After a number of wins this Fall, Skyline Crew has started their Winter arc. But what does Crew actually do during the Winter?
Throughout the indoor season, athletes and coaches are wishing to see a preview of what the spring season might hold. “[We have] a lot of new kids and some really fast people,” says Crew Captain Malcolm Jemison-Blais (‘26). “We want to see what they can do in the winter and see what that leads to in the spring. …The varsity men and women [want to] reach different goals and get ready for the spring.”
Due to the Huron river’s freezing water, the extent of the teams winter workouts consist of using rowing machines, or ergs, along with lifting.
“During the winter, we do a combination of erg sessions and lifting sessions,” says Skyline Crew member Sophie Yee (‘26). “We do steady state or AT workouts which are either high intensity shorter erg workouts or long steady state workouts which are generally a full hour of erging.”
Practicing a water-based sport on land is a big change and is difficult for many of the players, both mentally and physically. “During fall and spring we’re outside everyday rowing [which] is very different from erging, experience and mental wise,” says Yee. “When you erg, the motion is very simple and you stare at the screen for hours, [whereas] on the water, there is a very large technical focus on blade work.”
The Crew team’s winter season is not like any other “off season,” as they practice and train daily, all together. “A lot of the time being on the ergs is very difficult, and it makes it even harder when you’re at home,” says Jemison-Blais. “It’s way more fun to be here and have music with your friends.”
While the winter season is said to be one of the most challenging seasons for the players, the team has made it into a more amusing and enjoyable bonding experience.
“Winter training is a season full of development and learning,” says Crew Coach Lindsay Davis-Brady. “It’s a calm, positive environment that the coaches and athletes have established over the years and it is a fun way for us to connect more with the athletes.”
The crew team is excited for the upcoming season, ready to put in the hard work and dedicated to improving. Three months of workouts lie ahead as they prepare to test both their physical and mental strength, all in preparation for the spring season.
