How’s my form? (video attached)

[jamesg]

It's incorporated in C2 machine design. C2 founders were oarsmen.

[jackarabit]

OP:

1) You’re not “skying the oars” in order to get the blades above the chop. OTW form has no relevance whatsoever. What you are doing is counterweighting your upper body weight to help your back pivot to 11 o’ the clock on recovery. Getting fit and trimming down the beer belly papoose will facilitate your ability to return the handle by the shortest route. It’s going to happen but not by thinking about it or putting tape on the chain gate.

2) As stated by others, you are enlisting legs from the gitgo and I don’t see an early elbow break so your form is good enuf to hold promise of improvement—and considerably better than I had the first week on the machine.

3) Sorting thru hints for improvement also takes experience which you don’t have. It’s customary for coaches to isolate elements of the (ideal) erging stroke and to employ analogies which may not be in your wheelhouse. It’s up to you to develop and execute your best rendition of what you think your instructors are describing but don’t get hung up on a series of stop-motion abstractions.

[jackarabit]

As for 1 beat drive : 2-3 beat recovery, that is vital takeaway. James always suggests quick drive; leisurely recovery. More time to rest and allow the erg to “run.”

Nah, you caught me there. The boat does that and crew refusing to accelerate into the stern is crucial to maintaining way on the hull. Same horse; very different carts.