Should I row lightweight or open?

[masterofrhythm]

G'day all, I rowed 3 years ago for my schools first crew which posted some decent results (4th HOTR, State Champs etc) and was the stroke seat. However through work commitments and other sport I have not rowed aside from casually since, but it's worth mentioning I've been in a few boats since then.

ANYWAY my main question is as I'm planning a serious return to the sport, like to compete at nationals etc I'm trying to decide whether my best chance of being seriously competitive is lightweight or open? I'm 1.80m tall (just under 6 foot), 21yo and currently weighing 79kg but I don't believe losing the 7kg will be an issue for me by race season. I've been ramping up my training a fair bit recently, based on training, comparative splits etc I believe my current 2km ergo would be somewhere between 6:42-6:50 which obviously isn't quick enough yet. I'm sort of leaning towards maybe lightweight due to the fact I'm a bit smaller than probably average rowers but I was just after some general thoughts?

Thanks in advance!

[Edward4492]

Other than being old enough to be your father (58) we're very similar. I weigh in around 168-170lbs off season and hit LWT at 165 for competition and ranking. I'm also six foot. I believe it's very hard to compete as a HWT if you're in no-man's land between 170 and 185. I made the mistake of over-dieting for my first event (got down to 158) and as a consequence was a little weak and rowed slower than I wanted and ended up a little sick through "erg" season. I have a PR of 6:59, and have been pulling in the 7:05 range but hope to get that back down.At your age you can certainly be competitive as a LWT, you'd have to get under 6:30, 6:20 to crack the top ten. I'd say go for it and bring the weight down slowly.

[hjs]

1.80 is not suited for heavyweight, go for sub 75kg

[Bob S.]

It appears that your main goal is competing on the water, since you implied that the weight limit was 72kg rather than the 75kg indoor rowing limit. In that case, you can probably get much more and much better advice on a forum devoted to OTW rowing. Most of the members of this forum row strictly on indoor rowers. Unfortunately, I am not familiar with the online sources available for OTW competition, so I can't provide any suggestions.

Bob S.

[masterofrhythm]

Thanks for the responses everyone! I've talked to a few coaches but because it's generally the first time I've met most of them they're often not particularly helpful/fairly vague. Ex coaches generally seem to think lightweight is the way to go.

[gregsmith01748]

I seems pretty simple. If you like to win, row lightweight. If you like to eat, row heavyweight.

In all seriousness, if you have a chance to be competitive as a lightweight and you think you can maintain the weight without ruining your health or making yourself miserable, why would you do anything else.

You can get skinnier, you can't get taller, and that's what it would take to win as a open weight rower.

(take this with a grain of salt since it comes from a short, slow, old heavyweight rower)