How much time does rowing take up?
It’s totally up to you! As a novice you can expect one or two morning water sessions (flag permitting) plus an evening session in the gym. A water session roughly lasts an hour and a half with the gym sessions typically less than an hour. Training frequency increases for more senior boats, up to around six sessions a week for our first boats.
Does rowing fit around work?
It most certainly does. Almost all novices fit rowing comfortably around their course, and many rowers take part in other activities or sports. The morning sessions are designed to fit in good time for a 9am lecture, and evening gym sessions often help provide a refreshing break from a day’s work or allow you to return to work with newfound focus.
What if I’ve never rowed before?
Do not be intimidated if you have never even seen a rowing boat before – we recruit many novice rowers & coxswains every year and typically have two men’s and women’s Eights in our novice training programme in Michaelmas. Many people who start as complete novices end up competing in the top boats, sometimes within the year. We really are open to everyone – it is simply not true that you need to be tall and muscular to row, or tiny to cox; many good college athletes are far from the stereotypical image you would expect.
If you have previous rowing experience, you are likely to be able to go straight into the senior squad – our coaches will decide what is appropriate.
What clothing or equipment will I need?
Initially, not much at all. For your first few sessions simple gym kit such as tracksuit bottoms, top and a warm jumper. You will also need some sort of “wet shoe” to wear when you are getting to and from the boat. This can be as simple as a pair of wellies or an old pair of trainers you don’t mind getting wet. Though, as it gets colder it is important to layer up.
In due time, we’ll arrange a kit order when you choose to purchase some KCBC ’stash’, of which we highly recommend the lycra all-in-one (Unisuit), and splash jacket.
Finally, always bring a bottle of water and a post-workout snack.
Where do we train?
We prefer to train from our boathouse in Godstow but before races you will find us down at Boathouse Island on the Isis river. Our gym sessions happen in the “Erg room”. The locations are listed here.
What is bumps racing?
In short – the aim is to catch up with the boat in front and gain a ‘bump’ which can either be direct physical contact or indirect, whereby the bow passes the boat’s Cox. On gaining a bump, crews move out of the way and cease racing. Boats that are bumped or fail to gain a bump must continue racing until the finish line. Torpids and Summer VIIIs both work in this way, meaning you may typically move up or down only one place in each race. Torpids and Eights run over five days, with ‘headship’ awarded at the end to the highest crew, and ‘blades’ awarded to any crew that ‘bumps’ on every day of racing.
Who to contact to find out more?
If you have any questions about getting involved, please email keblecollegebc@gmail.com, and our Captains Ben and Louise will get back to you shortly!
