#4 Spandex

You know you're a rower when the amount of spandex in your closet starts to out-number the amount of  your normal day civilian clothes. Rowing changes your life in many ways, particularly your wardrobe.

Every sport has their so called uniform. In rowing you need tight fitting clothes, making spandex a rower's best friend. You can't escape it, everyone wears it, even the middle aged men with beer bellies.

It's the only acceptable clothing in rowing as it allows you to move freely, where baggy clothing and your everyday sweats get in the way. Pretty much half of what the sport of rowing is all about, is showing off you jacked and uneven tanned body, what better way to do this than in spandex.

When you first start,  you think "No way am I ever going to wear that." Before you know it you are wearing spandex head to toe and you realize that it isn't so bad (and secretly love it). All the 'cool kids' are wearing it and let's be honest your butt doesn't looks to shabby either.

Awesome!

100% badass, yet completely safe

                                       

#2 Perfectly flat water

A sailor will never understand that one of the best feelings in the world is arriving at the club to a perfectly flat body of water. There's no wind, the water is like glass, and you feel as though you need to take advantage of these conditions. You have the opportunity for perfect puddles, and perfect rowing. Missing that 9am class for another row seems like a fair trade.

Some rowers are lucky enough to row on smaller lakes, or rivers, that rarely get more than a little chop when the wind picks up. At our club, when the winds are even somewhat high, we can get full white-cap waves. Most days we experience some chop or rollers,  so we have a huge appreciation for those perfectly flat water days.

There's something about flat water that is so calming. You don't have to feel like you are fighting with the rough water or wind and you can completely relax on every stroke, getting a fully loaded catch each time.

Sitting in your boat on the flat water, looking out on to the horizon, you feel the peacefulness of nature that surrounds you. This is one of the reasons why you fell in love with the sport.

Awesome!

Hanlan Boat Club at Dawn - Photo by: Caro.

#1 First row after a long indoor winter season

Erging can be fun, but let's be honest, it can also NOT be fun. We erg over the winter to get stronger, maintain our sport specific muscles, and so that on the glorious day of your first row...you don't die!

Getting out of bed at 5:30am on your first day back on the water isn't hard. You get down to the club, see all of the familiar faces, rig the boats you spent many hours in, and set out on your first row. Smiles are everywhere.

You take your first stroke, and it is unlike any other stroke on the erg. You move forward (or backwards, however you see it). After months of stationary training, this is exciting.  You feel the water on the back of the blade, the send of the boat (hopefully), and a few wobbles side to side as the feel of the boat starts to come back. You are now rowing, not erging.

Awesome!