This year’s winter has been painfully cold with temperatures dropping to single digit numbers almost every day, and this is not even taking into account the strong winds. During these winter months, the crew team trains both indoors and outdoors, making it a challenge to survive the freezing temperatures.
“The unpredictable cold weather can cause some days to be uncomfortable for us,” Sophomore Grace Fitzgerald said. “Our coaches instigated a rule of minimum two layers of clothing to help keep our muscles warm.”
On the colder days, conditioning is held inside Langley’s science hallway on the bottom floor. Ergs, which simulate a rowing boat, are lined up and down the hallway after school.
“Many of our classmates know [the science hallway] for the absolute stench of sweat,” Fitzgerald said. “But we know it as the place of pain and rigorous training.”
Not only do the frigid temperatures affect the crew team, the winds also have a massive effect on the rowing process. With wind coming into play, controlling the boat and staying on track becomes difficult.
“With harsh winds, we have a hard time navigating the river in the currents,” Fitzgerald said. “Additionally, it’s harder to keep our oars (a pole with a flat blade used to row or steer a boat through the water) steady and off the water.”
While the crew team may not have many regattas, a series of organized boat races, in the winter time, they still practice rigorously as practices and workouts are held everyday of the week except Sundays. Despite many conditionings being canceled due to the snow days Langley has had this year, the team has still found ways to stay in shape.
“Our team captains would often host an ab [or] hip circuit over zoom so that the rowers could stay in shape without having to leave the house,” Fitzgerald said.
With the dark, cold mornings, it can become very difficult for athletes to stay motivated. The crew team’s intense conditioning and six-day-a-week training frequently leads to exhaustion. The motivation that students on the crew team had at the beginning of the winter season begins to diminish.
“The hardest part is just trying to show up when you’re exhausted from the previous days of practice,” Senior Ethan Smith said. “It can also just drain people a little bit because they get burned out.”
While the practices may not be mandatory, they can lead to a great improvement over the winter months. Oftentimes, the people who choose to participate in off-season conditionings are ready for the spring season.
“The team has built up a lot of speed going into the spring,” Smith said. “Generally, people improve because it’s hard not to improve if you’re working ahead constantly.