making it easy to get sculls on and
off the water. As long as there aren't
whitecaps on the lake, they can
typically fi nd smooth water on one
tree-lined shore or the other. If they
can't get on the water, they continue
their indoor training.
Last spring, for the fi rst time in
several years, Nebraska sent a team
to the ACRA National Championship
Regatta in Tennessee. Orr was part
of that coxed four team that fi nished
18th out of 27 teams. Her college career
now over, Orr, like past club members,
will look for the opportunity to row
wherever life takes her next.
Fierro isn't sure yet after being
plagued by injuries that date to high
school, but also include pulling the lats
muscles in his back. How do you do
that? "Pull to hard," Fierro said, with a
mix of pride and shame.
"Kevin broke a handle off an oar one
time," Orr said with a laugh, off ering
further explanation on her teammate.
Wherever they go, they will
remember their time rowing for
Nebraska Crew. They will remember the
good and bad weather. And the sunsets
that come earlier every fall practice,
which by season's end fi nish up in the
dark, in landlocked Nebraska.
N
Rowing 101
Competitive rowing
utilizes one-, two-, four-
and eight-person shells
measuring between 27 and
58 feet in length and as
narrow as 10 inches wide.
Typically made of carbon
fi ber today, compared to
wood in the past, shells
weigh from 23 to 230
pounds. New boats range in
price from $15,000 to more
than $60,000.
In sweep rowing, each
person has a single oar.
Eight-person sweep boats
always include a coxswain
who coaches the rowers on
the water and steers the
boat via its rudder. Two-
and four-person sweep
boats may or may not
include a coxswain.
In sculling, rowers hold
an oar in each hand. These
boats come in one-, two-
and four-person versions.
The eight is the fastest,
with top teams reaching
nearly 14 mph, and enough
power to pull a water skier.
Oars are attached to the
boat via riggers. A rower's
feet are stationary, locked
into a stretcher with special
shoes. Rowers sit on a seat
that slides back and forth
with each stroke.
The UNL Crew team
competes in the American
Collegiate Rowing
Association. The fall season
includes time-trials held on
rivers. While typically
5 km long, the distance can
be shorter depending on
the river. In the spring, the
races are 2 km sprints held
on lakes, with several boats
going head-to-head from
a dead start to the fi nish
line. The latter is the format
used in the Olympics.
Every school in the Big
Ten Conference has a
rowing team. At some
schools, women's rowing
is a NCAA varsity sport.
Creighton University has a
women's rowing team.
