Randall Foils Versus Big Blades: Comparative Analysis in On-Water Sprint Rowing.

Purpose: We evaluated the technical and energetical impact of using Randall foils versus simple Big blades during a maximum rowing effort in field conditions.

Methods: Fourteen experienced rowers (12 male and 2 female) 26 (9) versus 25 (9) years of age, 179.8 (4.3) versus 175.0 (2.8) cm in height, and 74.2 (4.8) versus 65.5 (6.2) kg of body mass (for males and females, respectively) performed 2 maximal 500-m on-water bouts (1 each using Randall foils and simple Big blades in a randomized order). Performance and physiological variables were continuously measured along the efforts, with the latter being also recorded during the baseline and recovery periods.

Results: Rowing time was shorter using Randall foils when compared with simple Big blades (107.59 [5.53] vs 108.96 [5.44] s), while cycle rate (39.73 [2.56] vs 39.71 [2.24] cycle·min-1), peak oxygen uptake (63.47 [9.96] vs 62.68 [9.65] mL·kg-1·min-1), mean oxygen uptake (4.15 [0.77] vs 4.12 [0.78] L·min-1), respiratory frequency (62.44 [9.22] vs 62.17 [11.22] beats·min-1), peak heart rate (178 [11] vs 180 [9] beats·min-1], peak blood lactate concentration (14.26 [3.52] vs 13.76 [4.02] mmol · L-1), and rating of perceived effort (17 [1.43] vs 17 [1]) were similar in both experimental conditions. Furthermore, it was observed that the aerobic pathway represented ∼50% of the total energy spent in the 500-m sprint independently of the blades used.

Conclusions: Data suggest that the use of Randall foils enhances rowing performance without compromising rowers' mechanical and metabolic functions.