Know the Competition

BLADE DESIGN - Being able to identify blade designs is often the easiest way to distinguish different teams on the water. All club, scholastic, and collegiate rowing programs have blades with very deliberate shapes and colors intended to represent some aspect of their program.

Athletes learn the blade designs of teams in order to recognize their competition more quickly. When at a major regatta, teams that have memorized competitor's blade designs are able to easily identify a competitor and evaluate their skill level and, thus, make the adjustments necessary to one's own strategy.

Spectators are also encouraged to become familiar with blade designs. This is very easy to do because, most often, as boats go by, teams point themselves out by the chants and cheers of team supporters.

Niskayuna High School's rowing program uses a bold "N" in red, shadowed by silver, against a white background. This unique combination quickly identifies Niskayuna Rowing at any major regatta.

Here are the blades of other crews in New York's Capital Region: