Summer on the Water with Camp Randall Rowing

Hard to believe it, but our summer crewing session is almost over. We have had so much fun. Last year we had one boy doing crew, this year we had three. Check out my post from last year to learn more about this great organization and why we chose crew as our favorite sport here.

Today, finally had time to stalk my boys during practice. I love being the only parent crazy enough to trample down the weeds along the lake with a camera, to get a good shot of them. I live for it actually. Some day they will thank me. These are our two high school sons who are heading out today.

Crewing is one of the most labor intensive sports, far more so than football, at least that's what my kids tell me. It takes a lot of prep time before they can even get out on the water. I entertain myself by wandering around the park and boat house while I am waiting. I love these canoes, beautiful yummy colors. I want to take them home with me. 

I love this sign. 

The first chore of the day, is to put the coach's launch into the water. I takes quite a few hands to get the job done. No slackers around here.

There is actually more than one launch. The guys have a coach's launch, the girls have a coach's launch.

When the launches are in they shove off so the next group can get in. These are the girls coaches, and the black lab is Oliver, the amazing crew dog. He's sort of a mascot around the boat house. What a doll!

Meanwhile, the kids check in and find out which boat they will be in and where they are to be seated. I love the Popsicle stick chart. 

Today's practice is rather complicated. It's cool, cloudy and windy. Too windy to go out on the big lake to row. The boat house is situated on two small mini lakes that are separated with this railroad bridge. Today we are rowing on the lake on the other side of the bridge. The coaches boats fit underneath, but the crew boat does not. That means it has to be ported over to the other side.

Don't let the looks of it fool you, this is not an easy task. The boat is 50 feet long. It takes the entire crew of eight plus the coxswain to make the move. The black shorts the guys wear are called chums. They have to be tight fighting so they don't get stuck in the moving parts of the boat.

I wonder what the traffic thinks of this sight as they walk down the street? Notice how they are either barefoot or wearing just their socks? This solves a great mystery of mine: why my nice white socks have become brown and smelly. Now I know that they have taken a walk down Proudfit Street and into the lake.

At the beach the boat is eased down towards the water.

The boat is turned horizontally, and then walked out into the lake.

One of the coaches told me the University of Wisconsin crew team has to put their boats into the water when the lake is still partially frozen. They wade in it anyway. Wow!

At this point the coxswain steps back to give the orders. Everyone has to face the same direction, both hands on the boat.

"Up and over head!"

The boat gets turned and eased down onto the surface of the water.

Can you believe, all this work and practice hasn't even started yet?

Next come the oars.

They get locked onto the boat resting on alternating sides.

Now it's time to load the crew. First in is the coxwain. He is getting a lift from a buddy. Guess he doesn't want to get his feet wet, poor baby.

The coxswain gives the orders for the crew members to enter the boat in pairs. The rest of the crew steadies the boat while they get in.

Once they are in, they strap their feet into the boat. This is essential for a powerful stroke.

Here's the coxswain giving the order to shove off. He is wearing a headset with a microphone so the entire crew can hear him.

And they are off. 

"Bow pair, ROW!"

The coaches boat meets them out in the water. They spend the next two hours rowing back and forth across the lake.

They do all sorts of crazy rowing drills. Like rowing with one hand behind their back, rowing in pairs, and learning how to get back in the boat if you get crabbed and accidentally fall out. They even have races against the girl's boat.

Eventually they get close enough to wave to Mom. But then they head over to the other side of the bay again.

After practice the boats are removed from the water and carried back to the racks at the boat house.

Whew, it's been a long day, I am exhausted!

Designer Mom