Volker Nolte

Volker Nolte, an internationally recognized expert on the biomechanics of rowing, is the author of Rowing Science, Rowing Faster, and Masters Rowing. He's a retired professor of biomechanics at the University of Western Ontario, where he coached the men's rowing team to three Canadian national titles.

Hydration: Water Ways

Today, the hydration pendulum has swung so far the other way that having something to drink on hand at all times has become almost an obsession.

Sleepless Nights, Winless Days

Just one night of poor sleep can impair cognitive performance and cause daytime sleepiness and increased stress as well as slower reaction times and reduced alertness.
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Newer Is Not Necessarily Better

While innovations in equipment can make a boat go faster, often the best way to increase speed is to improve training and use your existing equipment correctly.

Training for that Pinnacle Regatta

The ultimate race is the benchmark toward which the team must work, and coaches can calculate accurately the kind of performance required, on and off the water, to achieve it.

Making Erg Training Count

Rowing on an erg is excellent preparation for rowing on the water, but people tend to do it on cruise control. When done incorrectly, erg training may do more harm than good.

The Case for High Training Volume

Studies show that the endurance of rowers increases with training volume and that rowers improve their performance when they train at mid-range intensity.

Training During the Holidays

The goal is not to improve fitness but to preserve as much conditioning as possible through exercise that’s primarily fun.

The Pause That Refreshes

There are good reasons to leave the boats alone for a while, but that doesn’t mean abandoning exercise and physical activity.

Getting Ahead at Head Races

Head races require a different level of physical exertion and fatigue tolerance over a longer period of time. The ideal is to find your flow—a level of exertion that feels fast but easy.

The Principles of Periodization

Progressive increases in training demands should be followed by periods of lower training loads to enable an athlete’s body to adapt and to improve performance.

Training Through Transition Time

For coaches, it’s about the right progression of intensity and duration and motivating to achieve success. For rowers, it’s about pursuing athletic ambitions with renewed vigor.

Telling That Negative Inner Voice to Shut Up

Break down the race into segments rather than focusing on the final result. A good start is the best way to get going, and then tactical goals can be tackled one by one.

The Power Plants of Your Muscles

Mitochondria convert food and oxygen into energy. The more mitochondria in your muscle cells, the more mechanical energy they can produce and the faster you can row.

Mastering the Erg Test

Erg tests cause more anxiety in athletes usually than a hard training session or even a race on the water, although they’re actually not that different.

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CURRENT ISSUE OF THE MAGAZINE

The latest issue of Rowing News is available! Check out the full June 2026 Magazine

Texas Wins NCAA Title, Crushes Record

The Longhorns took their fourth title in six years ahead of Stanford and Tennessee, besting the world best time by six seconds, winning the first varsity eight grand final in 5:47.

Washington Wins IRA National Championship

Huskies make it three in a row at Intercollegiate Rowing Association National Championship Regatta. Harvard men and Princeton women win the lightweight titles, Trinity men repeat as D III champions.

World Rowing Cup I, Seville

Olympic singles champion Ollie Zeidler destroyed the field by a whopping six and a half seconds. In the men's eight, The Netherlands’ high rating and fluid style trumped Britain’s solid 36 strokes per minute. Germany and Australia also had fantastic days.