LWT v. HWT - Where is the middle weight !

[hjs]

I myself am just in the middle, so not suited for anything really

There are sports in which quick reflexes and dexterity are much more important than size. Soccer and baseball come to mind. Both of them seem to have a lot of average size top players.

Those are Games Bob, not sports. I used to be good at stuff like that. But stuff with a ball is just a game.

[jackarabit]

Short guys make good tunnel rats. Jealous? Paolo, you are a treasure! We know for certain you're not just getting by on your inseam measurement A. Lincoln had a pretty good idea how long legs should be--long enuf to reach the ground.

[at1839]

Actually today I feel I must be a inch taller. 3:42.7 @1k.



Paolo, aka 1839

We know for certain you're not just getting by on your inseam measurement

[Yankeerunner]

As Bob has said, this has been argued many times before on both forums.

Consider this: Dreams come true and a middleweight class is established. How long do you think everyone would be happy? The standard argument is for a 75kg to 85kg class. Why so narrow, except to please a very small group? Within a short time you would then have those 'just over 75kg' and 'just over 85kg' as unhappy as the current crop of 'just over 75kg' guys. Personally it would suit me to take 10kg from each of the current lightweight and heavyweight groups and make middleweight from 65kg to 85kg. Of course then, while I'd be happy, everyone 'just over 65 kg' and 'just over 85kg' would be unhappy. In each case you would be doubling the number of unhappy ergers compared to the current standards.

I think that trying to solve the Middleweight problem would create more problems than it solved.

[jackarabit]

Following the "can't have it everybody's way" argument, we should take the hard line and remove the light/heavy distinction. Who would be crying then? Boxing has no problem with multiple weight classes. Wrestling?

[Bob S.]

Following the "can't have it everybody's way" argument, we should take the hard line and remove the light/heavy distinction. Who would be crying then? Boxing has no problem with multiple weight classes. Wrestling?

There is money in both of them. Now weight-lifting might be another matter, but that is an Olympic sport and there is no way that erging would qualify for that status. Olympic rowing itself has 2 weight categories, so I am convinced that ergers are confined to go along with that. The one item that is out of joint is that the division point is not the same for OTW and erging - 72.5 kg for men OTW as opposed to 75 OTE. That is for single sculls. The rules are more complicated for crews, but 72.5 is still the upper individual limit. The story that I have heard on this is that a lot of OTW rowers who make weight during the OTW season, gain a bit in the winter - so it was increased for them. I have no idea of the validity of that - maybe just a rumor.

In the perpetual forum argument about increasing the number of weight classes, there have often been a few calls for eliminating the weight class altogether. Makes sense in a way - at least it simplifies the system. A valid argument can be made that limb length and height are just as important as weight - perhaps more. Using those would be much too complicated, so it has not been much of an issue.

For me, personally, the 2 category limit is not an issue. At about 76.5 kg and at an age where weight is no longer an advantage, I have gone both ways. Skinny Bob and Phat Bob have about equal numbers of my best times.

Bob S.

[Carl Watts]

Just like any sport there is an ideal physical form for it so at the end of the day weight is only one factor.

Someone has crunched all the numbers for the elite athletes in all fields so if you want you can go and get tested and they will tell you what sport you should be involved in.

Height is a massive advantage for rowing, guys my weight or even less that are 5 or 6 inches taller are going to be faster if everything else is equal so you then need disproportional internal advantages to compensate and of course the Elite rowers have this as well so your stuffed really, its just genetics and you cannot compete against that.

Take a look at these...does everyone look the same to you ?

http://www.boredpanda.com/athlete-body- ... rd-schatz/

[jamesg]

Once we come off the water, we're Old Heavies anyway, whatever the weight. We put on our striped jackets and caps or even a boater, go to regattas, drink beer and chat up the ladies.