In The Indoor Rowing News #33, Paul Karanevich asked a question regarding the rowing technique displayed by some competitors at the World Indoor Rowing Championship. Terry O'Neill replied, using the example of Herbert Leah, the current world champion at 70-79 Lwt, as an example. Herbert himself read the question and has penned his own thoughts on rowing technique.All athletic events start from a premise of what technique is required to give the best results for a particular activity and is based on anatomical and physiological considerations for the ideal human build/shape for the specific event/activity.However, in reality there are many different human forms – long and short legs, arms, trunk and neck plus many computations of these with the result that the ideas as expressed in the original contention of what correct technique for a specific event should entail, is rarely achieved.This generalisation would not apply where athletes are selected specifically for an event, as the aim then will be to take only an ideal (subject, of course, to other criteria) e.g. selecting a rowing 8 or 4, or where selections are being made to pick out potential top performers for special training through Sports Academies.Although indoor rowing started as an additional training medium for wet rowers it is likely that the ideal technique was then more or less the norm, whereas, now it has grown into a massive sport in its own right attracting competitors from many differing backgrounds, with the majority perhaps never having sat in a boat. It is perhaps understandable, therefore, that there are now various interpretations emerging for one reason and another.This is not to imply that the aim, certainly when beginning, should not be to emulate the approved technique but, as time goes by and one assumes variations that may produce superior results, there seems little justification in changing purely for academic or aesthetic reasons.Examples of top athletes that veer from the accepted norm are numerous – who would want that outstanding athlete Paula Radcliffe to change her idiosyncratic movement of her head for the sake of technique, even though in theory it may reduce physical and nervous demand, albeit likely also to reduce performance.Terry is right to give as an example my bad technique; that is as a result of trying to compensate for some physical defects i.e. gross restriction in extension and flexion of the elbow joint as a result of a sports injury. Also a need to sit lopsided on the machine due to a shortening of my left leg (not the 2 inches Terry quoted I am pleased to say otherwise I would be walking with one foot in the gutter).I attempt to overcome the loss of reach by using a more flexed trunk action and have tried various approaches for the leg problem, rowing in odd footwear, differing position for the foot rest, pads in my shoe but have dispensed with them all. However, from what Tel says, I am delighted to be in the same company as Sir Steve Redgrave!