Rule 40 - "Innovation"

When FISA considered the legality of the RANDALLfoil it needed to consult Rule 40.

Any novel equipment design needs to be submitted to FISA to determine if it conforms to the laws of rowing. If the new design conforms, it is considered NOT to challenging Rule 40 and is declared NOT to be an innovation. According to Rule 40, anything actually considered to be an innovation would NOT be permitted in the sport of rowing.

The use of the word 'innovation' has a particular legal understanding within the context of the FISA Rule Book. There are many unique designs which we would commonly consider to be 'innovative' but as they conform to existing laws they are determined by FISA not to be so. For example, the use of new materials, boat shapes, rigger positioning, blade and shaft designs we do consider to be innovations, however, as they are 'legal' they are not considered innovations by FISA.

If however, the FISA Equipment Committee did declare a novel design to be an "innovation" the design must then go before the full Executive Committee for further scrutiny. If considered to change the nature of the sport, the innovation will not be permitted. However, when a determined innovation is then accepted by the Executive it must then have a full 12 months of commercial availability before use at competitions.

We were thankful, and very relieved, when FISA Equipment Committee gave their determination that the foil design was not considered an innovation.

Long live innovation and those who possess that spirit of enquiry to push the boundaries of design within the rules of our sport.

WORLD ROWING CHAMPIONSHIPS AND LEGALITY

The best of luck to all athletes who have been working with Aram Lemmerer and myself in preparing their equipment for the upcoming World Rowing Championships. 

To answer a commonly asked question ... 

RANDALLfoils are officially permitted to be used at the 2019 World Rowing Championships.

1st August 2018, FISA Equipment Commission determined the RANDALLfoil conformed to all current laws of oar design and are permitted for use at all FISA sanctioned events. Click to view FISA ruling

The design was subsequently presented to the rowing community at the FISA Coaching, Sports Science and Medicine Conference, Berlin. 

RANDALLfoils will be made available during the World Championships at the Nelo Racing commercial stand with a fitting service available.

Click to view full documentation

Good Luck Vero Beach Rowing Club

Vero Beach Rowing Club have begun to adopt RANDALLfoils for their junior rowing training program. I wish them the very best for the U23 World Rowing Championships and look forward to seeing their progress, both now and into the future.

Poor conditions continue to upset elites

Rotterdam, Netherlands, upset many best performances with top scullers like Olli Zeidler missing out on A Final qualification. This is a screenshot at the start of the Men's 1x, Sverri NIELSEN using standard blades nearly capsizes.

RANDALLfoils have been shown to out-perform standard equipment, especially in poor conditions.

US Masters Rep - Bob Symonds

Karen and Bob Symonds with RANDALLfoil blades at the Boston Marathon

I would like to welcome US Masters rower Bob Symonds to the RANDALLfoil team.

Bob is a sixty-year-old Masters rower who embraces the mantra: faster, stronger, older. He competes both nationally and internationally in a wide variety of races from sprints on up to marathons. He is highly competitive in the single but becomes a powerhouse when joined by his wife, Karen, in the double scull. While he has won over sixty medals, he strives to improve every year, a quest that ultimately led him to join our team.

Bob was one of the first to trial and race with the foil design and he has written many reviews on rowing forums in defense of its performance characteristics. He only started rowing a decade ago, but as a former competitive long-distance runner, he quickly got in shape to row. At the same time, he knew that his on-water performance lagged his fitness. So he used his background as a research geochemist and hydrologist to begin a long journey to row better and faster. His path led him to RANDALLfoil's. It has been a pleasure to work with Bob since the discovery of the foil design and to have such a committed representative of the design on the team is such a bonus.

Bob will be our lead distributor to Masters rowers in the States and will look after the Midwest region (Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Indiana, and Louisiana).

You can reach Bob by email:  powerpre321@gmail.com 

Unlike any other

The first couple of strokes with the foils was a remarkable experience. There is such grip and stability in the water it feels like you're in a quad. After a couple minutes your body adapts and you forget they are even there. Your shoulders relax at the catch because you have the confidence the blade will catch and stay planted. It feels like rowing should feel. As soon as the blade drops in the water you are able to notice the boat levering past the blade. Though there is still some slip the send in the second half of the stroke in unlike any other set up I've felt. Where I noticed the biggest difference, however, was when I traveled to a different club, and rowed a different single. I immediately felt a lack of stability, my stroke was less powerful and my posture was tighter. The best compliment I can give is 'try rowing without them, it will never be the same'.

I have also taken a few videos. In reviewing them, I noticed my catches were not as sharp as I like (sorry, it was the end practice) - I'm happy to reshoot them if you would like me to. Or even take a few videos at race pace.

Here are the videos.

One stroke - shows the water loading up on the blade

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nLutyrPH40&feature=youtu.be  

Same angle but a few strokes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5yee6i-1is&feature=youtu.be  

A different angle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLy-1W_vdbI&feature=youtu.be 

Chris Zulinov,

Equipment Manager,
Halifax Rowing Club
Canada

More issues with standard blades at Henley Royal Regatta

Standard blades offer very little vertical control and can easily crab, dive or washout. The reality of racing in the real world is that open water offers no promise of smooth or controlled race conditions and experienced world-class athletes continue to be let down by current oar design.

RANDALLfoil blades offer superior control and performance in all conditions when compared to standard oars. Don't let 'standards' limit your performance!

Henley Commentators ... oar shaft drag

During the final of the Fawley Challenge Cup the commentators were explaining the negative effect of rowers digging oars too deeply. RANDALLfoils were specifically designed to eliminate oar shaft drag to improve oar efficiency and increase boat speed.

Elites taking note

Many thanks to Sean Heaney, Irish International Representative, for his endorsement of RANDALLfoils.