Ursula & Abby lw2x for USA

[yeahbuddy]

Victoria Burke and Kristin Hedstrom.

[The Dude]

If I'm Kristin or Victoria, I totally see why you would do this. Rowing in a quad with Ursula and Abby will make the fastest LW4x in the USA. Also, they are on the inside with Carlos and Ursula, and have a good shot at rowing with the fastest LW in the country. I think Hedstrom is the next fastest, so a quad without her will stand very little chance against a quad with these four.
I think it is a bit of a risky move on Carlos' part, since his priority has to be the LW2x, but there will probably be few entries in the LW4x in NZ, so the event should not be overly taxing for the ladies who double.
Hedstrom beat Sarbanis at elite nationals, I wonder if she will attempt the 1x as well?

[Slim]

I doubt Hedstrom will....

[lt.wolf]

GAH! - I am choking on my lunch ....what are you saying ???

[completeIgnorance]

ALL athletes should "diet".

they do........some poorly and some well.

[Long'n Strong]

I think next year Carlos will try to qualify from his pool of athletes the WL2x and the W1x. That way he gets himself a ticket to London.

[caustic]

Ursula is not the number one rower in the United States , she is number one lightweight rower ,the number one rower is still Ms. Stone.

Thank you Wolf. Nothing against Ursula, she's amazing, but there is a definite difference between LW and HW.

The other thing that kinda rubs me the wrong way IF this is true and they do put together a LW4x that wins trials is that then 2 people are taking up 4 slots on the team. There are already tragically few opportunities for LW in the US to get international experience without people claiming extra slots that could be (IMHO) better used to help develop the depth of elite LW's rowing in the US.

I'm going to disagree with this. Being on the elite team shouldn't be so that you can get experience as an elite. Being on the elite team should be because you were strong enough to get on there and you have the privilege of representing the US because you made the cut. If someone is so strong that they can outperform others in TWO positions, then they have earned the right to occupy both slots if they choose to.

Otherwise, you know that you gotta get stronger. If you can't pull hard enough to beat someone who's doubling up, then you should worry about pulling harder.

It's not about getting on the team so that it's resume fodder. It's about being good enough to perform well against other elites.

[Grover]

Just because you are good enough to do 2 eevnts doesnt mean you should

perhaps lock up the olympic event and win it by a country mile. How many athletes have won world champs in the years up to the olympic only to then come 4th or third i.e. the danish lwt 2x

[sul]

I can think of some good reasons for the LW2X to double up in the worlds this year:

1. Training partners. By having another good double there, they'll both be doing double work more than quad work, it's much better to work against someone. It gives the other two athletes added incentive to be there: a. train w/ Ursula who is now the bellweather for the team b. be in boat to race in NZ.

2. race experience. Ursula/abby get more races, they need more races but don't need more regatta seasons.

3. Larger local pool. If injury to one of the double, a familiar backup.

4. Is Abby the ideal 2x partner for Ursula? If I were coaching them I wouldn't assume it, and would be looking for the best possible combo for 2012. By having two more good candidates in "camp", you can develop them your way.

[caustic]

Just because you are good enough to do 2 eevnts doesnt mean you should

perhaps lock up the olympic event and win it by a country mile. How many athletes have won world champs in the years up to the olympic only to then come 4th or third i.e. the danish lwt 2x

Boo-frickin'-hoo. Sack up, nancy.


Someone who's clearly inferior should take a slot? Being on an elite squad is not for your personal achievement shelf - it's because you earned the right to represent something other than yourself - your country. If someone's good enough to defeat you in one event, AND defeat others in a second event - that's not their fault for earning the right. It's your fault for losing to a guy who's so clearly superior that there's no one near him locally.

Now, he may get doored at the pony show, but that's still not against him - it's against the pool of athletes he defeated back home. Everyone sucked so much that was able to clean house at home, but was still poor amongst other internationals. Honestly, this is the perfect time to be doubling up in events - well between olympics, and a shallow talent pool both here and abroad.

Life ain't fair, and just because you feel like you tried hard enough doesn't mean you get a spot. HEll, if feeling tired was all that was needed to get a slot on the team, I would have been an elite rower years ago - between drinking seasons.

[suckedin]

anyone know what caused Burke and Hedstrom to leave?

[Dan U-A]

Boo-frickin'-hoo. Sack up, nancy.

Always charming, caustic.

[crewu]

I think next year Carlos will try to qualify from his pool of athletes the WL2x and the W1x. That way he gets himself a ticket to London.

That's what good coaches are supposed to do.

[TomH]

What do these ladies want in a training camp.

Good climate, good competition, good coach and.....a fun place.

Seattle, Ursula, Carlos and......Seattle.

Bye bye Oklahoma. Hello Seattle!

[LoreMaster1]

Don't be an idiot, caustic. The LW4x, like the LM8+ and LM4x, exists primarily as a development boat for the big (i.e. Olympic) events. Plenty of Olympians have gotten their start by making an international event boat class, getting good training and international experience, and then coming back good enough to make an impact at the next step up. If the LW2x doubles into the LW4x, then you're cutting out two athletes who could otherwise become good in time. What happens after this quadrennial if or when the double retires? What happens if one or both of them get injured or are forced to withdraw from the sport for other reasons? If those athletes are taking up twice the spots on the team, then all of a sudden you've got an athlete pool lacking depth and experience. Not a good recipe for success, in my book.