Better Rowing through Foosball

Next time you’re rafting on a Whitewater Rafting trip, watch what your guide does with their oars as soon as you see rapids coming up. There probably won’t be much to see, and that’s what you’re looking for. Knowing where you want to be before you get there allows you to adjust early and easily. If you do set up early, the current is your friend, giving you a free ride where you want to go. 

The alternative is to let your boat be swept down until you urgently need to change course. Then there’s flailing oars, fighting a current that’s picked up speed now in the bottleneck of rapids and is no longer your pal.

I did more than my share of flailing when I started rowing. Still do when I let my guard down. But I promise you that putting a two-ton gear boat in the wrong place just a few times will learn you real quick to avoid doing that again.

Why Early Setup Matters?

There are several nasty whirlpool eddies in Hells Canyon that I now know very well, but never wanted to. A few oar strokes would have kept me safely in the current. Instead, I missed the ounce of prevention and got to learn what it must have been like to rowed a boat on a Viking ship, heaving on the oars until your spine gives up and your wrists beg for mercy.

This is when mastering rowing techniques for beginners becomes essential. The secret isn't power—it's awareness, and yes, momentum rafts and positioning.

Oar Control and Wrist Health

So you learn to conserve energy. I recall several times rowing my boat directly behind Morgan’s boat, and wondering how it could be possible that he appeared to be enjoying a nap up there with his oars calmly tucked under his arms, while I whipped the river into a froth, frantic to avoid a rock or hole. I should have been watching earlier, when he saw it coming and nudged himself where he needed to be before he needed to be there. Turns out he was feathering the oars, setting up before the challenge even started—classic rowing sweep grace.

Even his way of resting—oars tucked under his arms—was a calculated move to ease rowing hands strain I confess that I found this a wee bit silly the first time he explained it to me. I changed my mind. Oars are heavy. Hold them long enough and by the end of a rafting season you're chugging ibuprofen, praying your rowers hands hold up. And that’s why protecting joints with rheumatoid arthritis hand exercises or strength exercises for rowers is so important.

Off-Season Training with Foosball (Seriously)

That’s why I’m asking my accountant if my vintage foosball table counts as a business expense. Call it a stretch, but I say it improves finger strength grip, hand-eye coordination, and builds up to strong finger performance in high-pressure eddy moments.

Add in some strength exercises for rowing and targeted routines to improve finger strength, and suddenly you're not just rafting—you’re training. Who knew foosball and a few rowing drills could make such a difference?

Some people might view the purchase of a sweet, vintage foosball table you found on craigslist and just had to have as a frivolous purchase. And normally I would agree. But I take my job seriously, and once I realized the value this awesome foosball table has for improving my rowing skills in the off-season . . . well, if avoiding that vicious whirlpool in Hells Canyon means I have to play foosball all winter, so be it. That’s how serious I take this river-running business.

So for all of you interested in our row-your-own river trips where you learn to pilot your own boat, stop by my place when you get into town and we’ll play some foosball to condition your rowing reactions. And if you don’t mind terribly, I might have you sign something to show the accountant this is a legitimate training device.

Practical Prep for DIY River Trips

So for those prepping for rowing a boat for exercise or joining our row-your-own adventures, you’ll want to try the Newport Challenge Rower if you’re training at home. Or maybe start with a rowing dinghy or a one man fishing raft to get the feel of it.

And don’t forget to learn the basics like how to row boat or how to launch your raft with oars or raft and oars without chaos.

Train Smart. Paddle Hard. Float Easy.

Whether you're rowing solo or looking to build your paddle power, from “how to increase my punch power” to “what size river row is right for me?”—Winding Waters has your back.

Our Whitewater Raftings trips give you not just a thrill, but skills that last a lifetime. We teach you to row, read rivers, and respect water. And if you’ve got a foosball table too, well... you’re halfway to Hells Canyon.

Come Paddle With Winding Waters

Whether you’re a beginner learning how to row a boat or you’re perfecting your rowing sweep, Winding Waters River Expeditions offers unforgettable, hands-on whitewater rafting experiences. Join us and discover what it means to row with purpose, paddle with confidence, and float with grace.

Thrilling, refreshing, unforgettable—see why guests rave about Winding Waters rafting trips by checking out our Google Business Profile Reviews today!