Episode 130 | Dr. Volker Nolte & Dr. Valery Kleshnev - Power Measurement and Biomechanics in Rowing

LEO Training: Strength & Conditioning | Endurance | Health | Performance | Injury Prevention | Joe DeLeo

In this podcast episode I sit down with Dr. Volker Nolte and Dr. Valery Kleshnev to discuss power measurement and biomechanics in the rowing stroke. In Episode 119, I had interviewed Lotte Lintmeijer who presented a new method for power measurement. Dr. Nolte and Dr. Kleshnev wanted to discuss the traditional method of power measurement and share why this is still valid. We also discuss how this integrates into technology and what rowing can do to be more appealing to fans and spectators.

Here is a short bio on both of my guests.

Dr. Valery Kleshnev - a graduate sport scientist and silver Olympic medallist. Since 1986, Valery has been involved in R&D and consultancy in rowing biomechanics and has spent more than 20 years working at sport institutes in Russia, Australia and the UK. You can learn more about Valery at his company's website Biorow.com

Dr. Volker Nolte was the head rowing coach for Western University for 24 years and retired in 2017. Nolte’s work as a coach was recognized several times over his career. He received the Award of Merit from Rowing Canada Aviron in 1996 and the International Rowing Federation (FISA) in 1998, the President’s Award from Rowing Canada in 1998 and was the 3M Coach of the Year in 2001. In 2006 and 2007, he was awarded Coach of the Year from the Canadian University Rowing Association and was the first Western coach after Jack Fairs who received the Jack Fairs Coaching Award of Merit in 2009. In 2010, Nolte was presented with the Coaches’ Recognition Award from Rowing Canada.

Nolte received both a Physical Education Diploma (1976) and a Civil Engineering Diploma (1979) from the University of Saarbrücken (Germany), and a Ph.D. (1984) from the German Sport University in Cologne (Germany) in Biomechanics.

He is an internationally acknowledged expert in biomechanics. Together with his expertise in the coaching field, he frequently presents at scientific and coach education conferences worldwide. His research includes coaching and biomechanics of high performance sport, especially rowing. He is also a distinguished researcher in the field of sport equipment. He co-holds international patents for isokinetic training machines and his developments range from special measurement tools up to new boat designs in rowing. His research has produced many papers in refereed journals, articles in various publications and the popular book “Rowing Faster”, now in its second edition (2011).

Part 1 | Power Measurement

• New Method vs. Traditional Method
• Nothing new in rowing
• Integration with technology by NK Empower Oarlock

Part 2 | Gamification in Rowing, Training Velocity, and Spinal Kinematics

• Discussion around making rowing more appealing to audiences and fans by using technology to show athletes outputs, speeds, and watts in reserve.
• How to train velocity for rowing; the next frontier in S&C?
• Spinal Kinematics and implications with different rowing styles.

Show Notes:

• Biorow.com
• Kleshnev on Researchgate
• Nolte on Researchgate