The two things I dislike about costal is firstly due to the nature of waves it is random and so has an element of luck, which is only a personal preference though. The real thing I dislike about it is how it feels that in the Olympics like a replacement for LW rowing which I do not want to lose.
I thought the same about the randomness. As I have come to learn more the top guys are able to come out on top regardless of the waves. I never thought of the latter though. I know what you mean for that definitely. Although coastal rowing as a whole has been around for a while!
@@CameronBuchan I guess it’s just had a spike in popularity due to the Olympic change? Also at the top level when margins are so close would waves not make a huge impact? Even half a second - especially on such a short event - make a huge difference?
@web_082 well coastal rowing has been going on for hundreds of years but yeah the beach sprints stuff is new but 2-3 years new rather than super recent. At the top end the randomness I think affects people less and less. In all the regattas I’ve been to the top guys are still the top guys regardless of conditions but yes if there was a super tight margin and you hit a wave and your opponent didn’t in beach sprints it could be an issue!
The boat isn’t a little bit heavier. Minimum weight for a single is 2.5 times a flat water single (35kg vs 14kg). For doubles it’s around twice (27 vs 60). I suspect that over time optimal technique will develop differently.
For coastal rowing I prefer to use Maas boats, I’ve been rowing them for over thirty-eight years on San Francisco Bay. It’s a tragedy that it was not selected for use in the Olympics over the Coastal boats. It’s a far superior in construction and hull design. They were designed to win the Catalina regatta from Catalina Island to Marin Del Ray, California, which is a distance of 31 nautical miles. The limitation of the boat in rough water comes down to the level of experience in the rower. A quality boat at a reasonable price that will last for over twenty years if they’re well maintained. The good news is it was saved from extinction by recently being acquired by Pocock.
Differing to most of the comments here, I think it is super refreshing to have a large content creator like yourself making the up and coming parts of the sport such as coastal rowing much more accessible and in the public domain. Whilst I appreciate that as a creator you have to balance both time and reward carefully when you make content but I think the coastal rowing videos are awesome, as opposed to the slightly more well trodden path of the normal single - which is no less good but is more represented in rowing media. Thanks for all the hard work you put into your videos!
I agree with what others are saying, you are definitely my favorite rowing channel but I have some trouble relating to something that I haven’t experienced.
Hi Cam, Thank you for shedding light on coastal rowing. Ever since the introduction of FISA coastal boats, the standard has climbed enormously. Though many flat water rowers still look at coastal as fixed seat, large wooden skiff boats. It's only a matter of time that people catch on. Also, coastal makes the boat much more accessible. To me, the nearest flat water club is too far away to be feasible. I think this opens much more opportunities for the sport, and I look forward to seeing how it progresses!
Probably a minority here, but as basement erg guy-coastal, flat water, up a waterfall-makes no difference to me. Been watching for you for years because your positive yam and adventures keep me moving.
The thing that looks weird is the running before/after. They should just do rowing without mixing in that running. Rowing on the ocean is nice, but the running before/after doesn't make sense/is not so interesting. The venues also seemed smaller. Now, if you entered a really big coastal rowing event in Australia and made a video with that, you would probably get a few more views.
I am going on a coastal rowing trip in the summer for school, and I have only had brief experience with a single on flat water, so the videos are really helping me prepare. I do not often get to see that side of rowing so it is really, really nice to have someone covering it, and it's even better from someone with so much experience! I also never would have thought it would improve my confidence in a fine single, as you said - I guess I always assumed the coastal boat would get me used to its stability, and that I would have to readjust a lot to return to the fine single. Either way, I'm looking forward to the trip, though, and as I said the videos really help!
I think it's just flat water rowing is much more popular. It's not that the videos are any worse or better, it's just it's going out to a niche within a niche.
Most likely the answer. I think the coastal niche is considered to be smaller than it actually is considering how similar the two variations are though. What do you think?
Cam, I really love what you have done in the past years and you were a great inspiration for many of us. That being said, this video feels a bit like someone not accepting that their partner wants a breakup. And when you start hypothesizing that people who don’t care so much for coastal rowing are „uneducated“ or „arrogant“, it really doesn’t make you look like a very decent person (which I‘ve learned that you are). If you love something then go and do your thing with all your heart and have the time of your life with all the success you’ve ever dreamed of, I truly wish that for you. You shouldn’t care so much if others agree with you or not.
Dear Cam, yes I have been watching all of your coastal rowing videos and enjoying them. They have been the germ of my interest in a coastal boat. So please, I'm grateful for any lead on a boat that fits me. Thanks, Will
Hi Cam. Frankly your outgoing personality shows through regardless of the style of rowing you choose. I live in the central US so can’t easily try coastal rowing. So I get lots of knowledge out of watching your flat water work. Just keep posting any type of rowing and I’ll watch and appreciate it. Thanks.
I have been a Strength and Conditioning Coach for over 20 years and one of the sports I train is rowing. I think coastal compliments the sport overall. Rather like 20/20 Cricket and Rugby 7,s, do for their respective sports. I think it needs time and I am also trying coastal rowing myself as it looks exciting.
my problem with costal rowing comes mostly with the fact that the technique isn’t different but is less important because of the conditions, one of the best parts of flat water rowing is the really fine detail in the technique where costal loses some of that
Great video, Cameron. Completely agree with what you said. Personally I enjoy both disciplines. Really good that you beach sprint experiences have translated into technical improvements in your fine boat sculling. I often think people are pushed into fine sculls too quickly and it's better to serve your apprenticeship in heavier stable boats. That's how it was done when I was ag school. We had to start off in great heavy rum tums on the tideway and carry then down the slipway to the water on our own.
I've said this before but I want to again give positive feedback on your coastal rowing adventure: I love it. Rowing for me is all about butts in boats - any water, any boat (an erg is not a boat). You need to find a way to reach the coastal rowing folks. There is a comment below that the waves are random in coastal, adding an element of luck. Waves are not random but they are complicated to predict. More challenge means more fun in my mind. How are people not excited to see something new to learn? On the topic of technical challenges of coastal rowing: Christopher Bak, a US team coastal rower, trained at my club in California for a while and we got to hear about his racing. He said that he won a championship by shortening his stroke to half slide when racing in nasty wave conditions. It was all about reading the waves and currents and adjusting his technique. Deal with the hand that Mother Nature has dealt. That's not luck, it's knowledge and training. I enjoy your rows on what I think is the Forth and Clyde Canal. ? You could make a day of it and visit the Falkirk Wheel and and Kelpies if I am looking at the map correctly.
Exactly that! The more experience of reading the conditions and how to adapt means it’s not about randomness once you get to a certain level. I’ve actually never thought of doing that! I’ve cycled it many times though!!! Would be a pretty big day out but fun. Would need someone to come along and help with the locks perhaps! Or maybe I just get in and out myself! Also wonder if there has been a rowing boat on the Falkirk wheel 🤔
@@CameronBuchan Adventuring on the canal... I rowed in an eight that went through a lock or two on the Thames and there was a lock keeper, I presume because it was a busy stretch of river. Might the locks have portage paths for small human-powered craft, like canoes? You can tell that after decades of rowing in straight lines I'm ready for other rowing challenges.🙂
I have really enjoyed your costal rowing videos. Former flat water rower and current erg rower here. I have enjoyed learning about a new area of rowing I have very little knowledge in.
I've only really done coastal rowing & think you need to do more content, especailly the endurance side of it not just sprints. Just come back from Jersey Offshore Regatta (should have been British Offshore Champs) with lots of others having raced both days over 4km in choppy conditions. It's so much more fun & friendlier environment. I've found flat water rowing a lot more detached from the others that compete especially with the medal ceromories (very insular), coastal is so much more in it together. Off to the Welsh Offshores in a week for more of the rough stuff!!
Hi Cam, I think a lot of the feedback you have received kind of sums it up. Your subscriber base will in the majority be inland rowers with a mix of coastal and don’t forget, non rowers. I would think a lot of the first coastal videos were well watched but there would be a slight drop off as some may not let’s say “broaden their horizons”. I found the whole process of what you have gone through really interesting but realistically living in Herefordshire, unlikely to go coastal rowing but never say never! Once fully exposed during the Olympics I would imagine the search for coastal content will increase. Bottom line is as you say “rowing is rowing” no matter what discipline so keep doing what you’re doing as you have the opportunity to experience more than the rest of us rowers who appreciate the high quality content you create 😎
I have enjoyed both flat water and coastal rowing. With the coastal rowing we get to watch pretty much the whole race; really quite exciting. Keep up the good work, and Good Luck at the Met Regatta.
Hi Cam, we met briefly at the Welsh coast champs, I said you you I really was enjoying watching your journey. (Just for context I work in tech and change, so I am involved in introducing new tech to market) So costal / beach sprints are still in their infancy so the audience will be must smaller. These are the 'early adopters' they are open and even excited about new things. Then you have the majority and the late adopters. These range from cautious about new things to down right hostile towards it!) if you focus on the last 2 you will become demotivated and question yourself. If you focus on your own journey of discovery and the early adopters then you will get good feedback.... And yes with any new thing it takes much more work for less results (aka views) starting is hard, much like getting momentum in a boat in the first few strokes... Its like they say: build it and they will come. Enable the early adopters with your great content and the other will follow.
Recently I've been interested in checking out coastal rowing, but one of the reasons I haven't looked much into it before that is because of the competitiveness. I believe one reason people might not like coastal is because everyone's always thinking about speed, and they want to be in the events where the boats go fastest. If coastal boats go slower, people think it's in a "lower league." For me initially, coastal seemed like a waste of time because you're not able to see how fast a crew/person can humanly go. As a fairly new coach, I've also struggled changing my view of recreational rowing for the same reason. I personally wouldn't want to row if I wasn't trying to make my boat go as fast as possible, but I understand that it's simply different. I do think the addition of beach sprints to the olympics is interesting, and I'll certainly be watching coastal closely in the next few years.
I can understand that with the beach sprints are there is a bit more going on. But what about coastal rowing? It is pretty much the same just on a different waterway!
honestly, I’d watch you paddle a matchbox in a bathtub. You are so enthusiastic and exuberant and I love it. I like all your videos and the coastal rowing ones I like a lot because you seem to be enjoying yourself more quite frankly. That stint in Australia, struck me as hard work coming off the back of disappointment and a bit joyless.
as a costal and river rower i think that costal rowing is more fun due to the randomness of the waves although these dont affect outcomes that much. for example my j14 mixed crew consistently finishes in the same place
I watched all your videos I think. I also liked the effort you put into the videos. The drone footage was exciting. I have tried coastal and it is alright. And I don't think it is something about you can only do one of them. I think coastal has a few problems. It seems like it is a top down approach for the development of the sport rather than a bottom up. That is why it probably is already big in terms of being professional. But it has not gained as much traction in the community itself. It is there to keep rowing in the olympics and have it viewer friendly. But I don't think rowing in itself has a problem with being boring to watch. It is always about the stories you tell. That is why you and Eamon Galvin are so successful. Or why so many people watch henley livestreams 10hrs a day. But the coverage of international flat water rowing (apart from youtubers and podcasters and athletes) is rubbish. They don't make the races exciting. Same goes for coastal btw. And then there is the thing with replacing ltw rowing. which the rowing community loves. So all in all. I don't think it has something to do with your videos or coastal rowing as a sport in general.
Thank you for your feedback! All very interesting points and definitely good for thought. Very much agree with how flat water rowing is promoted by governing bodies of the sport. Rowers love to watch rowing so that’s really all that has to be done!! And like you said hearing the stories. I think there is also a confusion between “coastal” rowing and beach sprints but that’s another conversation!
Nice Jedi mind trick making a video about coastal rowing with footage of river rowing. 😂 I just find the flow and relaxation of watching nice river rowing more appealing than coastal boats. Coastal boats look like a bit of fun and I’ve had a go myself but I don’t feel the same addictive connection to it. Maybe if I’d grown up with it I might feel different. A couple of other thoughts….it feels like it I being forced on us and hasn’t naturally evolved; and I’m really disappointed that something so niche is going into the Olympics and Lightweight rowing with its huge history in our sport to be going out. Just my two bob’s worth 😉
The difference is like watching Formula 1 racing on one TV and Soap Box Racing on another TV. They both involve wheels and they both roll on pavement. That's where the similarities end. It's like velodrome racing with the bike and mountain biking. Some may like all forms of riding a bike, some may only enjoy road racing.
I recognize this is quite a silly take, but I'm just not a fan of the aesthetics of coastal rowing. The boats remind me of these super fat doubles my club used to have for novice rowers. I think a lot of rowers have some kind of elitist mindset when it comes to coastal rowing, like it is some sort of kid's summer-camp version of our sport. You're the only rowing-vlog style channel I know of and I bet that is the case for a lot of viewers, so I think people just like what they already know of. The videos you're making now on coastal rowing are going to open up A LOT of people to the sport, and personally I'm happy with what ever videos you make : )
I don't like the unpredictability of the conditions. Conditions can be vastly different when the first person goes to when the last goes. I understand it's the same for normal rowing, but it has less of an impact. I think that for normal rowing, the athleticism and ability to endire extreme pain is more admirable than the ability to overcome the conditions in coastal rowing. I have respect for both disciplines, but I much prefer normal rowing.
Your base is been built on flat rowing, competition and erging. Coastal rowing, I believe, is still finding its footing and the flat water crowd is a traditional group (what? No club jackets?!) Limited access to a coast line can make a sport that is challenging more so. I ❤️the new content.
I’m fascinated by this video. It’s so meta in the way you use the data from traffic to prompt an interesting question. Impressed you asked that question and that you read the replies. The comments about the seeming gimmicky nature of coastal rowing make me want to look into its history. Guess it’s based on the Australian rescue boat rowing. Personally, I see the aesthetic and technical appeal of flat water rowing, but I also enjoy going places in a boat. Maybe the coastal term is being applied too broadly to mean anything that isn’t on flat water. Maybe a third term would be good to have. Explorer? Sea? Roughwater? Bicycling has many names for its many disciplines. Anyway, great videos, sir. But for God’s sake watch your spelling, unless using “costal” was an experiment to see how many comments you influenced/misled.
Yes I should have reworded it a it seems most people think beach sprints not when one says coastal rowing. Spelling wise, my a key decided to go on holiday !
I enjoyed the coastal videos.....not sure if many people knew.....but James Foad started out coastal rowing for Itchen Imperial Rowing Club in Southampton....and he's an Olympic Silver medal winner.
Cam. I think you're on to something here. Amazing it's come from RUclips stats. 😂 I've done a bit of coastal, and love the elements of adventure, lack of control over the water and the difference to fine boat racing. When I mention it to many of my mates who I used to row with and that 'I've been catching waves' they look at me a bit bewildered and almost scared. I think this unknown factor you mention in the community is spot on. People don't yet know where it will fit in their understanding of the sport. Probably very similar to when MTB or Snowboarding arrived on their respective sporting scenes. But we all know how popular those sports are now... What do you see as the challenge to getting people to be comfortable trying coastal?
As a parent of a young rower I've loved your videos as I haveclearnt the terms, the trg, and get to see what he experiences. He has no interest currently in beach rowing, so neither do I. Purely my personal take.
I love Coastal Rowing. Absolutely adore it. I would row flatwater too but it is less accessible for me. I find it exciting, and I dont think "luck" is really what the conditions introduce - you have to train for a wide range of conditions. I row bow in the quad so you do have to adapt hand heights a lot in rough seas (a skill in itself).
The part of rowing that interests me is the perfection aspect/small nuances, which is far more visible on flat water. Also because i row flat water myself(as do most people) Beach sprints seem a bit goofy, although i’ve still enjoyed watching some of them.
On the water for me is SUP only - rowing is on the erg only. Enjoy the flat, coastal and fitness vids equally as well as watching to see if Yam makes an appearance. Id say push on with what you've been doing!
I don't think there's anything about one being better or worse. I think most people will agree that no form of rowing is objectively interesting to watch, but subjectively we take interest in it due to familiarity with the sport. Due to numbers of people involved in each discipline you will obviously have more people who have experience of flat water rowing who will want to watch the videos. I kind of get that they're trying to increase interest with casual viewers but I really don't think the format of mixing in jogging and competitive putting on shoes with rowing makes for a better sport. It's a new idea and hopefully they can eventually come up with something that's interesting to watch but I think there is a broad consensus that so far it hasn't achieved its goal
I like all types of rowing. The uncertainty of what Mother Nature is going to do is what makes anything like this something different. I don't know whether coastal rowing will become a juggernaut, but you only have to look at other disciplines such as cycling which until the late 80s was road based. MTB was obscure in 1989 (I was a very early adopter) and has become enormous but was shunned by the majority of road cyclists - it wasn't pure, it was on unpredictable terrain, you got dirty and any number of reasons to deny what it was - fun. Cycling has fragmented further in recent years with cyclo-cross and gravel....and of course there's now electric bikes making waves amongst the old school (despite it opening up the sport to many more people). It takes time for people to take on a new idea and the mental intertia needed to build momentum is hard work. Most people who watch you are keen on the rowing movement (physical movement) so whether it's on the water or on the erg, they had to decide to do that over doing some other thing like running, tennis or rugby etc etc. They key to lifelong enjoyment is to open the mind and broaden the horizon, and the beauty of coastal rowing is the horizon is 'always over there' 🙂whereas flat water ends just around the next corner. Keep on doing what you're doing and of course keep your eyes on the business side. Monetising content is hard when it's serious (based on FB and YT feeds, the idiots seem to rule the algorithms).
Flat water and coastal is all rowing. Mountain biking and road racing is all cycling. Both are now Olympic sports and offer more variety to athletes. It's really interesting to see that your experience of coastal rowing has given you more confidence in your fine single sculling. And the fact you are now winning events is more evidence to show that coastal rowing offers athletes a different and positive outlook to there rowing and training. Just touching on the Olympics. I'm gutted that lightweight rowing is being taken out. As a lightweight myself I remember how exciting it was when it was included so it's sad to see it go. That said from what I see at beach sprints events is the lighterweight athletes are more agile than the heavies and seem to be doing well in the smaller boat classes. Anyway I'm excited that rowing is evolving and there are more opportunities for both river and coastal rowers to come together and all enjoy the sport of ROWING 🚣🏼 #yamsquad
Personally i've THOROUGHLY ENJOYED the coastal rowing vids, and have watched them more consistantly than some of the normal rowing vids. I havent watched the 40min steady row yet, but if i hadnt have sold my rowing machine, it would have been a good one for me to watch. I enjoy the coastal rowing vids because theyre EXCITING, i watch with baited breath! They've shown me a really enjoyable sport i didnt know existed! I now want to DO coastal rowing!
My slightly crazy, certainly pessimistic prediction: coastal rowing will eventually replace flat water rowing at the Olympics. The latter has, as far as the IOC is concerned, far too many athletes for the attention it brings in (second most athletes after track and field IIRC), and constructing a suitable venue is very expensive. Dropping it will make people very mad, but I think most have far too rosy a view of the Olympics. The IOC has brought in a lot of 'contemporary' sports I would never have thought to see in the Olympics in the past and it has considered getting rid of others, like boxing and weightlifting, which I'd thought were integral to the programme (admittedly because of corruption in the case of those two). I don't think the IOC sees the Olympics the way most rowing fans (or indeed fans of any traditional sport) see it. I know this is off-topic but web_082's comment about lightweight rowing got me thinking.
I prefer watching normal rowing because it’s to begin with, something I and other rowers can relate to. I love watching you row and perform at a high level and showing the almost “industrial” way you train. It has more history and I think the athletes perform at higher level with more dedication. Costal rowing is relatively new and I think it’s very chaotic and not refined - not as much goes into it as into Olympic rowing.
Definitely something less relatable but I think you’d be surprised how much effort goes into coastal rowing. But I suppose that depends on the level the person/people are competing at
I like flatwater rowing and i like coastal rowing. Each is it's own event. I compare it to mountain bike riding vs road bike riding. I like both for different reasons. I have a racing single and coastal single.
Heck, Cam, I like the coastal rowing! I'm actually considering getting a coastal boat to better deal with the winds in South Dakota where I live. I have an Alden Quest, which it too small for me and a Little River Sprint, which is OK but not optimally sized for me. (I'm 6'7", 225lbs.) Any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks, Will
Hi Will! That makes a sense, the coastal boats can make a big difference. Being similar size to me, I know that some of the coastal boats aren’t made for the bigger guys! They have a large “range” but realistically they aren’t supposed to be on the top of that range. I don’t know if you saw the Welsh coastal racing I did. I tried their XXL single. I could maybe put you in touch with them to see if they could get you one?
I really like the coastal rowing VIDEOS. I like all of your videos. You obviously put a lot of work into them. I don't like coastal ROWING. I consider liking the videos and liking the sport two different questions. The endurance variety of coastal seems like a serious rowing sport and I have done some open water rowing, but the beach sprints seem like some made-for-TV event. Participating in that looks terrible, watching it is great. Again, your videos are certainly exciting and fun to watch, the actual activity is not for me.
Here for the Yam, not for the rowing. So I'm watching both disciplines. (Yet, rowing is more relatable than costal rowing for many of us, and it is also faster and more elegant.)
I'm maybe not your typical audience, I've only rowed on water once, and that happened to be on a tidal estuary. All my rowing (which I do a lot of) is not 'real', just on an erg. I dont think there is a filming quality issue at all, the coastal rowing content is really well filmed and put together. I enjoy all your videos but I can see how people could be put off if they have only rowed on flat water. For someone like me, I just enjoy the scenery, the challenges, your reflections and progress. So you could post content about rowing a wooden boat in a fishing lake and I would still enjoy it because in that respect I'm none the wiser 😂
I thought the coastal rowing videos were interesting and a step up production-wise with the use of drone footage etc. For me they were something different from flat water rowing. I guess you can't please all of the people all of the time. Please keep up the good work. I'm a home rower: I have an Erg and a pain-cave.
For me it is less interesting because of the fact that the replacement of coastal for other rowing numbers is unnatural for me. I get the fact that rowing needs to be appealing for a wider audience and population for it to grow, but this solution is feels like it is forgetting some steps. What I would like to see is to see a diversification in distances first, just like in other aerobic sports like running or cycling. The longer distance coastal event is a good idea, but because it is in different water then where typical rowing boats operate I think it would appeal more if it was replaced by a head style event on a river, similar to timetrial cycling. Add a sprint event like 500m and you appeal to long distance and sprint athletes
Thank you! I am not quite sure how the two things you said there affect one another. Surely if the content is interesting that’s great and separate to the politics behind the choices of distances etc?
@@CameronBuchan I get your point. Your content is good about the subject, so keep going. But I do think that my viewing pleasure is affected by the nature of the events. Like I said, I do not agree with the reasoning behind the events, so after watching your first couple of videos about it and understanding the nature of the events, I lost interest in the subject. It therefor has nothing to do with your content creation, but more the subject and my inability to find further interest in coastal rowing
I dont like it because it doesn’t match the same thing as normal rowing, It seems too different. It also seems too short and too random. If it wasn’t called rowing and more of like a coastal water sprint i would be fine with it but i think the two styles are too far separated to both be considered rowing
Interesting Henry. I think you’re talking about Beach Sprints, which has additional goings on like running and turning. Still includes rowing for the majority. Though, what would you say about coastal rowing? Which is essentially the same, just on the sea not a river
Hi I’m very new to the sport so can’t comment on technical stuff like the different types of boat or the different rules. But can comment about the videos vibes. You produce a a certain style of video that is very entertaining. But if you watch a video on a guy who is very good on a road bike would it be the same if he did a video about downhill mountain bikes. I have watched two of your coastal videos and they were both good but it’s a video of a flat water rower having a go at coastal rowing. Given time I think they would grow in popularity. But that’s just my opinion
I know you aren't necessarily trying to tell people to "go do coastal rowing instead of flat water," but just another thought I had while watching this from the US is that coastal rowing is not nearly as accessible as flat water rowing. A large number of crews over here come from land locked states where coastal rowing is just simply not an option. Curious to hear your thoughts on this?
Yes, like I said everyone has their preferences and can do what they want to! 😅That’s very true, but for the majority of the stats I can see where people are watching from, and the coast is pretty accessible for them! Definitely though, if land locked would be hard to get to the coast! I would also see another commenter from South Dakota looking at getting a coastal single
@@CameronBuchan For me personally, I live within walking distance from the beach and there just isnt a scene for it yet. Maybe one day that will be different though.
The beach sprints just look like a made-up game. I'm a river rower, and love the peaceful evenings when I can concentrate on technique while enjoying the wildlife and the scenery. Coastal rowing looks too frantic to me. Also, running has nothing to do with rowing, and many of us row so we don't have to run.
I think its a really interesting sport and everyone should be able to find their own sport. However its really a discouraging turn of events seeing as costal rowing is taking away lightweight rowing from the olympics which is possibly one of the most interesting events to watch purely because its not just about erg score but also how clean and smooth a boat is. If it wasnt for the fact that costal rowing was taking away lw rowing I feel not just me, but a majority of people would be more accepting
Its not that coastal rowing is not rowing it definitely is but I think the flatwater rowing is much more relatable and has more of the key rowing elements of balance, power and skill neither is better than each other but I dont think any type of coastal rowing regatta will be able to live up to the flatwater 2k regatta. I think most of your audience loved the way you raced and trialled so thats something we are going to miss with the new coastal. Good luck in whichever you choose to do (Flatwater Hopefully)
That is mostly likely the reason! I would disagree with you that a costal regatta could never live up to a 2k one though! I also don’t know why you say you’re going to miss and the audience loved how I raced. I am still racing! As I said in yesterday’s video I’ll be heading to Met this weekend 💪 think there is some misunderstanding of what I’ve been doing!
Balance - waves mean you need more not less. Power - waves, tide, wind so you need more power. Boats are also a little heavier. Skill - more variable conditions so more skill required? I mean I'm not sure what argument could be made for needing more of any of those elements on flat water.
I enjoy your content, most for your fun personality, however I just enjoy it more when i can relate to whats happening in the video. I have never tried coastal rowing so its just not as engaging to me
My theory would be it’s not ‘proper’ it’s not elite enough, it won’t get you rowing at Henley, Marlow. Coastal rowing is for people who just want to go out for a social paddle, it’s unskillful and not a test of anything. Stuff and nonsense!
I personally like both type of videos, but I'm a strictly landbased rower, so they are both something different from what I'm doing. What I do notice is that the video format is a bit different. It might be because you are entering the coastal rowing thing yourself as well. By doing so, you document your challenges and complexity of the competition format well. But the competition format is quite complex, making it less accessible. I haven't timed it, but you seem to talk more on the coastal rowing vids. Flat water rowing is easier to understand as it is a single distance, and just several rounds, and your analysis is shorter. But that is just my impression. Please note: I don't think it is a bad thing to do, and it might even open a new audience for you, and from a historical perspective it might prove much more interesting. And some might be here just to see you row extremely fast, sweat and throw up.
I think there’s a little bit of “if I’m not doing it it’s not for me” so I appreciate you saying you’re land based but like both. That is true, I do a little more explaining in the coastal videos as I know not a lot of people have tried. Which is probably down to the stats being lower!
I think it's because many rowing people can't relate with coastal rowing and/or don't know what it's about. So the audience doesn't comment as much as in the typical flat water video and thus the all mighty weird algorithm does stupid things. On a completely other note, I think including just beach sprints to the Olympic Games is the wrong decision. I would have selected a combination of sprint and endurance in which the results of the sprint would somehow determine the start in the endurance race
I would bet that the lower viewership is because you have built up an audience of flat water rowers. I bet the coastal rowing viewers will find you if you continue putting out the content.
Its the same reason track runners dont like cross country runners, or why cyclists don't like bmx. One is a display of speed, fitness, and technique. Its a raw sport that pushes atheltes to their limits, and the other isnt
I like it = less polluted than current British rivers.I did find single sculls boring except in the Summer on the Thames where there was interesting scenery.
The two things I dislike about costal is firstly due to the nature of waves it is random and so has an element of luck, which is only a personal preference though. The real thing I dislike about it is how it feels that in the Olympics like a replacement for LW rowing which I do not want to lose.
I thought the same about the randomness. As I have come to learn more the top guys are able to come out on top regardless of the waves. I never thought of the latter though. I know what you mean for that definitely. Although coastal rowing as a whole has been around for a while!
@@CameronBuchan I guess it’s just had a spike in popularity due to the Olympic change? Also at the top level when margins are so close would waves not make a huge impact? Even half a second - especially on such a short event - make a huge difference?
@web_082 well coastal rowing has been going on for hundreds of years but yeah the beach sprints stuff is new but 2-3 years new rather than super recent.
At the top end the randomness I think affects people less and less. In all the regattas I’ve been to the top guys are still the top guys regardless of conditions but yes if there was a super tight margin and you hit a wave and your opponent didn’t in beach sprints it could be an issue!
The boat isn’t a little bit heavier. Minimum weight for a single is 2.5 times a flat water single (35kg vs 14kg). For doubles it’s around twice (27 vs 60). I suspect that over time optimal technique will develop differently.
For coastal rowing I prefer to use Maas boats, I’ve been rowing them for over thirty-eight years on San Francisco Bay. It’s a tragedy that it was not selected for use in the Olympics over the Coastal boats. It’s a far superior in construction and hull design. They were designed to win the Catalina regatta from Catalina Island to Marin Del Ray, California, which is a distance of 31 nautical miles. The limitation of the boat in rough water comes down to the level of experience in the rower. A quality boat at a reasonable price that will last for over twenty years if they’re well maintained. The good news is it was saved from extinction by recently being acquired by Pocock.
Differing to most of the comments here, I think it is super refreshing to have a large content creator like yourself making the up and coming parts of the sport such as coastal rowing much more accessible and in the public domain. Whilst I appreciate that as a creator you have to balance both time and reward carefully when you make content but I think the coastal rowing videos are awesome, as opposed to the slightly more well trodden path of the normal single - which is no less good but is more represented in rowing media. Thanks for all the hard work you put into your videos!
I agree with what others are saying, you are definitely my favorite rowing channel but I have some trouble relating to something that I haven’t experienced.
That being said, your editing and personality does make your coastal rowing videos interesting.
Thanks for the support!
Hopefully can experience through the videos!
Hi Cam,
Thank you for shedding light on coastal rowing. Ever since the introduction of FISA coastal boats, the standard has climbed enormously. Though many flat water rowers still look at coastal as fixed seat, large wooden skiff boats. It's only a matter of time that people catch on.
Also, coastal makes the boat much more accessible. To me, the nearest flat water club is too far away to be feasible. I think this opens much more opportunities for the sport, and I look forward to seeing how it progresses!
Probably a minority here, but as basement erg guy-coastal, flat water, up a waterfall-makes no difference to me. Been watching for you for years because your positive yam and adventures keep me moving.
I learned how to row in coastal conditions in traditional shells. And It's amazing
The thing that looks weird is the running before/after. They should just do rowing without mixing in that running. Rowing on the ocean is nice, but the running before/after doesn't make sense/is not so interesting. The venues also seemed smaller. Now, if you entered a really big coastal rowing event in Australia and made a video with that, you would probably get a few more views.
I think the silent 40 minute rowing was amazing, great thing to have to listen to whilst working really beautifully filmed aswell
Was great to see you at Nat schools cam
I am going on a coastal rowing trip in the summer for school, and I have only had brief experience with a single on flat water, so the videos are really helping me prepare. I do not often get to see that side of rowing so it is really, really nice to have someone covering it, and it's even better from someone with so much experience! I also never would have thought it would improve my confidence in a fine single, as you said - I guess I always assumed the coastal boat would get me used to its stability, and that I would have to readjust a lot to return to the fine single. Either way, I'm looking forward to the trip, though, and as I said the videos really help!
I think it's just flat water rowing is much more popular. It's not that the videos are any worse or better, it's just it's going out to a niche within a niche.
Most likely the answer. I think the coastal niche is considered to be smaller than it actually is considering how similar the two variations are though. What do you think?
Cam, I really love what you have done in the past years and you were a great inspiration for many of us.
That being said, this video feels a bit like someone not accepting that their partner wants a breakup. And when you start hypothesizing that people who don’t care so much for coastal rowing are „uneducated“ or „arrogant“, it really doesn’t make you look like a very decent person (which I‘ve learned that you are).
If you love something then go and do your thing with all your heart and have the time of your life with all the success you’ve ever dreamed of, I truly wish that for you. You shouldn’t care so much if others agree with you or not.
Dear Cam, yes I have been watching all of your coastal rowing videos and enjoying them. They have been the germ of my interest in a coastal boat. So please, I'm grateful for any lead on a boat that fits me. Thanks, Will
Hi Cam. Frankly your outgoing personality shows through regardless of the style of rowing you choose. I live in the central US so can’t easily try coastal rowing. So I get lots of knowledge out of watching your flat water work. Just keep posting any type of rowing and I’ll watch and appreciate it. Thanks.
I have been a Strength and Conditioning Coach for over 20 years and one of the sports I train is rowing. I think coastal compliments the sport overall. Rather like 20/20 Cricket and Rugby 7,s, do for their respective sports. I think it needs time and I am also trying coastal rowing myself as it looks exciting.
my problem with costal rowing comes mostly with the fact that the technique isn’t different but is less important because of the conditions, one of the best parts of flat water rowing is the really fine detail in the technique where costal loses some of that
I think that’s not quite right. Technique and technical ability are hugely important in both
Great video, Cameron. Completely agree with what you said. Personally I enjoy both disciplines. Really good that you beach sprint experiences have translated into technical improvements in your fine boat sculling. I often think people are pushed into fine sculls too quickly and it's better to serve your apprenticeship in heavier stable boats. That's how it was done when I was ag school. We had to start off in great heavy rum tums on the tideway and carry then down the slipway to the water on our own.
Bring back the rum tums!
I've said this before but I want to again give positive feedback on your coastal rowing adventure: I love it. Rowing for me is all about butts in boats - any water, any boat (an erg is not a boat). You need to find a way to reach the coastal rowing folks.
There is a comment below that the waves are random in coastal, adding an element of luck. Waves are not random but they are complicated to predict. More challenge means more fun in my mind. How are people not excited to see something new to learn?
On the topic of technical challenges of coastal rowing: Christopher Bak, a US team coastal rower, trained at my club in California for a while and we got to hear about his racing. He said that he won a championship by shortening his stroke to half slide when racing in nasty wave conditions. It was all about reading the waves and currents and adjusting his technique. Deal with the hand that Mother Nature has dealt. That's not luck, it's knowledge and training.
I enjoy your rows on what I think is the Forth and Clyde Canal. ? You could make a day of it and visit the Falkirk Wheel and and Kelpies if I am looking at the map correctly.
Exactly that! The more experience of reading the conditions and how to adapt means it’s not about randomness once you get to a certain level.
I’ve actually never thought of doing that! I’ve cycled it many times though!!! Would be a pretty big day out but fun. Would need someone to come along and help with the locks perhaps! Or maybe I just get in and out myself! Also wonder if there has been a rowing boat on the Falkirk wheel 🤔
@@CameronBuchan Adventuring on the canal... I rowed in an eight that went through a lock or two on the Thames and there was a lock keeper, I presume because it was a busy stretch of river. Might the locks have portage paths for small human-powered craft, like canoes? You can tell that after decades of rowing in straight lines I'm ready for other rowing challenges.🙂
My club is teaching us coastal rowing, from the thames, so we are learning almost the same, but then going to competitions on the sea
I mean the Thames is essentially the sea! 🌊
I have really enjoyed your costal rowing videos. Former flat water rower and current erg rower here. I have enjoyed learning about a new area of rowing I have very little knowledge in.
I've only really done coastal rowing & think you need to do more content, especailly the endurance side of it not just sprints. Just come back from Jersey Offshore Regatta (should have been British Offshore Champs) with lots of others having raced both days over 4km in choppy conditions. It's so much more fun & friendlier environment. I've found flat water rowing a lot more detached from the others that compete especially with the medal ceromories (very insular), coastal is so much more in it together.
Off to the Welsh Offshores in a week for more of the rough stuff!!
I will don’t worry! Just can’t do everything at the same time😅
Yea I get the same feeling, the supportive atmosphere and culture is really good
Hi Cam,
I think a lot of the feedback you have received kind of sums it up. Your subscriber base will in the majority be inland rowers with a mix of coastal and don’t forget, non rowers. I would think a lot of the first coastal videos were well watched but there would be a slight drop off as some may not let’s say “broaden their horizons”. I found the whole process of what you have gone through really interesting but realistically living in Herefordshire, unlikely to go coastal rowing but never say never! Once fully exposed during the Olympics I would imagine the search for coastal content will increase. Bottom line is as you say “rowing is rowing” no matter what discipline so keep doing what you’re doing as you have the opportunity to experience more than the rest of us rowers who appreciate the high quality content you create 😎
I have enjoyed both flat water and coastal rowing. With the coastal rowing we get to watch pretty much the whole race; really quite exciting. Keep up the good work, and Good Luck at the Met Regatta.
Hi Cam, we met briefly at the Welsh coast champs, I said you you I really was enjoying watching your journey.
(Just for context I work in tech and change, so I am involved in introducing new tech to market)
So costal / beach sprints are still in their infancy so the audience will be must smaller. These are the 'early adopters' they are open and even excited about new things. Then you have the majority and the late adopters. These range from cautious about new things to down right hostile towards it!) if you focus on the last 2 you will become demotivated and question yourself. If you focus on your own journey of discovery and the early adopters then you will get good feedback.... And yes with any new thing it takes much more work for less results (aka views) starting is hard, much like getting momentum in a boat in the first few strokes...
Its like they say: build it and they will come. Enable the early adopters with your great content and the other will follow.
Recently I've been interested in checking out coastal rowing, but one of the reasons I haven't looked much into it before that is because of the competitiveness. I believe one reason people might not like coastal is because everyone's always thinking about speed, and they want to be in the events where the boats go fastest. If coastal boats go slower, people think it's in a "lower league." For me initially, coastal seemed like a waste of time because you're not able to see how fast a crew/person can humanly go. As a fairly new coach, I've also struggled changing my view of recreational rowing for the same reason. I personally wouldn't want to row if I wasn't trying to make my boat go as fast as possible, but I understand that it's simply different.
I do think the addition of beach sprints to the olympics is interesting, and I'll certainly be watching coastal closely in the next few years.
It probably has to do with people, and myself, can relate less to the coastal rowin, it is just less familiar.
I can understand that with the beach sprints are there is a bit more going on. But what about coastal rowing? It is pretty much the same just on a different waterway!
I Rowerg, kayak and dragon boat. I enjoy all your vids, quality has improved from earlier days. As you say variation is motivation. Keep the yam going
We just enjoy being out on the water with you, and the erg sessions are always good as well.
honestly, I’d watch you paddle a matchbox in a bathtub. You are so enthusiastic and exuberant and I love it. I like all your videos and the coastal rowing ones I like a lot because you seem to be enjoying yourself more quite frankly. That stint in Australia, struck me as hard work coming off the back of disappointment and a bit joyless.
as a costal and river rower i think that costal rowing is more fun due to the randomness of the waves although these dont affect outcomes that much. for example my j14 mixed crew consistently finishes in the same place
and so do j16 boys
Yes that was one of my thoughts before I started but in all the races the randomness hasn’t really caused an effect to the overall standings
I watched all your videos I think. I also liked the effort you put into the videos. The drone footage was exciting.
I have tried coastal and it is alright. And I don't think it is something about you can only do one of them. I think coastal has a few problems. It seems like it is a top down approach for the development of the sport rather than a bottom up. That is why it probably is already big in terms of being professional. But it has not gained as much traction in the community itself.
It is there to keep rowing in the olympics and have it viewer friendly. But I don't think rowing in itself has a problem with being boring to watch. It is always about the stories you tell. That is why you and Eamon Galvin are so successful. Or why so many people watch henley livestreams 10hrs a day. But the coverage of international flat water rowing (apart from youtubers and podcasters and athletes) is rubbish. They don't make the races exciting. Same goes for coastal btw.
And then there is the thing with replacing ltw rowing. which the rowing community loves.
So all in all. I don't think it has something to do with your videos or coastal rowing as a sport in general.
Thank you for your feedback!
All very interesting points and definitely good for thought. Very much agree with how flat water rowing is promoted by governing bodies of the sport. Rowers love to watch rowing so that’s really all that has to be done!! And like you said hearing the stories.
I think there is also a confusion between “coastal” rowing and beach sprints but that’s another conversation!
Nice Jedi mind trick making a video about coastal rowing with footage of river rowing. 😂
I just find the flow and relaxation of watching nice river rowing more appealing than coastal boats. Coastal boats look like a bit of fun and I’ve had a go myself but I don’t feel the same addictive connection to it. Maybe if I’d grown up with it I might feel different.
A couple of other thoughts….it feels like it I being forced on us and hasn’t naturally evolved; and I’m really disappointed that something so niche is going into the Olympics and Lightweight rowing with its huge history in our sport to be going out. Just my two bob’s worth 😉
The difference is like watching Formula 1 racing on one TV and Soap Box Racing on another TV. They both involve wheels and they both roll on pavement. That's where the similarities end. It's like velodrome racing with the bike and mountain biking. Some may like all forms of riding a bike, some may only enjoy road racing.
I recognize this is quite a silly take, but I'm just not a fan of the aesthetics of coastal rowing. The boats remind me of these super fat doubles my club used to have for novice rowers. I think a lot of rowers have some kind of elitist mindset when it comes to coastal rowing, like it is some sort of kid's summer-camp version of our sport. You're the only rowing-vlog style channel I know of and I bet that is the case for a lot of viewers, so I think people just like what they already know of. The videos you're making now on coastal rowing are going to open up A LOT of people to the sport, and personally I'm happy with what ever videos you make : )
I don't like the unpredictability of the conditions. Conditions can be vastly different when the first person goes to when the last goes. I understand it's the same for normal rowing, but it has less of an impact. I think that for normal rowing, the athleticism and ability to endire extreme pain is more admirable than the ability to overcome the conditions in coastal rowing. I have respect for both disciplines, but I much prefer normal rowing.
Your base is been built on flat rowing, competition and erging. Coastal rowing, I believe, is still finding its footing and the flat water crowd is a traditional group (what? No club jackets?!) Limited access to a coast line can make a sport that is challenging more so. I ❤️the new content.
I think that is the simplest answer. It is just surprising to me how different the response is knowing how similar they both are
Yes but thanks to the out of control water boards most rivers in the UK are polluted to the max
I’m fascinated by this video. It’s so meta in the way you use the data from traffic to prompt an interesting question. Impressed you asked that question and that you read the replies. The comments about the seeming gimmicky nature of coastal rowing make me want to look into its history. Guess it’s based on the Australian rescue boat rowing. Personally, I see the aesthetic and technical appeal of flat water rowing, but I also enjoy going places in a boat. Maybe the coastal term is being applied too broadly to mean anything that isn’t on flat water. Maybe a third term would be good to have. Explorer? Sea? Roughwater? Bicycling has many names for its many disciplines. Anyway, great videos, sir. But for God’s sake watch your spelling, unless using “costal” was an experiment to see how many comments you influenced/misled.
Yes I should have reworded it a it seems most people think beach sprints not when one says coastal rowing.
Spelling wise, my a key decided to go on holiday !
I enjoyed the coastal videos.....not sure if many people knew.....but James Foad started out coastal rowing for Itchen Imperial Rowing Club in Southampton....and he's an Olympic Silver medal winner.
Cam.
I think you're on to something here. Amazing it's come from RUclips stats. 😂
I've done a bit of coastal, and love the elements of adventure, lack of control over the water and the difference to fine boat racing.
When I mention it to many of my mates who I used to row with and that 'I've been catching waves' they look at me a bit bewildered and almost scared.
I think this unknown factor you mention in the community is spot on. People don't yet know where it will fit in their understanding of the sport.
Probably very similar to when MTB or Snowboarding arrived on their respective sporting scenes.
But we all know how popular those sports are now...
What do you see as the challenge to getting people to be comfortable trying coastal?
As a parent of a young rower I've loved your videos as I haveclearnt the terms, the trg, and get to see what he experiences. He has no interest currently in beach rowing, so neither do I. Purely my personal take.
I love Coastal Rowing. Absolutely adore it. I would row flatwater too but it is less accessible for me. I find it exciting, and I dont think "luck" is really what the conditions introduce - you have to train for a wide range of conditions. I row bow in the quad so you do have to adapt hand heights a lot in rough seas (a skill in itself).
Indeed. I think as the skill increases the “luck” disappears!
The part of rowing that interests me is the perfection aspect/small nuances, which is far more visible on flat water.
Also because i row flat water myself(as do most people)
Beach sprints seem a bit goofy, although i’ve still enjoyed watching some of them.
On the water for me is SUP only - rowing is on the erg only.
Enjoy the flat, coastal and fitness vids equally as well as watching to see if Yam makes an appearance. Id say push on with what you've been doing!
I'm happy to watch either. But, I don't like getting cold and wet, so I prefer to take part on the flat rather than the lumpy water.
Coastal covers a lot of disciplines. Beach sprints seem to be a bit of a gimmick to excite audiences.
100% which I think some don’t realise
I don't think there's anything about one being better or worse. I think most people will agree that no form of rowing is objectively interesting to watch, but subjectively we take interest in it due to familiarity with the sport. Due to numbers of people involved in each discipline you will obviously have more people who have experience of flat water rowing who will want to watch the videos.
I kind of get that they're trying to increase interest with casual viewers but I really don't think the format of mixing in jogging and competitive putting on shoes with rowing makes for a better sport. It's a new idea and hopefully they can eventually come up with something that's interesting to watch but I think there is a broad consensus that so far it hasn't achieved its goal
I love the coastal rowing videos, but I grew up very near the beach and have spent lots of time there
I like all types of rowing. The uncertainty of what Mother Nature is going to do is what makes anything like this something different. I don't know whether coastal rowing will become a juggernaut, but you only have to look at other disciplines such as cycling which until the late 80s was road based. MTB was obscure in 1989 (I was a very early adopter) and has become enormous but was shunned by the majority of road cyclists - it wasn't pure, it was on unpredictable terrain, you got dirty and any number of reasons to deny what it was - fun. Cycling has fragmented further in recent years with cyclo-cross and gravel....and of course there's now electric bikes making waves amongst the old school (despite it opening up the sport to many more people).
It takes time for people to take on a new idea and the mental intertia needed to build momentum is hard work. Most people who watch you are keen on the rowing movement (physical movement) so whether it's on the water or on the erg, they had to decide to do that over doing some other thing like running, tennis or rugby etc etc. They key to lifelong enjoyment is to open the mind and broaden the horizon, and the beauty of coastal rowing is the horizon is 'always over there' 🙂whereas flat water ends just around the next corner.
Keep on doing what you're doing and of course keep your eyes on the business side. Monetising content is hard when it's serious (based on FB and YT feeds, the idiots seem to rule the algorithms).
Flat water and coastal is all rowing. Mountain biking and road racing is all cycling. Both are now Olympic sports and offer more variety to athletes.
It's really interesting to see that your experience of coastal rowing has given you more confidence in your fine single sculling. And the fact you are now winning events is more evidence to show that coastal rowing offers athletes a different and positive outlook to there rowing and training.
Just touching on the Olympics. I'm gutted that lightweight rowing is being taken out. As a lightweight myself I remember how exciting it was when it was included so it's sad to see it go. That said from what I see at beach sprints events is the lighterweight athletes are more agile than the heavies and seem to be doing well in the smaller boat classes. Anyway I'm excited that rowing is evolving and there are more opportunities for both river and coastal rowers to come together and all enjoy the sport of ROWING 🚣🏼 #yamsquad
Personally i've THOROUGHLY ENJOYED the coastal rowing vids, and have watched them more consistantly than some of the normal rowing vids. I havent watched the 40min steady row yet, but if i hadnt have sold my rowing machine, it would have been a good one for me to watch. I enjoy the coastal rowing vids because theyre EXCITING, i watch with baited breath! They've shown me a really enjoyable sport i didnt know existed! I now want to DO coastal rowing!
My slightly crazy, certainly pessimistic prediction: coastal rowing will eventually replace flat water rowing at the Olympics. The latter has, as far as the IOC is concerned, far too many athletes for the attention it brings in (second most athletes after track and field IIRC), and constructing a suitable venue is very expensive. Dropping it will make people very mad, but I think most have far too rosy a view of the Olympics. The IOC has brought in a lot of 'contemporary' sports I would never have thought to see in the Olympics in the past and it has considered getting rid of others, like boxing and weightlifting, which I'd thought were integral to the programme (admittedly because of corruption in the case of those two). I don't think the IOC sees the Olympics the way most rowing fans (or indeed fans of any traditional sport) see it.
I know this is off-topic but web_082's comment about lightweight rowing got me thinking.
Love all your videos mate, top stuff
I prefer watching normal rowing because it’s to begin with, something I and other rowers can relate to. I love watching you row and perform at a high level and showing the almost “industrial” way you train. It has more history and I think the athletes perform at higher level with more dedication. Costal rowing is relatively new and I think it’s very chaotic and not refined - not as much goes into it as into Olympic rowing.
Definitely something less relatable but I think you’d be surprised how much effort goes into coastal rowing. But I suppose that depends on the level the person/people are competing at
I like flatwater rowing and i like coastal rowing. Each is it's own event. I compare it to mountain bike riding vs road bike riding. I like both for different reasons. I have a racing single and coastal single.
Heck, Cam, I like the coastal rowing! I'm actually considering getting a coastal boat to better deal with the winds in South Dakota where I live. I have an Alden Quest, which it too small for me and a Little River Sprint, which is OK but not optimally sized for me. (I'm 6'7", 225lbs.)
Any thoughts or suggestions?
Thanks,
Will
Hi Will! That makes a sense, the coastal boats can make a big difference. Being similar size to me, I know that some of the coastal boats aren’t made for the bigger guys! They have a large “range” but realistically they aren’t supposed to be on the top of that range. I don’t know if you saw the Welsh coastal racing I did. I tried their XXL single. I could maybe put you in touch with them to see if they could get you one?
Since i saw the expedition rowboat from Angusrowboats i want to build such a boat and to go out into the nature with it…
I really like the coastal rowing VIDEOS. I like all of your videos. You obviously put a lot of work into them. I don't like coastal ROWING. I consider liking the videos and liking the sport two different questions. The endurance variety of coastal seems like a serious rowing sport and I have done some open water rowing, but the beach sprints seem like some made-for-TV event. Participating in that looks terrible, watching it is great. Again, your videos are certainly exciting and fun to watch, the actual activity is not for me.
Here for the Yam, not for the rowing. So I'm watching both disciplines.
(Yet, rowing is more relatable than costal rowing for many of us, and it is also faster and more elegant.)
Everyone loves some Yam content!
Not sure about the elegant idea though!! I can make a fine single look pretty messy!
Because by and the large the rowing community are rowing snobs and anything different from the standard rowing is to be looked down upon
I'm maybe not your typical audience, I've only rowed on water once, and that happened to be on a tidal estuary. All my rowing (which I do a lot of) is not 'real', just on an erg. I dont think there is a filming quality issue at all, the coastal rowing content is really well filmed and put together. I enjoy all your videos but I can see how people could be put off if they have only rowed on flat water. For someone like me, I just enjoy the scenery, the challenges, your reflections and progress. So you could post content about rowing a wooden boat in a fishing lake and I would still enjoy it because in that respect I'm none the wiser 😂
In contrast I only found your content because I wanted to see coastal rowing content.
And not much of it around! More coastal videos to come!
Great! Out at sea with the waves , scenery and wildlife is amazing.
I thought the coastal rowing videos were interesting and a step up production-wise with the use of drone footage etc. For me they were something different from flat water rowing. I guess you can't please all of the people all of the time. Please keep up the good work. I'm a home rower: I have an Erg and a pain-cave.
For me it is less interesting because of the fact that the replacement of coastal for other rowing numbers is unnatural for me. I get the fact that rowing needs to be appealing for a wider audience and population for it to grow, but this solution is feels like it is forgetting some steps. What I would like to see is to see a diversification in distances first, just like in other aerobic sports like running or cycling. The longer distance coastal event is a good idea, but because it is in different water then where typical rowing boats operate I think it would appeal more if it was replaced by a head style event on a river, similar to timetrial cycling. Add a sprint event like 500m and you appeal to long distance and sprint athletes
Thank you!
I am not quite sure how the two things you said there affect one another. Surely if the content is interesting that’s great and separate to the politics behind the choices of distances etc?
@@CameronBuchan I get your point. Your content is good about the subject, so keep going. But I do think that my viewing pleasure is affected by the nature of the events. Like I said, I do not agree with the reasoning behind the events, so after watching your first couple of videos about it and understanding the nature of the events, I lost interest in the subject. It therefor has nothing to do with your content creation, but more the subject and my inability to find further interest in coastal rowing
@@reint88 Thank you for the feedback! I do appreciate it
I dont like it because it doesn’t match the same thing as normal rowing, It seems too different. It also seems too short and too random. If it wasn’t called rowing and more of like a coastal water sprint i would be fine with it but i think the two styles are too far separated to both be considered rowing
Interesting Henry. I think you’re talking about Beach Sprints, which has additional goings on like running and turning. Still includes rowing for the majority. Though, what would you say about coastal rowing? Which is essentially the same, just on the sea not a river
Hi I’m very new to the sport so can’t comment on technical stuff like the different types of boat or the different rules. But can comment about the videos vibes. You produce a a certain style of video that is very entertaining. But if you watch a video on a guy who is very good on a road bike would it be the same if he did a video about downhill mountain bikes. I have watched two of your coastal videos and they were both good but it’s a video of a flat water rower having a go at coastal rowing. Given time I think they would grow in popularity. But that’s just my opinion
Fair idea! Have to start somewhere 💪
I know you aren't necessarily trying to tell people to "go do coastal rowing instead of flat water," but just another thought I had while watching this from the US is that coastal rowing is not nearly as accessible as flat water rowing. A large number of crews over here come from land locked states where coastal rowing is just simply not an option. Curious to hear your thoughts on this?
Yes, like I said everyone has their preferences and can do what they want to! 😅That’s very true, but for the majority of the stats I can see where people are watching from, and the coast is pretty accessible for them! Definitely though, if land locked would be hard to get to the coast! I would also see another commenter from South Dakota looking at getting a coastal single
@@CameronBuchan For me personally, I live within walking distance from the beach and there just isnt a scene for it yet. Maybe one day that will be different though.
@@wavide maybe a Yamsquad tour and I’ll drive around with a couple of coastal singles! 😂
@@CameronBuchan Ha! Would totally love to see that! Holding you to it now Cam!
i think more people do flat water rowing so can relate more to flat water content :)))
I'm all about the Erg, so from a purely self perspective. I prefer the land side training vids.
That’s another point for sure! I know there are a portion of people that have never been on the water regardless. Thank you!
bc ppl consider coastal rowing a joke Vs in the other videos that get like 30k/24k views of you going 552 or doing Olympic trials
The beach sprints just look like a made-up game. I'm a river rower, and love the peaceful evenings when I can concentrate on technique while enjoying the wildlife and the scenery. Coastal rowing looks too frantic to me. Also, running has nothing to do with rowing, and many of us row so we don't have to run.
I think its a really interesting sport and everyone should be able to find their own sport. However its really a discouraging turn of events seeing as costal rowing is taking away lightweight rowing from the olympics which is possibly one of the most interesting events to watch purely because its not just about erg score but also how clean and smooth a boat is. If it wasnt for the fact that costal rowing was taking away lw rowing I feel not just me, but a majority of people would be more accepting
Its not that coastal rowing is not rowing it definitely is but I think the flatwater rowing is much more relatable and has more of the key rowing elements of balance, power and skill neither is better than each other but I dont think any type of coastal rowing regatta will be able to live up to the flatwater 2k regatta. I think most of your audience loved the way you raced and trialled so thats something we are going to miss with the new coastal. Good luck in whichever you choose to do (Flatwater Hopefully)
That is mostly likely the reason!
I would disagree with you that a costal regatta could never live up to a 2k one though!
I also don’t know why you say you’re going to miss and the audience loved how I raced. I am still racing! As I said in yesterday’s video I’ll be heading to Met this weekend 💪 think there is some misunderstanding of what I’ve been doing!
Balance - waves mean you need more not less. Power - waves, tide, wind so you need more power. Boats are also a little heavier. Skill - more variable conditions so more skill required? I mean I'm not sure what argument could be made for needing more of any of those elements on flat water.
I enjoy your content, most for your fun personality, however I just enjoy it more when i can relate to whats happening in the video. I have never tried coastal rowing so its just not as engaging to me
My theory would be it’s not ‘proper’ it’s not elite enough, it won’t get you rowing at Henley, Marlow.
Coastal rowing is for people who just want to go out for a social paddle, it’s unskillful and not a test of anything.
Stuff and nonsense!
I personally like both type of videos, but I'm a strictly landbased rower, so they are both something different from what I'm doing.
What I do notice is that the video format is a bit different. It might be because you are entering the coastal rowing thing yourself as well. By doing so, you document your challenges and complexity of the competition format well. But the competition format is quite complex, making it less accessible. I haven't timed it, but you seem to talk more on the coastal rowing vids. Flat water rowing is easier to understand as it is a single distance, and just several rounds, and your analysis is shorter. But that is just my impression. Please note: I don't think it is a bad thing to do, and it might even open a new audience for you, and from a historical perspective it might prove much more interesting.
And some might be here just to see you row extremely fast, sweat and throw up.
I think there’s a little bit of “if I’m not doing it it’s not for me” so I appreciate you saying you’re land based but like both.
That is true, I do a little more explaining in the coastal videos as I know not a lot of people have tried. Which is probably down to the stats being lower!
Gig rowing is the best!
Something I haven’t tried yet
I think it's because many rowing people can't relate with coastal rowing and/or don't know what it's about.
So the audience doesn't comment as much as in the typical flat water video and thus the all mighty weird algorithm does stupid things.
On a completely other note, I think including just beach sprints to the Olympic Games is the wrong decision. I would have selected a combination of sprint and endurance in which the results of the sprint would somehow determine the start in the endurance race
dont know why i dont like costal rowing, I just dont like it. I prefer the ALL the other stuff :)
And that’s ok!
I would bet that the lower viewership is because you have built up an audience of flat water rowers. I bet the coastal rowing viewers will find you if you continue putting out the content.
Its the same reason track runners dont like cross country runners, or why cyclists don't like bmx. One is a display of speed, fitness, and technique. Its a raw sport that pushes atheltes to their limits, and the other isnt
I mean they both push athletes to their limit?
I live inland so coastal rowing just isn’t relevant to me.
So much talk. Gave up halfway through when I still hadn't learned why people don't like coastal rowing.
It’s a question I asked, I don’t know the answer. Thanks for watching
I like it = less polluted than current British rivers.I did find single sculls boring except in the Summer on the Thames where there was interesting scenery.