Rowing machines - http://www.rowingmachinez.com

Editor's picks

• 

  The Amateurs: The Story of Four Young Men and Their Quest for an Olympic Gold Medal

  Book (Ballantine Books)
  

  Rating (24 reviews):

  (4.6/5)

  

  Rowing as peak experience

  With the Summer Olympics coming up, this book should be read and savored for its extraordinary writing quality and insights.As a college oarsman (single sculls, then coxswain, bow and stroke of an eight), as a persnickety reader since childhood and as a writer of 20+ books, I approached the work of non-rower Halberstam with skepticism, reluctance to be touched by him. Was I wrong!Rowing is one of the most unusual and difficult sports, and it seems remote to outsider, almost mechanized. Insiders know the real world under that surface: the loneliness of training, the necessity for precise skills and relentless focus, the gut-wrenching pre-race [jitters] and fear that vanishes at each start, the sense of being asked to perform brutal acts on one's own body, the appalling effort (especially for stroke) of trying to stage an attack or recover from being in arrears, the ectasy and elation of winning, the soul-searing agony of losing with its message of inadequacy, of being... 5/5 John Joss (Los Altos, CA USA) - See all my reviews This review is from: The Amateurs: The Story of Four Young Men and Their Quest for an Olympic Gold Medal (Paperback) With the Summer Olympics coming up, this book should be read and savored for its extraordinary writing quality and insights.As a college oarsman (single sculls, then coxswain, bow and stroke of an eight), as a persnickety reader since childhood and as a writer of 20+ books, I approached the work of non-rower Halberstam with skepticism, reluctance to be touched by him. Was I wrong!Rowing is one of the most unusual and difficult sports, and it seems remote to outsider, almost mechanized. Insiders know the real world under that surface: the loneliness of training, the necessity for precise skills and relentless focus, the gut-wrenching pre-race [jitters] and fear that vanishes at each start, the sense of being asked to perform brutal acts on one's own body, the appalling effort (especially for stroke) of trying to stage an attack or recover from being in arrears, the ectasy and elation of winning, the soul-searing agony of losing with its message of inadequacy, of being... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , March 7, 2002

  ---

  Wow

  This is easily the best "sports" book I have ever read. On the recommendation of a close friend and former Harvard rower, I dove into this book thinking only that I would know a few stories about a sport burried in the agate type of a few sports pages. I was wrong. As a competitive marathon runner, I related to everyone in this book. I know what Tiff Wood goes through every morning with his training. I understand why he does what he does to the dismay of family, friends, and teachers. Why would someone with an Ivy League education waste all that to row in relative obscurity? Why place money, family, and the other trappings of "normal" American life on hold? Because. Because some people aspire to things a little more than measly paper. Because some want to accomplish things. Because some haven't given up on dreams. 5/5 tjfinger@lancnews.infi.net (Lancaster, PA) - See all my reviews This review is from: The Amateurs: The Story of Four Young Men and Their Quest for an Olympic Gold Medal (Paperback) This is easily the best "sports" book I have ever read. On the recommendation of a close friend and former Harvard rower, I dove into this book thinking only that I would know a few stories about a sport burried in the agate type of a few sports pages. I was wrong. As a competitive marathon runner, I related to everyone in this book. I know what Tiff Wood goes through every morning with his training. I understand why he does what he does to the dismay of family, friends, and teachers. Why would someone with an Ivy League education waste all that to row in relative obscurity? Why place money, family, and the other trappings of "normal" American life on hold? Because. Because some people aspire to things a little more than measly paper. Because some want to accomplish things. Because some haven't given up on dreams. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , November 14, 1998

  ---

  a true rowing portrait

  It is incredible that David Halberstam, a non-rower and outsider to the cliquish or solitary types found in boathouses, was able to write such a penetrating and accurate picture of the amateurs in this book.His descriptions of the feeling of rowing, of ``swing,'' and of the bizarre politics of single sculling are right on the money. They are recognizable to long-time rowers and comprehensible to those who have never rowed before. His character depictions are at times almost frighteningly dead-on.To put it succinctly, Halberstam gets everything right in this book. If you are a rower or any other sort of athlete, or if you want to read a masterfully told story of competition, read this book. 4/5 Al Kihano (Iskandria) - See all my reviews This review is from: The Amateurs: The Story of Four Young Men and Their Quest for an Olympic Gold Medal (Paperback) It is incredible that David Halberstam, a non-rower and outsider to the cliquish or solitary types found in boathouses, was able to write such a penetrating and accurate picture of the amateurs in this book.His descriptions of the feeling of rowing, of ``swing,'' and of the bizarre politics of single sculling are right on the money. They are recognizable to long-time rowers and comprehensible to those who have never rowed before. His character depictions are at times almost frighteningly dead-on.To put it succinctly, Halberstam gets everything right in this book. If you are a rower or any other sort of athlete, or if you want to read a masterfully told story of competition, read this book. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , December 4, 1999

  ---

  List Price: $15.00
  

  History

  Competition

  World Events

  Sports

  Olympics

---

• 

  Rowing Faster

  Book (Human Kinetics)
  

  Rating (7 reviews):

  (4.3/5)

  

  This is the best book so far about rowing, period.

  This book is the best source of information to increase boat speed.Xeno Mullerwww.gorow.comOlympic Medalist, men's single scull rowing. 5/5 Xeno Muller - See all my reviews, January 14, 2005

  ---

  extremely informative, but not for beginners

  Unfortunately, I just returned this book because I didn't find it very useful to me personally. Despite what that says about me as a rower, I feel that the description of the book "great for beginners to the elite" is a bit misleading. While the book addresses some issues with beginners, it's really talking to beginners [who will eventually become elite rowers].The book reads a lot like a physics or math book. It has a ton of charts, graphs, and things dealing with physical fitness that you wouldn't know unless you saw a specialist to have testing done. It's a very dry read but makes for a good reference book.Many of the authors talk about "the ideal" rower, being so-many feet tall with 6% bodyfat, along with other ideals. While this is fine, the bulk of the text has an undertone that suggests "if you don't meet these ideals, you're going to suck at rowing." The book often refers to your first "years of training" as if you're wasting your time if you're... 4/5 Alan Everett Michael (Maryville, Tennessee United States) - See all my reviews, July 15, 2008

  ---

  Amazing

  This book is not for novices, it's for the already advanced rower, who wants to significantly improve their speed, and technique. It goes into complete detail on every major subject pretaining to rowing, from race prep. months in advance, to the race itself, this book covers it all. 5/5 0, April 14, 2007

  ---

  List Price: $24.95
  

---

• 

  16 Week Olympic Rowing Training Program with Xeno Muller

  DVD
  

  1 Data CD-ROM

  16 Week Competitive Training Program

  Complimentary 5 minute SKYPE intro with Xeno Müller

  9 DVDs

---

• 

  Indoor Rowing Workouts

  Sports (Xeno Muller, Olympic gold and silver medalist, Olympic record holder)
  List Price: $105.00
  

  Learn from the best in the field

  Great for cross training athletes and competitive rowers

  Follow safe and proper rowing technique

  Enjoy exciting workouts on any rowing machine of your choice

  7 Indoor rowing workouts with Xeno Muller, Olympic gold and silver medalist, Olympic record holder

---

• 

  Assault on Lake Casitas

  Book (Broad Street Books)
  

  Rating (8 reviews):

  (5.0/5)

  

  The best book about excellence in sports and in life.

  Assault on Lake Casitas, by Brad Alan Lewis, is an absolute must-read book for Rowers, but it is also an amazing book for anyone who has ever fought to be the best then can be. As the story of one man's battle for olympic gold, Assault has a powerful momentum and a good story intertwined with Lewis's ideas about excellence, strength, and determination. It is written in a tight, powerful style that pushes the reader forward and makes your pulse pound. My coxswain used to read the second-to-last chapter to my boat as psych before every race, and it is the most inspirational thing i've ever heard. 5/5 Ryan A. Ricks - See all my reviews, October 25, 1998

  ---

  Vivid and inspiring.

  I have been a collegiate rower for four years, and this is one of the best rowing stories I have found. For rowers and other competitive athletes, Lewis coherently describes his obsession for Olympic gold. Readers are sucked into the vivid details of Lewis' training and the personalities of 1984 U.S. sculling. Reading the Assault on Lake Casitas helped inspire my highest level of workout intensity. For novice rowers this book is a necessity. I look forward to reading it a second time. 5/5 0, January 2, 1999

  ---

  Great inspiration to rowers

  I'm a rower and I didn't know anything about this book before I read it. I met Brad Lewis while I was at the San Diego Crew classic in March 2003 and I was very impressed with his character, so I bought his book. The competetive shark found in the book was chillingly inspirational on what it takes to be a champion, but I must admit that the Brad in the eighties is not the same Brad of today. Ever since he stopped competing, he has calmed that anger within him. I think it has made him a better Journalist because his writing keeps getting better.Read this book if you are interested in knowing what goes through the head of a competetive rower and the sacrifices Brad made to get that gold medal. 5/5 0, June 12, 2003

  ---

  List Price: $16.50
  

---