First on the water experience 2010 - post your stories

[sander]

Hi all,

Here's a link to some pictures around my first on the water row this season.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24710745@N ... 760627202/

It was very special because my new single scull was delivered today by the builder http://roseman.cz/en/lode.php. Look at how beautiful rowing water the Brno dam is. Some pictures from the dam and life at the boathouse.

On the water I felt like basement-man getting out of his ergo cave. Real rowing is so much more fun. Sunlight, wind, waves ... and rowing a new boat is such a privilege and pleasure.

I'd like to see pictures and hear stories of the opening of the new rowing season.

[Bob S.]

Hi all,

Here's a link to some pictures around my first on the water row this season.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24710745@N ... 760627202/

Beautiful boat, but where are the pictures of you out on the water with it?

Bob S.

[sander]

Hi all,

Here's a link to some pictures around my first on the water row this season.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24710745@N ... 760627202/

Beautiful boat, but where are the pictures of you out on the water with it?

Bob S.

The boat builder, Mr. Martin Ruzicka, took a picture with his phone. Once he sends it to me, I will post it. Otherwise, I put the camera in the locker when I changed clothes to go rowing. Thus, no pictures of me. You haven't missed much.

If you want to see me, here I am the number 2, last summer in Breclav:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24710745@N ... 117366725/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24710745@N ... 117366725/

[Byron Drachman]

Hi Sander,

That is a beautiful boat. My first row this year was March 8. There was too much ice to launch from our club dock but with a sledgehammer and long pieces of wood and steel bars I was able to clear enough ice away from the next dock to get to flowing water. By the next day, when I took this photo, it was much easier to get to clear water. I was all alone on the river so I wore a PFD and used homemade stabilizers to make my Staempfli unlikely to flip. The stabilizers weigh almost nothing and are off the water and don't interfere with rowing at all. They are for cold water safety and come off as soon as the water is no longer cold:

http://s149.photobucket.com/albums/s59/ ... arch_9.jpg

Here I am a few days later. Most of the ice was gone but the water was still cold:

http://s149.photobucket.com/albums/s59/ ... by_Deb.jpg

Byron

[mikvan52]

For 4 years my wife, Mary and I drive 1500 miles to Florida and scull for at least a week.



The only hazard are the manatees ...

The boat is a Sharrow (the only builder I know who builds primarily for flyweights!)

[sander]

I was all alone on the river so I wore a PFD and used homemade stabilizers to make my Staempfli unlikely to flip. The stabilizers weigh almost nothing and are off the water and don't interfere with rowing at all.

I love old Staempflis. End of the eighties, early nineties I had the privilege to race in a woorden Staempfli myself, albeit with carbon Macon sculls. They are beautiful boats. Take care of it well.

Sander

[Cyclist2]

Got my Maas Aero down and cleaned up, loaded up, and headed to the Hood Canal (Puget Sound, WA). Waves were about 1', a couple of breakers over the gunwales. First OTW row since last year (and only one that year ). Hope to row more this summer and get in some open water races because I'm not racing my bike - need that competitive outlet. Today was a refresher course in how to get everything to the water without forgetting something, then setting up and getting in the boat (that water is cold ), and finally how to row while balancing in the waves. Good confidence builder, always fun!