Female Surf Rowers Photos By, Shelby Hayden Craig

STAYING ALIVE

“Sometimes surf rowing race days are three-round point score events where the officials allow the six highest scoring boats to progress to the next round. If it’s a knockout event, you just have to keep placing in the top three or top four. At some knockout events there’s a repecharge round; if your crew has been falling behind, it gives you one more chance to make it to the final.

“Usually you’ll have a minimum of three races. If you’re in the repechage you’ll have four, and you might be good enough to reach the semis, then the final. You’re always hoping for six races, but don’t always get six.”

WINNERS ARE GRINNERS

“The overall aim is always gold at the Aussie championships. If any rower tells you otherwise, they’re lying. The Navy runs huge carnivals through the year where teams accumulate points. There’s other ones where you race for prizemoney and medals ‒ but no one remembers those. People only remember who won Aussie gold. In most surf clubs, if you finish on top of the podium, you get your photo on the club wall.”

NO SLACKERS

“In a race, it’s hard to just keep it going; to keep your rowing momentum up. A lot of the time, especially in our division – I’m a woman, I can say this – girls can put that ‘pathetic’ face on when it’s heavy or there’s a big wave. You can see it – the girls get very tired. In those times, you just have to row like the blokes. And that’s what it comes down to. The girls who have more grunt, who can push through waves, are the ones who are back at the beach first. That’s what all the training and the long hours are for. You want to put in the effort.”

SITTING PRETTY

“Rowing looks like it’s all upper-body, but in reality, 90 per cent of the work is in the legs. Ten per cent is moving your arms; you just have to be able to hold the oar, just so you don’t let go. Rowing is like a seated squat. You’re just sitting there, always pushing. All the women ‘love’ the fact that when you start rowing you develop really nice man thighs ... It’s just one of the perks that come with the sport ... not very feminine bodies.”

JUST LIKE BAYWATCH

“Just to make sure we don’t get bored with our training program, Beck has put in a couple of sand runs. The last couple of weeks we’ve had two 40km bike rides, too. There was a bit of a study done a while ago, Beck was saying, that said rowers make good bike riders. It’s all about the legs, I suppose. Just building up your muscle and your strength and endurance in that area.”

LOP-SIDED

“A lot of surf rowers have back problems because we’re always on one side. When you’re doing normal, still-water rowing, you’re straight up and down. But because you’re rowing a surf boat, you have to lean in, and everyone gets this crooked back syndrome where you’re overdeveloped on one side. Physios hate you and chiropractors love you.”