at the finish, especially Campbell. THe outside wrists should be flat and we should be staying behind the oarhandle as it swings toward the rigger at the finish so we have maximum leverage.
Max: Nice preparation and a good stroke. I would like to see your stroke a little longer and you get more reach and compression. There is some room for your seat to go still further forward and your shins are not vertical. You also have a slight lunge just before the catch. If you work on your reach before by 1/4 slide, it will be all for the better. Drive is excellent. Watch your right hand. You can get it closer to the end of the handle and get some more leverage as well as better control.