After an intense morning workout combining both high rates and high pressure, we spent the afternoon workout focusing more on technique and drills. After trudging to practice through sideways wind and rain, the rain persisted but the wind seemed to calm down. Taking advantage of the calmer winds, we started the practice with pause drills, focusing on our body angle. As we made our way down the inner coastal, the boats were picking up speed as a result of a strong tailwind. After about a half hour into our row we turned the boats around to make our way back to the docks. During the first half of the workout, the coaches individually assessed what each rower should be focusing on when making technical changes. What we soon came to realize was that our ability to make these technical changes would be tested heading into a hurricane-like headwind on our way back to the docks. As we started rowing into the headwind, each rower had to focus on both technique and pressure in order to keep the boats moving forward. Not only did we have to commit to our technique so that the boat could stay balanced through the heavy winds, but we had to commit to keeping up the pressure and driving our legs down to keep the boats moving forward at a decent rate. The heavy winds were throwing the boats around and making the oars difficult to control, but we took the harsh conditions as an opportunity to practice dealing with windy racing conditions and to zero in our rowing technique. We rowed by sixes on our way back to the docks, having no choice but to row at a high pressure in order to battle the strong winds. Although the conditions of our afternoon workout made the session more challenging than a typical technical row, I think we could all agree that there was a lot to take away from our session, and it was a practice that we will remember the next time we have to race in rough conditions. Following the rainy and chaotic practice, we were able to wind down and stretch out with a team yoga session. A relaxing and refreshing yoga session was the perfect way to end a day of hard work on the water.

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