Rowing is a sport of endurance and speed. The essential skill of the rower is to be able to keep the boat balanced while transmitting maximum power to the oars. Very tapered boats are used, in which the athletes sit on sliding or fixed seats, called 'trolleys', oriented towards the stern. Oars are used to move the boat. The main differences in the boats used for rowing are the number of athletes that make up the crew, the number of oars operated by each rower, which can be one ('top') or two ('pair') and the presence or absence of a helmsman (we therefore speak of 'with' or 'without'). Boats were originally made of wood; today they are made of carbon fibre, while racing boats are now almost all made of composite materials. Rowing is an atypical sport in terms of the effort required of the athletes: the standard race distance of 2,000 metres is long enough to require endurance skills, but short enough in terms of time to feel like a speed race. Rowers have one of the highest power levels of all sports. The rower must therefore adapt his or her breathing to the rhythm of rowing, inhaling and exhaling twice per row, unlike other sports, such as cycling, where the athlete can breathe freely.
We look forward to seeing you in Bardolino for the regatta!