Book Description
More than twenty years ago, a group of amazing women rowed their way to international success and glory, battling sexual prejudice, bureaucracy, and male domination in one of the most grueling and competitive sports. This gripping story of bravery, determination, and indomitable spirit captures a compelling moment in the history of sports. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

An inspirational, albeit brief, history of women's rowing
I purchased the Red Rose Crew both as a rowing coach and coxswain. I had heard of the book before but never read it. While it was a relatively quick read, it did provide some good insight into how women's rowing has evolved since the 1970s. It gave some wonderful descriptions of the various struggles the women went through, as well as the individuals who helped them along their way.

It would be really nice to see a sequel, or something similar, that documents what women's rowing has become in the past twenty or so years. There is a decent follow-up of the individuals from the team at the end of the book, but I feel like I could have easily stomached another 100+ pages of what has happened since then.

All in all, a good read and a good book to have if you know anything about rowing, and specifically women's rowing at the collegiate level and beyond.

So much more than just a rowing story .....
If you love rowing, if you love sports, if you're interested in historical moments .... this book is wonderful.I have read it and re-read it.I have lent it and gifted it.This is the true story of several remarkable women athletes.It is extremely well written and takes you through the story with grace and passion.I think I'll go read it again!

A Welcome Work, but...
Books on rowing are rare these days so it is good to see a fine account of a boat being made and coming together. All the more so as The Red Rose Crew chronicles the early days of women's rowing.

Overall, this is a fine and enjoyable read, but Boyne is in need of an editor. Most of the errors are minor, but aggravating in a book written by someone on rowing about rowing. For example, "Henley Royal Regatta" is "Henley Royal Regatta" not Royal Henley Regatta. "Quadra-scull" is an unfamiliar term. "Quadruple scull" or "quad scull" or "quad" are the common terms. At one point Boyne mixes up boat categries when talking about sweep rowing and sculling.

Alas, these are unfortunate and unnecessary distractions in what is otherwise a fine book about rowing.

The Tabula Rasa of US Women's Rowing
If Odysseus could have read Daniel J.Boyne's book`The Red Rose Crew" he would have had no reason to be tied to the mast to cox his ear-waxed crew through the Sirenum Scopuli unscathed. The Sirens would have gladly faced their un-timely end with the knowledge that women's rowing had a champion who took the time and effort to chronical a arduous voyage that will be remembered as the break though of woman's competitive rowing in the United States. In a time when story telling has been all but lost as a media to impart history or knowledge, a well-credentialed Daniel Boyne has wove a rich tapestry of facts, protocol, commentary, technical knowledge and colorful antidotes into a narrative that are easily remembered and re-called.Every sport has its legends; Babe Ruth, Billie Jean King, Pele', the utterance of each name conjures a vivid image of the particular athlete's prowess and character. US women's rowing has Ernestine Bayer, Carie Graves, Gail Pierson, and Harry Parker just to mention a few of the people Daniel J.Boyne has profiled as the "Who's Who" of US women's rowing. One of the many pearls of rowing information the author relates is how a good crew has the characteristics of a good baseball team. Rowers spend many hours debating the age-old rower's question of whether power, or technique is more important or why coaches' conduct seat races. Mr. Boyne's account of how the `The Red Rose Crew" was formulated is a wealth of information for any rower or coach looking for the literal and figurative gut wrenching answers.Rowers and coaches who have, or will have to weather the trials and travail of choosing and rowing into the seats of a boat will relate to the myriad of variables and anguish and elation. US Rowing is fortunate that Daniel J.Boyne has taken the time and energy to share his knowledge and insight of where US Women's rowing has been and the inevitable heights that it destined to rise.

John Wall, Ancient Mariner Berkshire County, USA6/10/01

The Red Rose Crew
This book was a wonderful read--I finished it in two nights.As a woman who was in college in the late '70s, I identified a lot with the women of the Red Rose Crew, though back then I didn't get involved much in athletics, partly because title 9 was still very new and relatively unimplemented.

This book is a great way to find out just how much the sport of rowing has changed over the last several decades. It is about doing the right thing for the right reasons, and getting things right in return. Quietly, with class and style, we find out about bad behavior by certain neanderthal types, but the author never loses sight of the good deeds of sharing and respect that combined to make the Red Rose Crew's success possible. I expect that this positive attitude is part of what today makes rowing a stronger sport than it ever was, fully accessible to all who wish to participate (as long as they live near some water, that is!!) ... Read more

Book Description
This volume in the Handbook of Sports Medicine and Science series delivers up-to-date scientific knowledge alongside practical applications in rowing, making it an invaluable resource for researchers, coaches and rowers of all abilities.

Published under the auspices of the International Olympic Committee, in collaboration with the International Rowing Federation (FISA), Rowing:

• Provides key knowledge of the historical, nutritional and psychological aspects of rowing


• Offers ground-breaking physiological insights which can help shape future training methodologies


• Features a rowing periodization plan to help trainers and athletes create comprehensive and effective training programs, racing plans and tactics.

Rowing brings together internationally renowned experts with experience in competitive rowing and sports medicine, making this the complete handbook of medicine, science and practice in rowing. ... Read more

Book Description
Perfect for anyone who wishes to take up rowing, this book introducesessential techniques. A section explains body coordination with and without slide.Training and coaching for competitive rowing is also covered, including advancedtechniques for both single sculling and rowing teams. For the noncompetitive rower,there is a section on recreational rowing and sea rowing. Step-by-step photographsdemonstrate skills for the new rower. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Decent Introduction to Rowing
This is a decent, if basic, introduction. I've just become interested in rowing and was looking for a good beginner's overview. This book served that purpose, but feels a bit lightweight nonetheless. For one thing, it's a slim book, coming in at under 100 pages with just seven succinct chapters. There are also quite a few pictures, which is both a good thing and a bad thing. It's good because the pictures are often helpful in illustrating points in the text (as they should), but bad because sometimes it seems like the book lacks substance due to the high proportion of photos. Also, sometimes the pictures feel a bit like fluff, where they take up a lot of space without adding a great deal to the value of the text. However, having said that, a lot of these pictures are just plain pretty. In summary, the book has the overall feel of a library book, which is fine if that's what you're looking for. Below are details on its contents.

The seven chapters cover the key points to give the reader a decent overview. Chapter 1, The Lore of Rowing, gives a perfunctory history of the sport, also covering the "spirit and ethos of rowing". The history basically consists of a few pictures from the early days of rowing (which are pretty cool), an acknowledgment that people have been rowing for centuries, and recommendations for a couple books for more details. It then contrasts racing versus recreational rowing, and addresses some of the most famous aspects of rowing racing, Oxford-Cambridge and the Olympics. The chapter is wrapped up with a section called 'The need to row', where some of the motivations people have to row both as individuals and as part of a team.

Chapter 2, Know your Boats, covers the basics of rowing boats, including sweep versus scull shells. This chapter wouldn't be sufficient if you were wanting to find out enough to buy a new boat, but it does cover the parts of shells, materials, and maintenance. The sections on riggers/rigging and oars are both pretty good, going into a fair amount of depth. There are also some good tables and diagrams in this chapter that summarize the different types of shells and illustrate their composition and layout.

Chapter 3, Safety and Clothing, at first seems dull, but ends up having some decent information. Specifically, it describes how to get back in the boat after falling out, and how to right it if you flip it. There are a few points regarding safety, and some guidelines for appropriately dressing for rowing, weather considered.

The next three chapters deal more specifically with actual rowing, addressing technique. Chapter 4, The Basics, starts with a discussion of the ergometer, clearly advocating that getting some mastery over the stroke before even getting into a boat is a good idea. There are several photos used in this chapter to demonstrate the various stages of the stroke, and they are pretty good. The rest of the chapter covers getting the boat from the boathouse to the water and getting in and setting the boat up.

Chapter 5, On the Water, takes the reader from the "just in the boat and set up" point at the end of Chapter 4. Issues relating to what to do with your hands, how to maintain balance in the boat, stopping, turning, reversing and steering the boat are all addressed. Then it goes into starting off rowing one stroke at a time, and then moving into multiple strokes. It concludes with information about how to dock and get out of the boat.

Chapter 6, Essential Techniques, is the longest chapter and is the heart of the book. It explains all the basics of the rowing stroke (blade placement, leg drive, arms, recovery, controlling the seat, and catch), including pictures for each. Then it includes some exercises for working on specific techniques. These are decent and standard, and should especially help the learner who has little chance for instruction from a coach (but of course could help anyone). Finally, it discusses the role of the coxswain.

Chapter 7, Training for Rowing, gives a very basic overview of training plans, including aerobic, flexibility and weight training. The focus is towards younger rowers. The basics of anatomy and physiology as they pertain to rowing are also covered. This chapter would really be insufficient for anyone trying to come up with a training plan, as it just glosses over the best activities, but it does give a good idea of what such a plan would be like.

At the end of the book, a 2-page glossary of rowing-related terms is included, along with a list of national rowing organizations for many countries. There also is an index. ... Read more

Book Description
The rich history of rowing on San Francisco Bay. From post-Civil War days until the end of WWII, the rowing clubs of San Francisco established and preserved a tradition of excellence with the oar. ... Read more

Book Description
Founded in 1978 by Artistic Director Julia Miles, Women's Project & Productions places women playwrights at center stage. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Perfect for quick skits and projects
Julia Miles edits Women's Project & Productions: Rowing To America, a collection of sixteen short plays which originate from the Women's Project and Productions group. These very short plays are perfect for quick skits and projects. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

You can almost smell the sweaty socks
"The Shell Game" is a nice companion to "Mind Over Water" and "The Amateurs." Where "Mind Over Water" deals with single sculling, "The Shell Game" recounts Stephen Kiesling's personal history of rowing in eights, focusing especially on the Yale-Harvard race, the Henley Royal Regatta, and the preparations and selection camp for the national team for the ill-fated 1980 Olympic Games. Along with "The Amateurs," "The Shell Game" and "Mind Over Water" seem to make up a perfect trio of personal odysseys in the sport of rowing. Of the three, "The Amateurs" is certainly the best written (after all, David Halberstam, need one say more?), but "The Shell Game" and "Mind Over Water" let you peek directly into the minds and hearts of devotees of this weirdly fanatical sport.

Focused on three specific events as it is, "The Shell Game" provides a look into a rarefied world of rowing races, from the hidebound tradition of Henley to the grueling trials at the U.S. Olympic selection camp, from the etiquette of international racing to the mechanics of testing athletes to determine not only their racing abilities but even their rate of oxygen exchange.

As with any memoir, there are those who will find the more personal passages a tad cloying, but overall it's a delightful book. Kiesling provides a particularly nice chapter ("The Set") on the tragic dichotomy of the physical and the intellectual that began in ancient Greece and still haunts us today. If ever there were an argument for their reunification, this would surely be one of the best. Definitely a keeper for future re-reading.

Great book for all
I'm a rower in high school, and I've read this book.I must admit it is a great book.Stephen's story about rowing at Yale against all other teams including their arch rival, Harvard.It reminds my of my school.La SalleHS and St. Jose Prep are huge rivals and it shows at all the games.Irecommend this book to all who have been involved in the sport, and eventhose who never have seen a race.Its a great book!

reflections from the Yale Boathouse
Rowing is among the most anonymous of sports. In the prestige categories there are legends and myths, but these are little known or acclaimed outside its community.. It retains its Brahmin character; despite becomingmore accessible in recent years, it still has the aura of Groton, Exeter,St. Paul's preps and the Ivy League. The first Yale - Harvard contest washeld in 1852, predating any other intercollegiate athletics. Kiesling takesyou into the world of the 8's, in futile preparation for the boycotted 1980Olympics. A house scholar and varsity member at Yale, Kiesling gives you agrasp of the cult like devotion to this sport, the fraternal but bitterlycompetitive atmosphere for places on the boat, the almost complete physicalimmersion, beyond exhaustion, in preparation for regattas-- and the littleacre of hell and glory (or agony) of the races themselves. This type ofathletic intensity is, if not unique, uniquely exhibited in Crew-- membersstrive to exceed their limits, to match and challenge that of their crewmates, to uphold its traditions. This is a young man's book;his sharpopinions reflect a young man's attitudes born of singular personalchallenges-- which moderate with maturity. It is agood book on rowing,and a great book on the competitive spirit.

Effectively portrays the ups and downs of rowing
I reccomend this book for anyone who has ever rowed, or has ever wondered what it would be like to row.He makes the reader feel the drastic ups and downs which go along with this addicting sport.I received my copy as agift from another rower, and I have continually passed my copy on to myteammates and coaches. A must-have for any oarsman.

Great pysch before a big race.
Perfect for any rower or novice.Kiesling can introduce anyone to the sport through the tales of his expeirence at Yale, the US National team, and the Olympics.I love digging through this book before a race toinspire me through my match. Can't wait to read it again. ... Read more

Product Description
Her eighth collection of poems. ... Read more

Book Description
Rowing was the former East Germany's bible of rowing. East Germany dominated international rowing at virtually every level of competition from 1966-1990. Subjects discussed include rowing and sculling techniques, rigging, training and preparation for competition, development of beginners, tactics, and equipment. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

East German Hacksquat Animals reveal their secrets and doses
This book is a must read for any elite or would be elite rower.

If you follow the principles in this book of being a good GDR boy or girl...you're bound to improve your rowing immeasurably.

It covers pretty much everything from physiology, to boat construction, to history, to trainingdiary ideas and even Socialist principles of the elite German Socialistrower...

The only thing this doesn't include is a 'how to' guide toimplement the East German doping technique which they all pretty much usedthrough the 70s and 80s! ;-)

Otherwise, a great read...not for thebeginner or recreational rower though, unless you're very keen.

An excellent manual, touching upon all aspects of rowing.
This is the East German (remember them?) rowing bible from the 1970s.The training and technique instructional material is useful even today, and the book is filled with other information you never even knew you didn't know, like the proper minimum dimensions for boathouses, boat storage racks, and the like.Translated from German, and as a result not an especially exciting piece of literature, but entertaining nonetheless.The brief comments on why the coxswain must be an avid Party person (and they aren't referring to Saturday night; this is political) are a real hoot. David Lynch ... Read more

Product Description
The extraordinary Mr. Lock arrives with another expertly written and beautiful book, this one "against type", that is, a departure from his recent wonderful stories involving historical figures.This book captures the life and thoughts of a wounded and hampered individual, allows us to think along with her in a dramatic and altering phase of her life.It is, simply, a beautiful and moving book.Perfect bound, First Edition, first printing. ... Read more