Sept. 29, 2006

Throughout the season, members of the UNC rowing team will provide TarHeelBlue.com readers with an inside look at the Carolina program and the experience of being a varsity athlete at UNC. This installment, the second of the 2006-07 school year, is by Mary Sasson, a sophomore from Pittsburgh, Pa.

I can't quite think of how to start this entry, but when I think about rowing in the past week two words come to mind: pairs and a 6k. By pairs, I mean small, two-person boats that rely on the bow seat for coxing. These boats are extremely sensitive, and can be unstable. This fact forces the two rowers to pay careful attention to every inch of their stroke. With only two people in the boat, when your pair partner out-pulls you it's immediately quite evident. Therefore these boats can be mentally as well as physically taxing, and we as a team have spent a lot of time in them recently. I in particular can scarcely remember the last time I was in an eight.

I know that the pair can improve technique dramatically, within one practice even, but when Coach Haney calls my name for the pair I cringe a little. As I said these boats are extremely sensitive, and it is not completely uncommon to flip in one, a feat I achieved one Friday morning when my oar lock was not completely tightened. Luckily the water wasn't very cold and the only remnants of the spill are a few bruises and the small embarrassment that comes from swimming while everyone else is rowing.

In addition to the work in pairs, the team has been making strides on the erg. In the beginning of the year the team took a 6k to assess fitness level. Afterwards a goal was set for the team to drop the team's average by 1.5%. In other words everyone had to either take off either 15 or 33 seconds from their time, (based on the group they were assigned.) It was a team effort as it was clear that it was going to be easier for some to take off time than others. With the ominous threat that if the goal wasn't met a second 6k was in store, we erged and far surpassed the goal! The team was overjoyed that there was only one 6k and some amazing strides were taken by a number of teammates. I am personally impressed and proud of all of my teammates' efforts on the 6k test.

As of now the team is beginning to finalize the roster for the Head of the Charles Regatta that is less then a month away. It means that the fall racing season is just around the corner and I can't wait to see what we Tar Heels are able to put out there this year!