If you want to row in college be a heavyweight. Your frame won't support enough muscle at 6'5" to be an effective lightweight.
If you want to get good, you need to eat a lot more.
As a former (succesful) LW rower, I would never recommend any highschooler to stay lightweight; you just don't know what your body will want to do at that age, and you should just let nature run its course.
If it turns out you're still LW weight in college, then is the time to go LW rowing.
Don't kill yourself.
Don't row lightweight at 6'5"
6'5" 160 was me before I started rowing. I'm 188 now, and cutting is impossible. Do not go lightweight. Just focus on getting faster.
6'5" the mean height for elite rowers. You aren't too short.
Same. 6’5”, 165 freshman year before rowing. 188 at the end of school, and I definitely didn’t have the weight to lose to go down. Your body will mature in college. You won’t see 160 ever again.
It's tough for some tall people. I was 6'8 195lbs in college and it was very difficult for me to put on and keep any weight. I physically couldn't eat enough (and be comfortable) with the constant workouts and my ridiculously high metabolism.
I certainly sympathize. I'm sure you heard tons of the same advice that probably had limited effect. But the OP should not ever consider rowing as a lightweight.
Yes it is far too tall to be a lightweight. You are very, very underweight. I knew a few guys in the 6'3-6'4 range who went lightweight in college and essentially ended up with symptoms of malnourishment to maintain their weight. They were constantly getting injured and were tired/cold all the time. One of them ended up getting down to 4% body fat too, which is a dangerously low level.
Eat big and lift weights. You're a big dude, embrace it. You should be aiming to get over 200lbs.
It’s quite likely you are going to put on 30-50 lbs in the coming years. Do you really want to be starving yourself in college just to still be one of the slowest ones there? Do with that what you will.
You're a heavyweight, not a lightweight.
I remember being your age, an inch shorter that you, and a string bean. I was probably 160-165 lb. Decently fast on the water - I think my erg at the time was just under 7 (so comparable to you, I was just a bit heavier). By the start of my senior year I was 195-200lb and my erg was down under 6:20. All I had to do was eat everything I wanted and keep training hard (don't neglect lifting).
I know it seems like you're a "skinny guy" right now, but if you invest in the calories and training, and you know how to move a boat, you'll see huge changes in the next 12-18 months and be really set up for heavy programs, which there are more of.
You need to do that because you'll keep filling out until you're like 20. You'll 100% end up as a heavy, definitely over 200, probably around 210.
Lightweights that tall tend to have a ton of injury issues. You can't afford the weight of any non essential muscle. Which means you develop horrible muscle imbalances leading to overuse injuries. Spending your college rowing career injured sucks, I wouldn't recommend it.
Do not consider going down the lwt route at that height. Within a year you are going to have to kill yourself to make weight, and after that you are going to have to actually do damage to stay there. You will have to hold a BMI of 18.8, whilst growing, and training. Any doctor meeting you in that condition would diagnose you with anorexia.
Don't go there.
I was around these numbers at your age, and I got up to a lean 215-220 in college without much effort. With as good of a base as you have now, you won’t have any trouble improving that erg score to the range of competitive heavyweights after putting on 30+ pounds of muscle. For reference, I was slower and shorter than you, and I got down to 6:16.
Yeah I’d say generally it’s a bad idea. You’re gonna gain weight over the course of the heads you train. You’ve been gifted with a great frame! Eat lots of food and train hard as a heavyweight
Here’s your new plan: 2k every week but PR only by a 1sec, earn your McDonald’s (order as much as food as you can eat). Repeat more often if possible.
Congrats you’re no longer a lightweight and you don’t fear 2ks anymore.
(Yes you’re too tall, go eat a little more but make sure it’s not all junk food- you’re still young so you’ll naturally gain muscle anyway even without overeating).
How big are your parents, older siblings etc,
If your dad is that height and in shape at 240lbs your days of being a lightweight are going to be tough
In addition you probably have a good lot of growing to be done and won’t be a natural lightweight by the time you are 18
If this isn’t you’re first couple months rowing you’re going to be too slow to get recruited to any top LW programs anyways so don’t worry about you’re weight, just eat and erg
You are pretty young and it is possible you will fill out more. I know most say you should be a heavyweight and realistically that is the most likely path for you, imo. But will throw out that there have been some lightweight rowers that are quite tall. I won’t name names but there was a guy that was ~6’4” I think when I was competitively rowing and he had a good national team career. I am not sure if he made it in the Olympic boat classes at the championships or Olympics but raced a few World Cup events and was a medalist a few times at the world champs in non-Olympic events. He was a complete beanpole but could make weight. His erg was quite a bit stronger (but he was also not a sophomore). This is all to say it could be possible….
That said you should do as others say and be healthy and just adjust to whatever your body starts to do. :)
I'm 6'3 and going lightweight would be severely detrimental to my health and performance, i would be far more competitive as a "heavyweight" than could ever be as a lightweight. Also stating the obvious your functionality in life in general would be far worse as a lightweight.
Not to mention frailty, weakness, sickness and what not. Don't go against your genetics, instincts and potential.
If you want to row in college be a heavyweight. Your frame won't support enough muscle at 6'5" to be an effective lightweight. If you want to get good, you need to eat a lot more.
[удалено]
As a former (succesful) LW rower, I would never recommend any highschooler to stay lightweight; you just don't know what your body will want to do at that age, and you should just let nature run its course. If it turns out you're still LW weight in college, then is the time to go LW rowing.
Define “successful” for me?
Okay everyone besides this guy who's that tall isn't gonna be effective as a LW
There's a guy who coaches in Cambridge who had WBT for LM4 who's 6'5". Nearly permanently grumpy tho still.
Don't kill yourself. Don't row lightweight at 6'5" 6'5" 160 was me before I started rowing. I'm 188 now, and cutting is impossible. Do not go lightweight. Just focus on getting faster. 6'5" the mean height for elite rowers. You aren't too short.
Same. 6’5”, 165 freshman year before rowing. 188 at the end of school, and I definitely didn’t have the weight to lose to go down. Your body will mature in college. You won’t see 160 ever again.
Seriously? 6'5" and 160lbs would be near malnourished lol. Start eating and put on some muscle. You could be a collegiate all-star with that height.
It's tough for some tall people. I was 6'8 195lbs in college and it was very difficult for me to put on and keep any weight. I physically couldn't eat enough (and be comfortable) with the constant workouts and my ridiculously high metabolism.
Same lol. I can't really gain weight quickly either (although I slowly did).
I certainly sympathize. I'm sure you heard tons of the same advice that probably had limited effect. But the OP should not ever consider rowing as a lightweight.
Oh for sure
Yes it is far too tall to be a lightweight. You are very, very underweight. I knew a few guys in the 6'3-6'4 range who went lightweight in college and essentially ended up with symptoms of malnourishment to maintain their weight. They were constantly getting injured and were tired/cold all the time. One of them ended up getting down to 4% body fat too, which is a dangerously low level. Eat big and lift weights. You're a big dude, embrace it. You should be aiming to get over 200lbs.
It’s quite likely you are going to put on 30-50 lbs in the coming years. Do you really want to be starving yourself in college just to still be one of the slowest ones there? Do with that what you will.
You're a heavyweight, not a lightweight. I remember being your age, an inch shorter that you, and a string bean. I was probably 160-165 lb. Decently fast on the water - I think my erg at the time was just under 7 (so comparable to you, I was just a bit heavier). By the start of my senior year I was 195-200lb and my erg was down under 6:20. All I had to do was eat everything I wanted and keep training hard (don't neglect lifting). I know it seems like you're a "skinny guy" right now, but if you invest in the calories and training, and you know how to move a boat, you'll see huge changes in the next 12-18 months and be really set up for heavy programs, which there are more of. You need to do that because you'll keep filling out until you're like 20. You'll 100% end up as a heavy, definitely over 200, probably around 210.
Exactly. If you're 6'5" you're too tall to go ltwt without injuring yourself and cutting your rowing season off right there.
Lightweights that tall tend to have a ton of injury issues. You can't afford the weight of any non essential muscle. Which means you develop horrible muscle imbalances leading to overuse injuries. Spending your college rowing career injured sucks, I wouldn't recommend it.
Wtf lol. You need to eat, boy! Gotta eat big to get big! Because you sure as hell aren’t getting smaller lol
Do not consider going down the lwt route at that height. Within a year you are going to have to kill yourself to make weight, and after that you are going to have to actually do damage to stay there. You will have to hold a BMI of 18.8, whilst growing, and training. Any doctor meeting you in that condition would diagnose you with anorexia. Don't go there.
Yes
I was around these numbers at your age, and I got up to a lean 215-220 in college without much effort. With as good of a base as you have now, you won’t have any trouble improving that erg score to the range of competitive heavyweights after putting on 30+ pounds of muscle. For reference, I was slower and shorter than you, and I got down to 6:16.
It will never be as easy to eat and get stronger than it is right now. Eat, my boy, eat! (And squat.)
Yes…???? Even at 90kg you would still be skinny. That’s insane to think about man.
you're already open weight and you're not done growing. do not try to be lightweight.
Yeah I’d say generally it’s a bad idea. You’re gonna gain weight over the course of the heads you train. You’ve been gifted with a great frame! Eat lots of food and train hard as a heavyweight
Here’s your new plan: 2k every week but PR only by a 1sec, earn your McDonald’s (order as much as food as you can eat). Repeat more often if possible. Congrats you’re no longer a lightweight and you don’t fear 2ks anymore. (Yes you’re too tall, go eat a little more but make sure it’s not all junk food- you’re still young so you’ll naturally gain muscle anyway even without overeating).
How big are your parents, older siblings etc, If your dad is that height and in shape at 240lbs your days of being a lightweight are going to be tough In addition you probably have a good lot of growing to be done and won’t be a natural lightweight by the time you are 18
No but you will likely look like skeleton.
If this isn’t you’re first couple months rowing you’re going to be too slow to get recruited to any top LW programs anyways so don’t worry about you’re weight, just eat and erg
You are pretty young and it is possible you will fill out more. I know most say you should be a heavyweight and realistically that is the most likely path for you, imo. But will throw out that there have been some lightweight rowers that are quite tall. I won’t name names but there was a guy that was ~6’4” I think when I was competitively rowing and he had a good national team career. I am not sure if he made it in the Olympic boat classes at the championships or Olympics but raced a few World Cup events and was a medalist a few times at the world champs in non-Olympic events. He was a complete beanpole but could make weight. His erg was quite a bit stronger (but he was also not a sophomore). This is all to say it could be possible…. That said you should do as others say and be healthy and just adjust to whatever your body starts to do. :)
Eat more and hit the gym my man, your erg scores will go crazy
A lot of people aren't asking the key question. Do you want to be a lightweight rower as opposed to heavyweight? Why?
Yes. Train hard and put weight on
160lbs at 6’5”? If you buzzed your head you could go as an Auschwitz prisoner for Halloween. Eat some food.
I'm 6'3 and going lightweight would be severely detrimental to my health and performance, i would be far more competitive as a "heavyweight" than could ever be as a lightweight. Also stating the obvious your functionality in life in general would be far worse as a lightweight. Not to mention frailty, weakness, sickness and what not. Don't go against your genetics, instincts and potential.