Hingham Crew

Great Trip

2010-04-27T21:12:00.002-04:00

I would like to thank all of the chaperones and athletes who made our first trip to Maryland a great success. This was a great start to our racing season. Onward and upward.

Tigers Eat Hoyas

2010-04-08T09:39:00.001-04:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKs42Of7nQI

Harvard Lightweights

2010-03-10T15:49:00.003-05:00

I have been approached by the coach of the Harvard lightweiight rowing team regarding kids we may have who would like to row for Harvard.

If you have good grades and think that you could reasonably be below 7:00 and you are a sophomore or junior, please contact me right away.

Lightweights are 160 pounds on race day with shoes on and 159 and 6 oz. on race day with no shoes on.

Great program. Great coaches.

Competition - the blog is back

2010-03-04T18:31:00.002-05:00

So, the first biological lesson of history is hat life is competition. Competition is not only the trade of life -- peaceful when food abounds, violent when the mouths outrun the food. Animals eat one anothetr without qualm; civilized men connsume one another by de process of law.

Will and Ariel Durant

The Lessons of History

Viking Heritage

2009-06-25T09:06:00.003-04:00

In viking times the 'Berserkers' were combatants who attacked their enemies with incredible fury. Consider the following:

"This fury, which was called berserkergang, occurred not only in the heat of battle, but also during laborious work. Men who were thus seized performed things which otherwise seemed impossible for human power. This condition is said to have begun with shivering, chattering of the teeth, and chill in the body, and then the face swelled and changed its color. With this was connected a great hot-headedness, which at last gave over into a great rage, under which they howled as wild animals, bit the edge of their shields, and cut down everything they met without discriminating between friend or foe. When this condition ceased, a great dulling of the mind and feebleness followed, which could last for one or several days" (Fabing, p. 234).

There are many names given to berserkers... now Harbormen.

Very interesting.

Nothing beats good breeding...

2009-06-25T07:38:00.004-04:00

... but we really don't have time to scientifically develop and breed oarspeople who have less flatulence and who also row fast, in time for next spring. Accordingly, it is up to each of you to begin your training in earnest for next year. Training aids will be forthcoming on the web site. Stay posted.

Canadian scientists breeding cows that burp less
Mon Jun 22, 2009 4:38pm EDT

TORONTO (Reuters) - Canadian scientists are breeding a special type of cow designed to burp less, a breakthrough that could reduce a big source of greenhouse gases responsible for global warming.
Cows are responsible for nearly three-quarters of total methane emissions, according to Environment Canada. Most of the gas comes from bovine burps, which are 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas.
Stephen Moore, a professor at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, is examining the genes responsible for methane produced from a cow's four stomachs in order to breed more efficient, environmentally friendly cows.
The professor of agricultural, food and nutritional science completed primary tests using traditional techniques to breed efficient animals that produce 25 percent less methane than less efficient animals. But more work needs to be done before the long-term impact is known. Moore's study was published earlier this year in the Journal of Animal Science.
"We are working on producing diagnostic markers for efficient animals. We are looking at the next generation of technologies that will enable us to determine the genetics of an animal through a blood test or testing some hairs that you might pluck from the animal," said Moore.
To shrink cattle's ecological footprint ranchers could also decrease the time cows are left standing in the field by getting animals to market sooner. That means breeding cattle that grow faster. Also, through breeding, cattle could become more efficient in converting feed into muscle and producing less methane and waste, said Moore.
Another method already being used to reduce methane emissions is feeding livestock a diet higher in energy and rich in edible oils, which ferment less than grass or low-quality feed.
Farmers in Alberta that feed their livestock edible oils and shorten the time to market can accrue carbon credits that could amount to between one C$1 and C$10 per head.
New Hampshire-based Stonyfield Farm, an organic yogurt producer in which Groupe Danone holds a majority stake, reduced emissions from their cows on an average of 12 percent by adding alfalfa, flax or hemp to livestock feed on a small number of its farms.
"If every U.S. dairy farmer reduced emissions by 12 percent it would be equal to about half a million cars being taken off the road," said Nancy Hirshberg, vice president of Stonyfield's Natural Resources department.

One Boat

2009-06-16T09:18:00.003-04:00

When we all work for the team, we know that everything we do - pushing ourselves and our team mates - contributes to the success or failure of the crew. This excerpt is from the article published by John Powers in the Globe last week prior to the Harvard Yale race. This exemplifies the spirit and commitment to one another that I would like to cultivate in our program. All of you, please accept my thanks for a good year.

This year, though, Harvard's seniors are likely to have the final say across the board. Three of them - Gawlik, 5-man Henrik Rummel, and 3-man James Bayley from Watertown, Mass. - are in the varsity eight. Four more, including captain Teddy Schreck, compose the bow four of the JV, while another three were in the combination boat, the assemblage of spares that raced yesterday afternoon.
It's not unprecedented for Crimson crews to be top-heavy with seniors. In 2004, the national champion varsity and Sprint-winning JV sported six apiece. What makes this class unusual is that all of the oarsmen have been in one or both of the two boats at one time or another. "That's really exceptional," says Parker.
His captain's four-year progression is telling - from the second freshman boat to the third varsity to the varsity to the JV.
"I've rowed in four different ranks of boats, so I know how that feels," says Schreck, who was in the varsity for the first two races this year.
What he understands is that nothing is guaranteed around Newell, where it's not rare for the captain to be in the JV. "You work for the reward of knowing how hard you worked," Schreck says.
What sets the Class of 2009 apart is its competitive camaraderie. "They're all just very good friends," says Parker, "and the common link is the rowing."
That deep bond proved critical going into this season with Harvard coming off a disappointing 2008 campaign, having missed the Sprint finals for the first time in 45 years.
The challenge for the seniors was to get the varsity back on track, which they did by fighting fiercely for seats. "They all had aspirations of making the varsity or JV," says Parker, who has been mixing and matching his second and third boats all spring and has used three different JV strokes.
With three underclassmen returning after a year off, cracking the varsity was tough. But all of the seniors stuck it out, even if it meant rowing on the 3V. "People just feel committed to each other," says Gawlik, who with Rummel were the only seniors to spend all three years with the varsity. "For a lot of guys, it is fun just to be on the team."
...
Losing the 4-miler is no joke, especially if you're a senior. By comparison, getting your diploma by mail is a mere inconvenience. "There are very few things that are more painful than losing this race," says Gawlik, whose next one likely will be for Oxford. "It's one on one. There's no silver medal."

Stealing Russian Training Formula

2009-04-23T18:01:00.001-04:00

Here they come...

There they go...

When Emily Snow and Meghan Fitzgerald viewed the Boston Marathon, it was for more than spectating. Just as leading Russian marathoner, Natasha Runserbunsoff approached the team table to receive her special performance enhancing drink formula, it mysteriously vanished. Runserbunsoff, a favorite to win, collapsed and withdrew from the race one mile away from where Snow and Fitzgerald were watching the race. Miraculously, minutes later, Fitzgerald was seen running from the race course, bottle of elixir in hand. Snow was screaming hysterically to create a diversion.

Speculation abounds that this very formula is being chemically diagnosed as this article is being written and may find itself in the hands and stomachs of the HHS Rowing Team.

Go Harborpeople!!!

Enough Said

2009-04-23T17:06:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to the female Harborpeople in a great winning start to the season. Keep the momentum going.

Vacation Fun by Matt Gill

2009-04-23T16:52:00.001-04:00

"So Matt, what did you do fun during your Spring vacation?" said his teacher Bertha Bottom

"Are you kidding, Mrs. Bottom?" "I wrecked my hands. Doesn't that sound like a lot of fun?"

"What did you do? Sit on your rear end?"

Good job Matt.

Snapping Turtles and Lake Monsters

2009-04-14T12:16:00.000-04:00

Thank God!

Yesterday (4/13/09) Coach Dewey was attacked by a creature that rose from the depths of Oldham Pond.

As the creature attacked, Coach Dewey and her trusty crew Claire Von Loesecke beat on it's head with a megaphone and oar. Startled, the creature returned to its murky lair.

Coach Dewey radioed for help and was towed safely back to shore, the lower unit of her launch engine having been nearly bitten off.

On behalf of the entire rowing community, I would like to thank Coach Dewey for her bravery under fire and for the way that she drew the creature from the rowing shells so that our team mates could be safe.

As a result of this violent attack, we will be ceasing Southern Operations this Thursday and will return to the relative safety of Hingham Harbor.

Hingham Harbormen Sink Brookline

2009-04-14T10:50:00.000-04:00

Saturday, April 4 marked the official start of teh HHS Rowing season.

In windy conditions, both HHS crews did great. The day was topped off by a big HHS win in the V1.

Keep up the good work.

Launching a New Season

2009-03-23T11:31:00.001-04:00

The Hingham Crew laiunches into a new season with the purchase of this spectacular launch... code name TRAVIS... that we purchased from MIT last week.

Dying to ERG

2009-02-02T17:21:00.000-05:00

For those of you who are just dying to ERG, The Crash-B Rowing Championships are on February 22 at the Aganis Arena at Boston University. HHSRA will subsidize your entry fee if you would like. Please contact me and lets get going!!!

Registration closes next week... on February 9. Please don't miss it.

1,000,000 meters... yee haaa!!!

2009-01-21T19:54:00.000-05:00

Thank you boys, girls, ladies, and gentlemen. Team Ro*Fast 2009 has just passed the million meter mark for the month of January. This is incredible given that many of you slackards have not registered your meters. this puts our little town 43rd in the worldwide standings and about 15th among bonafide clubs.

Now, as we move ahead toward the Spring season, everyone will need to pay attention to the fact that we are trying to register 1,000,000 meters in 12 hours on February 7.

Let's all get ready>>>>

Ahhhhhh!

2009-01-06T19:29:00.000-05:00

Please will all of you sign up at the Concept 2 website with your meters, elect to be a part of Team Ro*Fast 2009 and send me an e-mail with your address and your registration number? Today is Jan. 6. We are in 36th place in the January virtual team challenge.

URGENCY HERE PEOPLE.

Welcome HHS Graduates

2008-12-06T18:16:00.000-05:00

To all HHS Rowing grads,

Welcome. Please come and use our new Ro*Fast Center free of charge during your winter break. Our new center has 19 rowing machines and a full complement of weights for you to use.

The high school Ro*Fast program runs Monday to Saturday between 3:30 and 5:30. You are welcome during those times on a 'space available' basis. You may utilize the gym other times by coordinating your workouts with me or one of the other coaches.

We look forward to seeing you all again.

Mr. McCaig

Thank you Ro*Fast parents

2008-12-01T19:53:00.000-05:00

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the parents who have put their confidence in me and the Ro*Fast coaches this season. We are looking forward to a great season.

We are very lucky to have John Cotter directing this winter's program for the boys and the girls. John has done a great deal of work in developing the best way to have our athletes predictably improve their fitness over the season. John is a licensed personal trainer and brings a great deal of experience to our program. On the strength front, John will be joined by Seto Berry who is an incredibly inspirational 'all sports' strength coach. As the program unfolds, we expect that all of the athletes will see great improvement in their strength, endurance, and overall fitness. Nina Villanova will also work with our students. A Holy Cross rower and coach at Lincoln Maritime, Nina did a great job with our kids this Fall.

In addition to the coaches, Chris Sadler will be helping our kids during this sessions. Chris is the Spring and Fall team manager and will be extremely helpful in keeping all the details under control.

All in all, today was a good start to what I hope will be a great season. Thank you everyone.

Looking Forward and looking back

2008-11-30T11:59:00.000-05:00

To all the Hingham Crew,

I could be looking back at last fall and last Spring but instead, now that you have been kind enough to get me the great binoculars, I can only look forward. Thank you all for my nice gift - a set of binoculars to watch the rowing races.

Looking forward, tomorrow, December 1, begins the first of our Ro*Fast sessions. We are beginning our season in earnest. I hope you will all make the decision to help create a winning season for Hingham Crew.

If, at the end of May, you finish the season and you know that you have worked as hard as you could from now until then, then you will have had a good season. Let's hope I don't need the binoculars to know whether or not Hingham is in the lead.

Let's go Harborpeople!!!!!

Dutch Eight - Please Watch!!!

2008-11-07T17:35:00.001-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4x-Git3V3IA

The rule of 20

2008-10-29T18:00:00.000-04:00

Hingham at Quinsigamond. We had a great showing at Quinsigamond last week. 73 of our team got the chance to row in the MPSRA Championships.

Unfortunately, none of our crews did as well as I think we all would have liked to. So what's the dealio???

Wayland Weston won boys, girls, and novice events. Are they better people than we are? Do they feed the kids differently? Do they practice genetic mutation? IS their equipment better? Do they have better coaches? For those of you who came away dissapointed, take heart.

I calculate that WW had 2700 minutes of Fall practice to our 1200. Their water is more consistently good and this means quicker learning.

In order for us to have championship teams in the spring, we will need to earn our spot with a minimum of 20 minutes hard practice for every second of championship racing. We race roughly 5 minutes and 300 seconds. Our winning crew members will need to be engaged in practice... aerobic, strength, and technique for a minimum of 6000 minutes between now and the end of may.

When AC/DC says "work work, money made" they understand what we have to do.

Relatively simple. I hope you will all join me.

Doug McCaig

Liz Fitzgerald and the University of Pennsylvania

2008-10-29T17:58:00.000-04:00

Below is an excerpt from an e-mail that Liz Fitzgerald sent me recently. Pretty good stuff if you ask me. She has done a great job at Penn and, as you can see, college rowing has really given Liz a great focus at Penn.

Hi Doug,
Yesterday I got to hold an Olympic gold medal. Susan Francia graduated from Penn in 2004, and won gold in the Women's 8+ this summer in Beijing. My whole team crowded around her to catch a glimpse of the medal, hear her inspirational words, and ask her what Michael Phelps is like in person. Yes, she partied with him in China. She walked on to the Penn crew team as a sophomore, having never touched an oar, and when she visited the boathouse this weekend eight years later, had some serious hardware to show off for all the work she's done since then. Crew is not an easy sport, but it really is worth it. Sorry if this sounds cliche, but there's nothing better. It is probably one of the most team oriented sports out there; Trusting and respecting your teammates is what gets every rower pulling their hardest out there on the water. You are nothing without the other eight rowers (including the coxswain!) in your boat. This past weekend was the Navy Day Regatta here in Philadelphia, and there were about fifteen teams racing. I was in the JV 8+ and the Thursday before the race was our first row together as a boat. It was a horrible practice. We were getting seriously beaten by the third boat every piece. But we put that morning behind us and started making changes during Friday's practice. Our new assistant coach, Coach B, made us each tell our pair partner what we were going to hold them accountable for, and then we had to tell her if she succeeded or failed at improving whatever that technical focus was. And on race day, it all came together. We walked away with a silver medal, not nearly as cool as Susan Francia's gold, but it still felt pretty good. Overall Penn did well at Navy Day: third place in the V 8+, and second, fourth, and sixth in the V 4+ race.

cheering for rowing races

2008-09-29T13:39:00.000-04:00

This is the type of fan support we are looking for in our Hingham High School program. These kids are watching a rowing race on tv

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wrpnt-VQ8HA

Jessica Keefe and Fairfield University

2008-09-29T10:40:00.001-04:00

Jessica has allowed me to share this e-mail with all of you. It is the hard work of HHS graduates like Jessica who make it easier for the rest of our team. Contact me if you are interested in Fairfield. This is a great, growing program.

"so I guess you might have heard....well you most likely heard...DAVE PATTERSON, the coach here at fairfield, apparently called john cotter (or you...i dont know...i will ask him about it tommorrow..) and said that anyone from hingham that wants to row at fairfield is welcome ..and they will be on a scholarship...ALL BECAUSE OF ME????Dave is hilarious....just because I pulled a 20:51 on my first 5K ever, and then a 20:20 (last weekend) on my 2nd 5K,and a 7:55 on my 2K after my 5K on saturday....,he is promoting fairfield rowing to hingham????it's funnyi thought people would be pulling much harder than that here...cuz it's college rowing...but i guess crew is pretty new here ....they are working on a new boathouse so we are currently rowing on the Norwalk river..and there are dead fish everywhere...it's gross....i would much rather be rowing on hingham harbor in choppy wateranyways, i currently have the best 2K and 5K score here at fairfield for the women's team.... =)we seat raced today about 15 times no joke...and in the end he chose me and 3 upperclassmen to row in a 4 for the charles oct 18th....so watch out for me if you are there/ if hingham is rowing in that....did you guys enter that this year?? and i forgot to ask dave about the golden mile... i will ask him later... i don't think we do that though...just some CT races...some in NJ and spring break we are going to cocoa beach, FLORIDA good timeshope all is welllJessica "

It's that time again !!!

2008-09-29T10:34:00.000-04:00

Underway this fall. Please don't expect that your limited amount of time on the water is going to make winning boats this spring.

All of our athletes will need to begin to look to the end of the season and to building strength and endurance for the winter.

We are off to a good start!

New RoFaster

2008-07-11T15:33:00.000-04:00

http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?key=peNkfViT7uUwdIwjT1cvBNQ&email=true

Downloadable Exercise Record. Call me for the 2nd 10 exercises when this is done. Doug

In the hunt

2008-05-28T08:39:00.000-04:00

All of our crews did very well on Sunday. Here the V1 is vying for a medal against Wayland Weston, Shrewsbury, and Lowell.

Boys V2 was robbed after an equipment breakage put them back in the pack during the finals. The 15 second margin between Hingham and Brookline on Tuesday proved that Hingham is a team to be reckoned with. Sunday, Brookline finished 8 seconds behind first - in third place.

As for the Super V or the Flying V as they are referred to, this team made a very respectable 3rd place showing despite water leaking in to their boat.

The boys Novice under the speedy tempo set by stroke John Smoot poured it on in the Heats to quallify for the finals. A tight race in the finals had Hingham falling a little short of a medal.

Girls V1 had a season best row in a very tough heat and just missed qualifying for the finals - by about 1 boat length. Had they rowed in the 2nd heat (slower), they would have easily qualified.

Girls V2 had a very fast race in the finals but missed the medal stand. A good effort for a crew that included novices.

Girls Novices who had a great morning race to qualify for the finals were surprised to be rowing the Currie for the finals and fell back to a respectable 5th place.

Girls 2nd Novice were not rewarded for the hard work that they did during the season. They had an unfortunate equipment break and were not able to finish.

All in all, our crews made great improvements at every level. All of you have helped build the foundation for a great year next year.

Thank you everyone.

Last Man Standing

2008-05-15T17:42:00.000-04:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZd1Js0QaOI

Pat McAuley is the last man standing in this week's interesting seat racing competion. McAuley is obviously stronger.

Ernie Arlett and Mike McLaughlin

2008-05-05T11:14:00.001-04:00

For those of you who were not able to make it last Friday, former Princeton Coach Mike McLaughlin visited practice to give a history of Ernest Arlett for whom our new boy's boat was named.

Ernest Arlett was the first coach of rowing at Northeastern

and one of the last professional rowers in Europe. He was hired to organize and start a team at Northeastern University. This team, comprised of ALL novices, won the national championships within 4 years of its start.

Thank you Mike.

A Moveable Feast

2008-05-05T10:37:00.001-04:00

Ernest Hemingway wrote his memoirs from the time he spent in Paris in the 1920's and referred to that time as a 'Moveable Feast'. He thought that his time in Paris was a great non-stop party.

It reminds me of our own moveable feast and thanks to Ernestine Lammers, the McCuskers, and all of the parents who contributed to the hospitality at yesterday's Lowell Invitational Regatta, we had a wonderful day. The tents, the food, the cameraderie, and the enthusiasm, made our day yesterday a great one.

In biblical terms, a moveable feast is a celebration that is not fixed to the calendar but rather is fixed to the date of Easter. This year, yesterday (in fact May 1) coincided with the Ascension Day Feast. As many of you know Ascension Day is the 40th day after Christ's resurrection - when he ascended to heaven.

Yesterday, our crew program ascended from purgatory and became a full fledged program. All our student athletes did a great job and did credibly in each of the many categories in which we competed. This was a proud day for Hingham. We are very lucky to have had the successful day and to have been able to celebrate Ascension Day with our own Moveable Feast.

Expedition around Bumkin

2008-04-24T08:07:00.000-04:00

An exploratory force from Hingham High set out on a voyage of Discovery around Bumkin Island - not knowing what they would find. Instead of finding new species of flora or fauna, they found new blisters hitherto undiscovered. Chief Scientific Officer Chris Sadler chronicled the event.

Get some reach

2008-04-18T20:30:00.000-04:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pB2lrVe1E2c&feature=related#

Matt Cawley is 3 in the 2006 Polish national team boat.

Back in Black

2008-04-18T17:57:00.000-04:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FNruzcSvLw&feature=related#

Watch the arms at the catch

Good slide control...

2008-04-18T09:14:00.000-04:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bE_rpOdSOKo&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHNGpB2v0kY&feature=related#

Welcome Karen Beatty

2008-04-17T09:57:00.000-04:00

We are very lucky to have Karen Beatty join our coaching staff. Miss Beatty is a graduate of the University of Connecticut and a lifelong athlete. She is on a rapid rowing learning curve (RRLC) and has already proven to be a great asset and motivator.

Give these kids a hand...

2008-04-17T09:36:00.001-04:00

Hard work toughens hands - It only gets better from here. Keep up the good work.

LIz Fitz right in at Penn

2008-04-15T13:56:00.000-04:00

Former Hingham High SChool standout rower Liz Fitzgerald fits right in at University of Pennsylvania where she is seen rowing here in Boston versus Northeastern last weekend.

The true cradle of democracy could be said to be an Athenian trireme.

2008-03-27T21:36:00.000-04:00

Change in Athens

However, in post-war Athens, things were changing fast. The trauma of occupation, followed by the euphoria of victory, had transformed the city. Before the war, the foundations for democracy had been laid, but this was democracy in name only. In reality, only men with money had governed. Now a massive power shift was taking place.

The true cradle of democracy could be said to be an Athenian trireme. Each powered by nearly 200 oarsmen, these sea-borne battering rams had annihilated the Persian fleet at Salamis. At a time of crisis, it had been the poor of Athens who had squeezed down on to the cramped rowing benches and sent the triremes smashing into the hulls of their enemies.
These had been the have-nots of the city, the bottom of the political pecking order. But after Salamis, all that changed. The oarsmen who had endured the sweat, stench and terror of the triremes had won a historic victory and now they wanted their say. Athenian democracy was galvanised.

The first kid (other than Ross) who explains to me the relation between a Trireme and the formation of modern democracy - gets a Crow Point gift certificate. on me!

Welcome to the club

2008-03-25T22:18:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the 7:00 minute club Matt Cawley and Alex Krumm. You join Sally Dankner in the girl's 7:45 club. Keep up the good work.

Saturday Workout Session - 10:00

2008-03-21T12:07:00.000-04:00

Before you run off and eat 12 pounds of candy, please join us for a quick and relatively easy Saturday workout at 10:00 AM. Boys and Girls. We will have a small competition and skills development.

New One Hour Record

2008-03-20T17:18:00.000-04:00

The team of Maisto, McCaig, Krumm, and Wallace completed a sneak attack on the Champion Gridiron Greats anchored by Cawley and McAuley (with veterans Lippis and Willse) powered home to an impressive 16,437 meter 1st place decision in the HHS Hour Relay competition. These two teams were closely followed by the Super 8's: London, Horrgan, Wilson, and Sypek who rounded out the top three teams.

All in all a very impressive output as the HHS Ro*Fast Center saw its first one hour facility record: 147,817 meters.

He's Baaaaaaack....

2008-03-19T17:49:00.001-04:00

See you Monday

2004 Olympic Finals All Boats

2008-03-19T17:47:00.000-04:00

Here's some great videos of fast crews

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GaDqzSDBk8&feature=related

2008-02-26T15:58:00.001-05:00

Harold Ambler: What makes rowing unique
01:00 AM EST on Monday, January 21, 2008
HAROLD AMBLER
AUSTIN
I HAVE HAD CAUSE to ask myself why anyone other than rowers and former rowers should find the sport interesting. What follows is a list of things that separate rowing, the oldest intercollegiate sport in the United States, from every other sport.
Here are the top 20 reasons that crew is unique
• Seldom can you determine which member of a crew won a race; but it is frequently possible to tell which member of a crew lost a race, when that person took a bad stroke, dislodged his or her sliding seat from its tracks, or ran catastrophically out of energy at the end of a race.
• Rowing is the only sport whose participants travel backward.
• It is the only sport whose participants’ survival depends upon the intelligence and focus of a teammate, the coxswain.
• Rowers like to say that they are in the greatest cardiovascular shape of all college athletes, and it is a reasonable claim. Cross-country skiers and runners are their principal rivals for the honor.
• Rowing is the only sport in which novices have become Olympians in as little as two to three years, and that is not because it is easier than other sports or because there is less competition for spots. The competition for spots on the Olympic team is fierce.
• While runners and other endurance athletes also push themselves, they do so with the knowledge that they can quit at any time, even in the middle of a workout. Rowers cannot stop rowing in the middle of a practice or race, or else an oar handle will jab their spine, their ribs, or one of their kidneys. The pain of this is probably discouragement enough from the very reasonable idea of quitting in the middle of a piece, but the social component is stronger. To stop rowing, when one’s teammates are exerting themselves no less than oneself, is truly beyond the pale.
• Rowing is unique in that the athletes are not allowed to speak while participating (even if they had the wind to do so). This means, among other things, that a lot of strong feelings are running just beneath the surface of the average crew, which is palpable as soon as one approaches a working college boathouse.
• Water polo looks taxing, and it is. Football looks dangerous and exhilarating, and it is both of those things. Rowing looks poetic, relaxing even, but the sport is internally violent. The level of exertion required is so immense that death seems a real possibility on a regular basis, which is among the reasons that rowers are notoriously insular — they are in the process of having near-death experiences, psychologically, every day. For a group of rowers to depart from the subject of rowing in a conversation is not necessarily easy in such a context.
• There is no analog for seat-racing in any other sport. There is no intra-squad competition that is as intense, as personal, and as visible.
• No other coaches ply their trade at the helm of a boat; no other coaches burn gasoline to keep up with their athletes; no other coaches have to perform as much plane geometry and calculus in their heads to keep themselves and their athletes safe.
• No other sport involves a public-address system with speakers beneath the athletes’ bodies.
• No other sport involves tying oneself into shoes that other athletes have worn.
• No other sport involves tying oneself into shoes that are fixed to a craft that can sink.
• No other college sport has to concern itself with icebergs. (Both my father and I were in boats that struck icebergs at Dartmouth; Dad’s boat sank as they rowed it to shore. He and his boatmates had to run in socks, across the snow, three miles back to the boathouse. The boat I was in was an expensive Vespoli that the varsity had taken out for its maiden row at dusk; we started a power twenty and the next thing I knew I was sitting about two feet higher than before in the bow seat, looking down at a car-sized iceberg on either side of me.)
• No other college sport makes such extensive use of machines, principally Concept2 ergometers, or requires that athletes spend so much time physically attached to them.
• No other college sport involves the betting of an item of clothing to be delivered to or received from one’s opponent as soon as the contest has ended.
• No other sport uses a single piece of equipment that is nearly 60 feet long.
• Few other sports suffer an occasional drowning.
• No other sport requires such complex traffic control: At the end of practices, shells line up waiting to come into the dock like passenger jets waiting to land at a major airport.
• No other sport’s athletes carry the dead weight of a teammate, i.e., the coxswain, on the playing field; no other sport’s athletes are spoken to throughout their races by that same player-coach; no other sport’s athletes “reward” their victorious player-coach by hurling the individual into water that is frequently both frigid and polluted.
Harold Ambler is an Austin-based writer, editor and musician. He rows recreationally on Austin’s Town Lake and is the editor of the forthcoming Ever True: The History of Brown Crew

Get back to the gym!

2008-02-25T21:01:00.000-05:00

One man answers the call

2008-02-24T21:06:00.000-05:00

While everyone else in our program was sitting at home enjoying vacation, Rick McCusker made his way to The Agganis Arena to compete against the world's best in the CRASH-B world championships.

Although Rick came a little short of the world record that was set for his age category, he gave it his all.

We are very lucky to have had Rick rowing and setting an example for all of us. Next year he has asked that everyone in our program join him.

Thank you Rick.

Crash-B Feb. 26

2008-02-19T18:07:00.000-05:00

If any kids are interested in joining me to watch a part of the Crash-B championships, I will be driving in to the Agganis Center on the 26th after lunch - or possible taking the subway. Please e-mail me dmccaig@comcast.net or call me at 781-254-9700. There will be many student athletes of high school age. It will be a good opportunity to see what the competition is up to and for kids who might want to row in college - a good chance to meet coaches with me. Mr. McCaig

The HHS Devil Frogs... Beelzebufo

2008-02-19T17:59:00.000-05:00

Scientists on Monday announced the discovery in northwestern Madagascar of a bulky amphibian dubbed the "devil frog" that lived 65 million to 70 million years ago and was so nasty it may have eaten newborn dinosaurs.
This brute was larger than any frog living today and may be the biggest frog ever to have existed, according to paleontologist David Krause of Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, New York, one of the scientists who found the remains.
Its name, Beelzebufo ampinga, came from Beelzebub, the Greek for devil, and bufo -- Latin for toad. Ampinga means "shield," named for an armor-like part of its anatomy.
Beelzebufo (pronounced bee-el-zeh-BOOF-oh) was 16 inches
long and weighed an estimated 10 pounds (4.5 kg).
It was powerfully built and possessed a very wide mouth and powerful jaws. It probably didn't dine daintily.
"It's not outside the realm of possibility that Beelzebufo took down lizards and mammals and smaller frogs, and even -- considering its size -- possibly hatchling dinosaurs," Krause said in a telephone interview.

If we are having any trouble agreeing on a team mascot ... Harbormen, Harborwomen, Harborpeople- this new discovery could be just what we have been looking for ... and we could be the first Devil Frogs in existence. Food for thought

Ryan is the man

2008-02-18T17:55:00.000-05:00

We all know that Ryan would rather be playing capture the flag than discovering the cure for cancer - but sacrifices must be made. Unfortunately, Ryan will be leaving us after next week. He should be back as soon as he attempts to make his Boss do wall sits.

Thank you for all your help Ryan.

We wish you the best in your new career.

Merrily We Row Along

2008-02-18T10:41:00.000-05:00

On this day, the prospect of a 2000 meter test doesn't seem quite so bad. Particularly for Nick Lippis who seems to be having just a grand old time. The Hingham Crew is rowing right along getting ready for the March 17 start of the season. All participants did a great job on their respective ERG tests. The good news - THERE IS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. What a dismal future would be represented by no prospect for improvement.

Keep chugging, we have about 5 weeks before we are on the water.

To Die or not to Die...

2008-02-13T08:07:00.000-05:00

To be, or not to be: that is the question:Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep;No more; and by a sleep to say we end the heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep; To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub; For in that sleep of death what dreams may come When we have shuffled off this mortal coil, Must give us pause: there's the respect That makes calamity of so long life; so make sure that you give it your all on the erg.

The best erg test will come from even splits on each 500 meters - that's the best way for our team to win in the spring. start and finish at the same FAST pace. In other words... Don't Die!!!

This kid needs a boat.

2008-02-07T17:26:00.000-05:00

Thomas Kivney says thet "It's time to get back in the boat!"

All athletes currently involved in sports that will be ending up next week, get ready to come back to practice. Please be ready to come to the Ro*Fast Center and begin getting ready fo the spring.

Call me or contact me if you have any questions.

Mr. McCaig

Patriots Win!

2008-02-04T09:35:00.001-05:00

The Patriots win 43 - 9 in the first annual Super Bowl of Rowing.

Player/Coach Alex London and the Unstoppable New England Patriots rolled over the New York Giants in an event which was much closer than the score reflects. The Patriots front line of Stanley, Josselyn, Keefe, and McCaig, paved the way for a fast moving backfield which included the unflappable pair of Burbridge and Burbridge led by Coach London.

On the other side of the ball was the power pair McCusker and McCusker who gave it their all as they anchored the team to several close finishes. Player/Coach Sally Dankner exorted fresh recruit Steve Sypek and the rest of the Giants to within 100 meters of a win in the signature 4th quarter relay.

Big match ups between Keefe and Keefe and then between Stanley and Lippis proved to add to the excitement.

Perhaps the biggest upset win, which resulted in the MVP award, came when Alise Burbridge matched up against Katie Hughes in the 500 meter event. After a powerful start, the breeder of the famed Bouvier Bernois, Alise Burbridge was set up for an easy victory, but half way through the competion, began to fade as the ever present Katie Hughes started to pour on the pressure. In the final strokes, it was too close to call. The photos were
developed and Alise Burbridge was announce the victor by less than 1 second.

For this extra effort, Alise was named the MVP and walked away (drove) with a new Cadillac Esplanade. The rest of the team is headed to Disney World.

All in all a great event. Thank you for participating. We'll see many of you at the Pro-Bowl next week.

The SUPER BOWL of Rowing

2008-02-01T17:26:00.000-05:00

Please join us for the first annual Super Bowl of rowing at the Ro*Fast Rowing Center.

This event pits the hapless New York Giants against the undefeated New England Patriots.

Time Sunday: 1:00-3:00 PM

Adults and students will compete for honor and prizes. No experience necessary.

4 quarters of competition. Qualifiers between 1-1:30. race at 1:30.

Then a little Nelly Furtado

2008-01-26T13:25:00.001-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIxWLQT8cYg

Nice Short Music Video of 2004 Gold Medal US Men

2008-01-26T13:19:00.001-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhLZhSNVoBE

Thank our sponsors

2008-01-22T12:24:00.000-05:00

As we approach our spring season, please take the time to thank all the generous sponsors who have made our program possible:

All the board members of the Hingham Sports Partnership. They may be found at:
http://www.leaguelineup.com/directors.asp?cmenuid=9&url=hinghamsportspartnership&sid=93069410

Mr. Bob Gaughen and the Hingham Institution for Savings
Mr. Charles Clapp of Hingham
Mr. John McDonald of Hingham
Mr. Alan McKim and Clean Harbors Environmental Services
Mr. Richard Monaghan of Hingham
Mr. and Mrs. Tom Holovacs

and all the parents who have given to our program.

HHS Crew graduates rowing in college!

2008-01-22T12:00:00.000-05:00

One year after our first year as a High School sport, Hingham Crew is proud to have at least six of our graduates still rowing in college:

Jane Whalen is on the Women's Freshman team at Cornell
Liz Fitzgerald is on the Women's Freshman team at the University of Pennsylvania
Meghan McCusker is in the Women's Freshman team at Northeastern
Ted Mellors is on the Men's Freshman team at the University of Vermont
Brendan McGrath is rowing at St. Lawrence University
Meredyth Hurley is rowing at George Washington University
Annie MacIver is rowing at the College of Charleston

Good luck to all our graduates! Keep at it!!!

SLU Crew Rowing at Sunrise

Athens Olympic Final

2008-01-17T17:55:00.000-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gcthtn3BBN0

St. Ignatius 2006

2008-01-16T04:13:00.001-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeGb9jA8LVM

A good High School team to watch - the culmination of a great season.

Thank the rowers for American Independence!

2008-01-16T04:00:00.000-05:00

On December 19, 1776, Thomas Paine published The American Crisis and uttered these famous words that inspired the Revolutionary Troops in New Jersey under General George Washington...

"These are times that try men's souls; the summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph."

What they don't tell you is that if no one knew how to row, Washington would never have gotten 4000 troops across the Delaware. John Glover a Gloucester rower and fisherman was largely responsible for organizing the effort. You never know when you will be able to use the vital skills you will learn with Hingham Crew.

Work Out Schedule

2008-01-15T12:05:00.000-05:00

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=peNkfViT7uUx6QhW6s9pBPQ&hl=en

Athletic Performance Testing

2008-01-15T10:46:00.000-05:00

We will be conducting some advanced testing on our rowing athletes beginning next week - January 23 -- in preparation for the upcoming rowing season. PETA (the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has petitioned us not to use live animals in this process, so you're it. It is sure to be fun AND informative.

Thank you

Welcome to the 2008 Rowing Season

2008-01-13T13:18:00.001-05:00

Welcome Race Fans. Time to begin getting ready for the new season!