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The Surf Rowing Crew

There are five positions in a surf boat broken into two sections – the sweep and rowers.  Each position has its own job and task for the person that sits there.  These positions are – sweep, stroke (4 seat), 2nd stroke (3 seat), 2nd bow (2 seat), bow (1 seat).

The surf boat crew

The sweep (usually male but more females are now getting involved) is the lynchpin of any crew.  They have the responsibility of steering the boat, encouraging the crew and ensuring that he or she and the four rowers return to shore as safely as possible.  The sweep has a duty of care for himself or herself and the four rowers.

The Sweep - steering the boat
 
If you consider the sweep as the steering wheel and on-board computer of the boat the rowers are the engine room.  They aim to deliver as much power and technique to their oar as possible during a race.  The stroke is usually the member of the crew with the best overall technique and timing, the crew always follows the stroke's lead.  The 2nd stroke and 2nd bow possess the strength and power. The bow is one of the hardest positions to row and where the bravest souls venture.  It is a difficult seat to row due the hand heights continually changing due to the nature of the surf as waves tend to hit the bow of the boat first.
 

Surf Rowing Technique

The surf rowing technique is similar to rowing a traditional flat water rowing boat.  There is one significant difference between a surf boat and a flat water boat – the seats in a surf boat are fixed and the rowers slide up and down on wet seats with their bathers tucked up their backsides.

Rowers always look at their blades when rowing in the surf. Generally rowers from a flat water background adapt to surf rowers quickly.

The Surf Rowing Crew in action

 

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