DRAG FACTOR ON ROWING ERGOMETER DURING 2000-M PERFORMANCE IN YOUNG ROWERS

Indoor rowing is relevant for indoor training and testing. Furthermore, international indoor rowing competitions are organized using the Concept2 rowing ergometer, which permits resistance adjustments via a vent damper. To set the damper lever, indoor rowers can vary the drag factor (df) by setting the flywheel cage from 95df to 220df. To evaluate the relationship between 2000-m indoor rowing ergometer performance with different df and the body mass of young rowers. On three separate occasions organized on consecutive days, fifteen youth male rowers (age: 16.1 +/- 1.1yrs; body mass: 72.7 +/- 9.6kg; height: 177.4 +/- 6.4cm) performed maximal 2000-m rowing ergometer performances on a Concept2 (mod.D) with a 110df, 130df, and 150df, respectively. Average times (T-110, T-130 and T-150) and stroke rate (SR110, SR130 and SR150) were measured. Pearson's correlation was applied to examine the relationship between anthropometric characteristics of athletes and their 2000-m performances. Slowest 2000-m rowing ergometer performances resulted in T-110 (435.0 perpendicular to 22.7s), intermediate in T-150 (433.7 perpendicular to 25.2s,) and fastest in T-130 (419.1 +/- 24s) conditions. The highest SR emerged at 110df (SR110 = 35.1 +/- 0.8n.min(-1)), intermediate at 130df (SR130 = 36.7 +/- 0.7n.min(-1)), and lowest at 150 df (SR150 = 32.7 +/- 0.7n.min(-1)). Rowing performances were significantly (P<0.001) correlated to body weight (T-110 : r=0.79; T-130 : r=0.86; and T-150 : r=0.84), and height (T-110 : r=0.78; T-130 : r=0.83; T-150 : r=0.85). The fastest time and highest SR reached during 2000-m indoor rowing performances with a 130df setting could suggest coaches to favour this resistance level, independently from the anthropometric characteristics of youth athletes.