Rowing (water) 1:00:00 [2]
I signed up for a learn to row class through our local rowing club. It's been something I've had an eye on since my knee is shot and I can't run or orienteer anymore. There were five newbies in the class and they paired us with three veterans in an eight. I was put in the #6 seat on port for my first outing. It's a lot of fun but I have a lot to work on my technique. Watching my film afterwards is a bit embarrassing, but that's how you learn. I was trying to think of similarities of rowing and orienteering and I don't think there is all that much in common:
1) Rowing is a team sport and orienteering is individual. I'm really looking forward to this team aspect because my whole life has really been dedicated to individual sports for the most part.
2) Orienteering really requires the mental focus almost all the time where as rowing lets you zone out similar to distance running. There are things to think about in rowing, primarily technique/form and synchronization, but I get the feeling that it becomes more of a muscle memory thing as you gain experience. Once that is learned you can just zone out and row.
3) Rowing is about listening to and following the cox. Orienteering is about listening to your mind and following where it tells you to go.
4) The only similarity I can think of is that there is a lifetime learning curve to orienteering and likewise with rowing people spend a lifetime perfecting the technique and synchronization.