Some adaptive rowers will benefit from using modified or “adapted” equipment to make it safer and easier for the athletes to row. The following is a summary of the types of equipment that are most often used for adaptive rowing in Australia and where it can be purchased.
This list refers to the four general classifications for adaptive rowing, AS, TA, LTA and ID. View more information about adaptive rowing classifications.
Contacts for suppliers of products are listed below.
BOATS
Most LTA and ID rowers will row in standard rowing equipment that needs no modifications. Some LTA and ID rowers who have difficulty with balance might row with stabilising pontoons attached to the boat riggers or might use a recreational style boat. Some with greater balance difficulties will row a recreational style boat with stabilising pontoons attached to the boat riggers.
AS and TA
These rowers usually use a wider based recreational style rowing scull. For racing at national championships, the minimum width of the boat, measured across the deck at the level of the seat tracks, is 370mm. The minimum weight of a single scull for AS events is 22kg (weighed with the seat and pontoons). The minimum weight of a single scull for TA events is 20kg (weighed with the seat).
Boats that can be made to these criteria* include:
| Manufacturer |
Boat |
Notes |
| Hudson |
Cruiser |
Needs to be fitted with rails and seats suitable for fixed seat rowers. |
| Race 1 |
Scud |
Needs to be ordered with rails and seats suitable for fixed seat rowers. |
| Swift Racing |
Adaptive 1X
Adaptive 2X |
These boats meet FISA specifications for international adaptive races. |
| Sykes Racing |
Open tub/ training scull |
Needs to be ordered with rails and seats suitable for fixed seat rowers. |
| Ted Hale Racing Boats |
Leisure 1X
Leisure 2X |
Standard boat made with a sliding seat. Can be ordered for fixed seat rowers. |
| Wintech Racing International |
Adaptive 1X
Adaptive 2X |
These boats meet FISA specifications for international adaptive races. |
* It might be necessary to check the minimum weight of the boat with the fixed seat and pontoons (where appropriate) meets Rowing Australia rules.
FIXED SEATS
AS and TA rowers use fixed seats. For some TA rowers, this can be as simple as a normal rowing seat fixed into position. The fixed seats supplied with Swift Racing and Wintech Racing International adaptive boats and the fixed seats produced by Rowfit can have the height and angle of the back support adjusted to suit the needs of individual rowers. They an also be set with no back support.
If a boat with a sliding seat is being modified for a fixed seat rower, tracks need to be fitted to the boat to suit the fixings for the fixed seat. These should be supplied by the supplier of the seat.
| Manufacturers |
Notes |
| Rowfit |
- Seat width is also adjustable
- Can be clamped onto an ergometer rail (separate clamps need to be supplied)
- Usually supplied with a vinyl covered cushion
- Athletes can also use their own cushion
|
| Swift Racing |
- Provided with lightly padded canvas base
|
| Wintech Racing International |
- Can be clamped onto an ergometer rail (separate clamps need to be supplied)
- Provided with flat base for athletes to use their own cushion
|
STABILISING PONTOONS AND BRACKETS
- Must be used for AS boats
- Optional for TA, LTA and ID boats
Manufacturers
Wintech Racing International
Swift Racing
RIGGERS
To modify an existing boat for AS and TA rowers, it is recommended to have riggers to suit the shorter reach that AS and TA rowers will have and to ensure the pin is in a position for the rower to get an effective arc. For AS and TA boats the following settings are suggested
- Span 160cm +/- 2cm
- Equal height to both pins (because no overlap)
Suppliers
Swift Racing will make riggers to individual specifications if this is specified when the boat is ordered.
Rowfit can make riggers to specification for any boats.
OARS
AS and TA rowers usually row without an overlap. To optimise the stroke arc in relation to the shorter stroke length, AS and TA rowers will use oars that are shorter than for able-bodied rowers and that have a shorter inboard. This is in addition to having a narrower span than is normal for able-bodied, LTA and ID rowers.
Sculling oars with the length 280–284cm and an inboard of 76cm +/- 2cm for AS rowers are suggested. Sculling oars with the length 280–284cm and an inboard of 77.5cm +/- 2cm for AS rowers are suggested. These oars will need to be ordered with sleeves set to allow the narrow inboard.
Suppliers
Croker Oars
Concept 2 oars (Sykes Racing)
STRAPPING
- Chest straps and knee straps are needed for AS rowers
- Additional postural straps can be used for AS rowers
- Knee straps are needed for TA rowers
- All strapping must have Velcro fastening that enables the rower to release it with a single-handed action
Suppliers
Wintech Racing International
Swift Racing
Kneeboard straps (made for waterskiing) can also be fitted to the frame of fixed seats and work well as chest and knee straps.
BLINDFOLDS
- Blindfolds must block out all light
- Compulsory for all LTA-VI athletes
No supplier of blackout masks suitable for sport is known in Australia. Ski goggles or swimming goggles blacked out with black paint or similar on the inside of the lens are acceptable as blindfolds for rowing providing all light to the eyes is eliminated.
HEADSETS
Radio headsets can provide direct communication between a coach and a vision impaired rower. The equipment will generally include a handset for the coach and a helmet or headpiece with a built in speaker for the athlete.
Suppliers
Headzone (Helmet and coach handset)
Ty-Man (Pro-Trainer and coach handset)
CONTACTS
Croker Oars
www.crokeroars.com/
Ph: (02) 65 532 473
Fax: (02) 65 532 544
Headzone
http://www.headzone.com/index.shtml
Ph: (02) 6555 5575
Fax: (02) 6555 5575
Hudson Boatworks (Australia)
http://www.hudsonboatworks.com/?p=australia
Ph: (03) 9596 1349
Race 1
www.race1.com.au/
Phone: (02) 9660 2915
Fax: (02) 9660 6979
Rowfit
www.rowfit.com/
Phone: (03) 6264 1727
Fax: (03) 6264 2297
Swift Racing
www.swiftaustralia.com/index.php?page=adaptive
Phone: 0418 370 875
Fax: (02) 9604 9093
Sykes Racing
www.sykes.com.au/
Phone: (03) 5221 3655
Fax: (03) 5221 2596
Ted Hale Racing Boats
www.tedhalerowing.com.au/index.htm
Phone: (07) 55 368 960
Fax: (07) 55 368 129
Ty-Man
http://www.ty-man.com/index.php
Phone: (07) 3844 9467
Fax: (07) 3846 1489
Wintech Racing International
wintechracing.com.au/
Ph: (07) 55799 431
Fax: (07) 55944 548
back to top
