LWT v. HWT - Where is the middle weight !

[keelkicker]

hi

i have a query about weight categories. i think that the 75kg cut off for LWT in world records, on-line rankings etc may mirror FIFA but it seems to me that it works an injustice on those of us that are naturally just above 75kg (recognising that you have to draw the line somewhere.)

A LWT 75kg rower competes with other men down to about say 60kg, a manageable weight advantage, whereas a 76kg rower competes with other men anywhere up to say 105kg and beyond, a weight advantage that simply cant be overcome. I think that this is reflected in the number of people posting on line in the rankings in the weight categories - generally about 4 times as many HWTs as there are LWTs.

How about a Middle Weight category to give us some hope !!

[Citroen]

Go and ask the on the water rowers, they control the weight categories.

[Carl Watts]

Reality is your never going to get a level playing field, even a 101Kg "Short" guy like me gets to row against a 6 foot 6 giant with a totally open weight limit so whats the difference between the problems in the LWT compared to the HWT ? Height is just as big a problem as weight when it comes to the Erg.

The rankings and the honors board just need more stats so you can just compare yourself others of similar stature and use the search function to see how your individual performance rates. Perhaps an idea would be some "Hidden Columns" that become an option for individuals to click on and add to save just too much information on screen for those mobile devices to handle.

As others have already pointed out in the past, to have it "Fair and even" would create so many classes that everyone would become a winner.

[Bob S.]

This has been argued ad infinitum for many years on this forum and the UK forum as well. There was never any consensus.

Bob S., 167#

[jackarabit]

Go and ask the on the water rowers, they control the weight categories

. . . yet singles are built to a midweight displacement?

[Edward4492]

Well, if you're truly 76kg the answer is simple. Diet down. Up to 175lbs or so most (not all) rowers can lose the fat and row LWT if they want. The real no-man's land is 175lbs to 190 or so where LWT is not really do-able and the HWT's are beasts.

But this is true of all sports. There aren't too many short basketball players or heavy jockeys. Every sport has it's ideal prototype and rowing isn't any different.

[Bob S.]

Go and ask the on the water rowers, they control the weight categories

. . . yet singles are built to a midweight displacement?

They have to be available in a lot of different sizes because the people that are going to buy them do. It doesn't matter whether or not there are racing categories for all sizes - a boat that is the wrong size for the rower will float too high or too low.

Bob S.

[hjs]

Well, if you're truly 76kg the answer is simple. Diet down. Up to 175lbs or so most (not all) rowers can lose the fat and row LWT if they want. The real no-man's land is 175lbs to 190 or so where LWT is not really do-able and the HWT's are beasts.

But this is true of all sports. There aren't too many short basketball players or heavy jockeys. Every sport has it's ideal prototype and rowing isn't any different.

Indeed, there should be no weights cat. Its not weight btw but height, rowers are tall, its simply one of the things you need to be a good rower. Sports are per difinition unfair.

[at1839]

Hi





Paolo, @165.5 cm

Indeed, there should be no weights cat. Its not weight btw but height, rowers are tall, its simply one of the things you need to be a good rower. Sports are per difinition unfair.

[hjs]

Hi





Paolo, @165.5 cm

Indeed, there should be no weights cat. Its not weight btw but height, rowers are tall, its simply one of the things you need to be a good rower. Sports are per difinition unfair.

We never hear smaller guys complain, cycling mountains, running marathons, doing gymnastics. Body seize is simply one the things you need. For one being tall is a favor for others the other way arounds. Sports is per definition unfair, almost like life itself

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

[Carl Watts]

Not to mention motorsport, just about all the top guys catch a break from Karting and there is no interest in guys over 75Kg.

[bisqeet]

well - i've yet to see one gold medalist swimmer from african descendence... but they have the market cornered on sprinters / power to bodyweight ratio...

[Bob S.]

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.

[bisqeet]

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.

apparantly fishing is classed as a sport too

[Carl Watts]

If you want a sport that you can hold a beer in one hand and throw with the other then choose.....Darts.