“Ready, set, row!”: Coxswain Clinic with World Champions Anthony Altimari and Daniel Connolly

by  Row New York Coxswains Amanda Ramdeholl and Katherine Hernandez

On Sunday, September 22nd, 2013, Row New York coxswains attended Anthony Altimari’s coxswain clinic at the Sagamore boathouse. Coxswains in attendance were Jacqueline Rodas, Meztli Cardoso, Celia Rodriguez, Patricia Destine, Gustavo Diaz- and ourselves, Katherine Hernandez and Amanda Ramdeholl. Together we listened as World Champion coxswains Anthony Altimari and Daniel Connolly spoke about the importance of a coxswain, and of course ways to improve our coxing.

We both agree that the information they gave us was really helpful and their answers to our scenario questions were great! From simple steering advice like “two finger hold” to motivating terminology, we made sure to note it all.

What really stood out to us was their emphasis on safety as well as being optimistic throughout the entire race or piece. Whether you’re at practice or at the start of the race, we understand that it’s wise to make safe decisions at all times, especially docking and head races, and that making every row enjoyable and beneficial to each rower is the key to making our team a healthy family.

Katherine and I have learned a lot about rowers in general; how they’re feeling, what they want to hear, what kind of motivation works best, what are clever ways to pass a boat and efficient ways to spin.
I believe that the most important task for us now, as newer varsity coxswains, is to gain respect from our rowers. We’ve both had many learning experiences from races and many mistakes that we are able to build off of. However we understand the frustration that our rowers feel when we mess up or don’t do something the way they like it best.

We also feel the necessity for doing land workouts with our rowers because, as Altimari states, “coxswains are rowers themselves.” From this we agree that rowers will be more respectful and push themselves to further limits knowing that their coxswains worked with them through a work out and that we know what they’re feeling. Along with gaining respect from our rowers, we also find it extremely necessary to make sure that everything we do is something that will make our coaches jobs’ easier, including keeping our rowers on task, having a head count ready at every practice, making sure oars are down, being prepared with the right tools, checking cox boxes and launches, and making sure we’re ready for any coaches orders.

Overall, whether it was thinking like a rower, staying fit, or being elite, we all learned a lot that we could bring with us in the shells. With a little more patience from our rowers and more determination, I think after attending our first coxswain clinic, Katherine and I are willing to take a substantial step toward becoming coxswains that our teammates, coaches and ourselves, are proud of.

Thank you Anthony Altimari and Daniel Connolly for all the great advice, we look forward to hosting you at the Row New York boathouse sometime soon!

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