A Week in Tampa with Princeton Rowing

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Benedikt, March 6 2025

From January 19–24, I had the privilege of joining Princeton University's men's heavyweight rowing team during the second half of their annual training camp in Tampa, Florida. Despite an unusually cold week—temperatures hovered between 4–8°C with wind and rain—it was an incredibly rewarding experience. This was my second time observing rowing practices firsthand (the first being one afternoon with Swiss Rowing last year), and it provided invaluable insights into the sport's unique demands and the logistics of managing a large team.

A picture showing two eights

Understanding Rowing Practice and Coaching Logistics

The primary goal of my visit was to deepen my understanding of rowing practices, team logistics, and how performance data is used on the water. Princeton's team operates on a large scale, requiring careful coordination of athletes, boats, and training sessions. With more athletes than fit into the boats available, sessions were run twice consecutively to ensure everyone got the same time on the water.

During my time there, I shadowed Head Coach Greg Hughes and Assistant Coach Jason Elefant, observing how they structured training sessions and managed boat rotations. For the first two days, the team rowed in Fours to focus on technique. After each 5-6 minute interval, crews rotated positions to ensure every athlete became comfortable rowing in different setups. The final three days transitioned to Eights, but the rotation system continued with a focus on refining technique across different crew combinations.

A picture showing the entire men's team receiving training instructions

Princeton's training camp also marked their first time on the water this winter since their home waters in New Jersey remain frozen until March. The Ivy League's agreement prohibiting on-water training at home before February 1 ensures fair preparation conditions for all teams, regardless of climate.

Real-Time Feedback and Environmental Challenges

A picture showing Greg providing specific feedback to a crew

The team leveraged live feedback from our sensors to monitor stroke rate and intensity during sessions. Coaches primarily used this data to ensure athletes adhered to prescribed training parameters without overexerting or "cheating" the prescribed stroke rate. Observing how environmental factors like tide and wind influenced boat speed in Tampa Bay's Seddon Channel - and during occasional slower endurance sessions upriver on the Hillsborough River - was particularly interesting for me. These factors created noticeable differences in speed data that required careful interpretation.

A picture of a laptop at the launch showing the current live position of a boat out in the water

When not on the water myself, I monitored practice remotely using real-time tracking from my hotel room or a nearby coffee shop. While signal degradation near the water surface occasionally disrupted tracking, we improved reliability by optimizing sensor placement and even improvising with aluminum foil as a passive makeshift signal amplifier. This feature allowed me to track boat movements and ensure I was present at the boathouse when needed without having to stay there throughout each session - a fun and practical feature that saved time for me.

A picture with part of a rowing boat at the Tampa river center and instrumented with the Peach system and the Archinisis sensor

Improving Rowing Force Analysis with Peach

The boats were equipped with Peach systems to measure individual rowing forces at the oarlocks. Evenings were spent collaborating with Dr. Conny Draper (a renowned rowing expert) and Justin Evans (New Zealand's senior performance scientist) to refine how this data is visualized for coaches. We worked on creating intuitive graphs and tables that simplify complex force data into actionable insights for improving technique and comparing performance between boats or sessions.

By week's end, I had developed an improved version of our rowing analysis tools that combined boat performance metrics with rowing force data. This included piece-average curves and values as well as features for easy comparison across sessions - enhancing usability for coaches while maintaining simplicity.

Screenshot showing parts of the detailed rowing power analysis with stroke patterns and forces

Streamlining Crew Assignments

One logistical challenge I observed was quickly assigning Archinisis sensors to boats during practice. Princeton uses a magnetic whiteboard system with name tags for athletes, boats, and sensors, but manually inputting this information into our web app is time-consuming for coaches whose time is already stretched thin. To address this, we’re developing a feature that allows coaches to photograph the crew assignment board and upload it to our web app. Using AI, the system will automatically process assignments - linking athletes, boats, and sensors - and launch live tracking instantly. This innovation could save a precious 2-3 minutes at the beginning of each session while reducing errors.

A picture of the crew assignment board

Additionally, we plan to introduce functionality for tracking mid-session athlete swaps - currently only possible during post-session analysis - further streamlining workflows for coaches.

Reflections on a Cold but Productive Week

Despite being Florida's coldest week in 30 years, this training camp was an incredibly insightful experience. The picturesque Tampa River Center served as Princeton's base of operations, its modern design creating a beautiful ambiance at dawn as practices began around 7 a.m.

A picture of the Tampa river center at dawn

Beyond technical improvements to our system, this week offered invaluable opportunities to connect with Greg Hughes and his staff over dinners exploring Tampa's hidden gems. By the end of this intensive week, I had compiled over three pages of notes detailing enhancements for our web app and rowing performance analysis tools - all aimed at making them more versatile while ensuring ease of use for coaches and delivery exactly the information they want.

A screenshot showing stroke-by-stroke power and individual stroke patterns

This experience reinforced my appreciation for the complexity of rowing as a sport - from its technical demands to logistical challenges - and underscored how technology can play a pivotal role in enhancing both athlete performance and coaching efficiency.

A Heartfelt Thank You

Group picture with Greg, Benedikt, Justin (from left to right)
Group picture with Greg, Jason, Benedikt, Conny (from left to right)

I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Greg Hughes for the invitation to Tampa and to the entire Princeton staff, with a special mention to the legendary Tom Heebink. Their warm welcome and patience in answering all my questions - from the most basic to the more complex - were invaluable. As a relative newcomer to the intricacies of rowing, their willingness to share their expertise and insights has been instrumental in advancing my understanding and improving our technology. This collaborative spirit exemplifies the best of what can be achieved when technology developers and sports professionals work hand in hand.