About Mary Whipple

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Welcome!

9th Seat is the brainchild of Mary Whipple, Olympic gold medalist coxswain of the US women’s eight. Here you’ll find informative blog posts, tips and tricks, and opportunities to learn from the best!

buoyed-course

Steering Buoyed Courses

Got a question from a coxswain asking about buoyed courses… Q: I was wondering, when steering buoyed 2k courses, do you use really distant points or the buoys? It’s kinda hard to see that far… A:  Exactly, it is far to see down to the finish line of a 2k course.  That is why when I [...]

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marla- Check out regatta central website -- camps & clinics

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On-the-water Coxswain Clinic! - 04/20/09

lake-stevens-group

Last weekend I went to Lake Stevens to give a coxswain clinic for the coxswains of Lake Stevens, Orcas Island, and Bainbridge Island.  All in all there were 10 coxswains from the three rowing clubs.   We started the day out with a small lecture covering the basics of steering, organizing practice and your role on race day.  Then came my favorite part: on-the-water training.  We took the classroom lecture out onto the water with the help of the Junior rowers of Lake ...

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Monica- Are there any video lessons on this, especially in the case of a stern loader 4+? I have major

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Stake Boats 101 - 04/08/09

bow-point-sm

Racing season is upon us and the long winter training months are finished.  Bring on the Spring and bring on the racing.  The start of a race for me is the most fun because as coxswains, we don't get to see the flag drop.  By the time we hear the official saying, "Go," the rowers are already in motion if your stroke has done her/his job right and gone on the flag and not the voice. The start can also be very nerve racking at big races that are six boats across with ...

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Marwa- Hi, I love your website, it's so helpful! I have a question. What do you do when your rowers

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Calling all Rookies! - 03/19/09

cox box eyes

My definition of a Rookie in rowing is anyone training on the varisty squad for their first time. Rookie year was the hardest yet funnest.  It was my Sophomore year of college which was my first year on varsity. It was a year of a lot of learning the hard way...making mistakes and trying not to make the same ones again all while telling upper classmen what to do. What I quickly learned is that coxswains who are Rookies need to get over it.  Someone is going to ...

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Kane- This is my four year coxing. That is a really hard position, when you set a goal ( whether

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Know your Audience - 03/14/09

Anna and Mary

The next time you get into a racing situation in practice make sure you know who is in your boat. Sometimes the best motivation for a rower is simple information. Information like: How much farther until the line? How many seats will it take to get even? How many seats until the lead? After your rowers hear the information, make them accountable for the information. Call out individual rowers to execute making up the difference or execute taking the lead. Then ...

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Cascadepowdercats- Congrats on your launch day!

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You Ready? Are you sure? - 03/13/09

bow-point-sm

To get more bang for your buck, make sure you keep an eye on your rowers and make sure they are actually sitting ready.  If you do this every time then it will become a habit for your rowers to sit either at the catch or finish, whichever one your program dictates, and wait for you to say the magic words, "Ready, Row!" So make sure you give your rowers a clear command, wait for them to process it and sit ready.  Then go ahead and let them go. Good luck and more importantly ...

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Megan Cooke- great website Mary! I can't wait to forward this to all of my novice coxswains. Keep up the

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How to Balance a Frosh boat - 03/12/09

coxing-flag-silluette

There was a question that got sent in asking how to help keep a freshman boat balanced... Q: Do u have any info on how i can help my freshmen boat to keep better balance? A: When yelling, "Set the boat," isn't enough and there is an important fact that simply yelling those words will not work unless you tell your rowers how to set the boat. Right after you think you have to yell, "Set the boat," think why. Why is the boat not set? Is there one side lowering their ...

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phincox- And as far as my butt print goes, its like a lay-z-boy at sea!

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Is a butt print like a finger print? - 03/11/09

my coxswain seat

Ok, so I promise to try to come up with better titles but I'm still stoked that this little project is working out.   Anyways...I was going through my pictures and came across this one I took of my seat from The Hunter in Beijing.  I've been very fortunate to be the first bum print on many Empachers.  There is nothing like putting together a brand new boat and getting to test drive it on the race course.  We usually get to meet our new boat the first time we travel ...

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Ken Rogers- Hi, I would be greatly interested to have you contact me regarding a speaking appointment

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Welcome to The 9th Seat - 03/10/09

Photo of Mary and the rest of the 2008 Lucerne World Cup Win

Hello Everyone. Thanks for checking out my website and my very first blog. I wanted to tell you all about my first series of Mwhip+ Coxswain Clinics that happened in February on the West Coast. The first was held in Seattle at the University of Washington. It was super fun to organize my first very own coxswain clinic. I'm also surprised on how fast four hours goes by. The second Mwhip+ Coxswain Clinic was in Berkeley and hosted by the University of California's Women's ...

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