Ava and Imogen Cafasso are not letting a global pandemic stand in the way of their rowing ambitions.
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The Nagambie Rowing Club members have not been able to attend their usual on-water rowing sessions due to COVID-19 restrictions.
But they haven’t spent all their downtime on the couch watching Netflix. Instead, they have continued rowing on ergometer rowing machines borrowed from the club.
Ava and Imogen have been joined by their mum, Linda, in regularly rowing a set distance on the machine under race conditions as part of the Victorian Sculling Association’s Winter Sculling competition.
“The race format we have just completed is run over a six-week period and each week we erg (indoor rowing machine) a 2 km pace under race conditions,” Linda said.
“We email our erg time to the volunteer team and they calculate the places based on erg time and handicap placed on each rower to award points in descending order per heat. The winner of each heat is awarded the most points.
“Points are accumulated each week, with the overall winner of the series being the rower with the most points at the end of week six.”
Ava said she was keen to keep up her rowing training and strength program at home during lockdown to ensure she remained competitive.
“During the Winter Sculling series I set myself a new goal each week to erg a faster time and maintain my rowing technique during the race when the going gets tough,” she said.
Imogen said she missed rowing on the water and hitting the machine was the next best thing.
“I miss all aspects of rowing. I miss rowing on the water, my double scull partner Sadhbh, my coach Sue Andrews and my rowing club. I even miss the blisters,” she said.
“I train at home so I can maintain and build my fitness. My goal when we’re able to come out of lockdown is to be a fitter, stronger and a more resilient rower.”
Linda thanked the Nagambie Rowing Club for the opportunity to borrow the rowing machines.
“Being able to compete in this series while in lockdown has kept us linked with our rowing club,” she said.
“We owe thanks to our coach Sue Andrews for her continued support and motivation to keep us on track while we train at home and we simply can’t wait to get back to the club, see and train with our rowing family and be back on the water again.”
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