Hi Folks, its been awhile since I last posted here - maybe going back to 2005 - long story. Anyway, I've been following a Swiss sculler for a couple of years through U19 and now U23 champion - Aurelia-Maxima Janzen.

The interesting thing is she's bucking all the trends, most importantly she's sculling with Macon blades. Haven't seen those since early 90s. She's also using Braca sculls - my personal choice but not many are using them. Thirdly she's sculling in a Swift Racing shell. And she's winning - at the U23 Worlds, with clear water.

is this an oddity or how long will it be till her competition go the same way?

I'm 65 now - may be Macons are right for me and my aging knees!

Interested to read the the thoughts of this group.
Tony

On Monday, July 31, 2023 at 8:55:39 AM UTC+10, TwoTone wrote:
> Hi Folks, its been awhile since I last posted here - maybe going back to 2005 - long story. Anyway, I've been following a Swiss sculler for a couple of years through U19 and now U23 champion - Aurelia-Maxima Janzen.
>
> The interesting thing is she's bucking all the trends, most importantly she's sculling with Macon blades. Haven't seen those since early 90s. She's also using Braca sculls - my personal choice but not many are using them. Thirdly she's sculling in a Swift Racing shell. And she's winning - at the U23 Worlds, with clear water.
>
> is this an oddity or how long will it be till her competition go the same way?
>
> I'm 65 now - may be Macons are right for me and my aging knees!
>
> Interested to read the the thoughts of this group.
> Tony

Is that you Tony Curran?

Tim W

On Sunday, July 30, 2023 at 3:55:39 PM UTC-7, TwoTone wrote:
> Hi Folks, its been awhile since I last posted here - maybe going back to 2005 - long story. Anyway, I've been following a Swiss sculler for a couple of years through U19 and now U23 champion - Aurelia-Maxima Janzen.
>
> The interesting thing is she's bucking all the trends, most importantly she's sculling with Macon blades. Haven't seen those since early 90s. She's also using Braca sculls - my personal choice but not many are using them. Thirdly she's sculling in a Swift Racing shell. And she's winning - at the U23 Worlds, with clear water.
>
> is this an oddity or how long will it be till her competition go the same way?
>
> I'm 65 now - may be Macons are right for me and my aging knees!
>
> Interested to read the the thoughts of this group.
> Tony

Near as I can see she hasn't started a trend, though that she was successful with macon blades is no surprise.

On Monday, August 14, 2023 at 2:06:53 AM UTC-4, Tim Wise wrote:
> On Monday, July 31, 2023 at 8:55:39 AM UTC+10, TwoTone wrote:
> > Hi Folks, its been awhile since I last posted here - maybe going back to 2005 - long story. Anyway, I've been following a Swiss sculler for a couple of years through U19 and now U23 champion - Aurelia-Maxima Janzen.
> >
> > The interesting thing is she's bucking all the trends, most importantly she's sculling with Macon blades. Haven't seen those since early 90s. She's also using Braca sculls - my personal choice but not many are using them. Thirdly she's sculling in a Swift Racing shell. And she's winning - at the U23 Worlds, with clear water.
> >
> > is this an oddity or how long will it be till her competition go the same way?
> >
> > I'm 65 now - may be Macons are right for me and my aging knees!
> >
> > Interested to read the the thoughts of this group.
> > Tony
> Is that you Tony Curran?
>
> Tim W
Hi Tim,
Yes it is I. Been away from social media but not from rowing. Actually been doing more rec rowing than competing - was last at the Masters Worlds in Varese Italy and nearly jumped in to a 4x with a crew from Adelaide but their fourth member turned up at the last minute. Anyway, I'm just about to pull the trigger on a set of Macon sculls.

No ones talking about them!.
Tony

On Monday, August 21, 2023 at 10:35:17 AM UTC+10, TwoTone wrote:
> On Monday, August 14, 2023 at 2:06:53 AM UTC-4, Tim Wise wrote:
> > On Monday, July 31, 2023 at 8:55:39 AM UTC+10, TwoTone wrote:
> > > Hi Folks, its been awhile since I last posted here - maybe going back to 2005 - long story. Anyway, I've been following a Swiss sculler for a couple of years through U19 and now U23 champion - Aurelia-Maxima Janzen.
> > >
> > > The interesting thing is she's bucking all the trends, most importantly she's sculling with Macon blades. Haven't seen those since early 90s. She's also using Braca sculls - my personal choice but not many are using them. Thirdly she's sculling in a Swift Racing shell. And she's winning - at the U23 Worlds, with clear water.
> > >
> > > is this an oddity or how long will it be till her competition go the same way?
> > >
> > > I'm 65 now - may be Macons are right for me and my aging knees!
> > >
> > > Interested to read the the thoughts of this group.
> > > Tony
> > Is that you Tony Curran?
> >
> > Tim W
> Hi Tim,
> Yes it is I. Been away from social media but not from rowing. Actually been doing more rec rowing than competing - was last at the Masters Worlds in Varese Italy and nearly jumped in to a 4x with a crew from Adelaide but their fourth member turned up at the last minute. Anyway, I'm just about to pull the trigger on a set of Macon sculls.
>
> No ones talking about them!.
> Tony
Good morning Tony, nice to hear from you.
Seems like only yesterday that you came up and said hello at the Masters in Montreal, but it was in fact 22 years ago.
Glad to hear you are still rowing, rec rowing on the flat or the ocean?
Surprised you would have to buy a set of Macons, you would imagine there would be some still lying around
club houses unused and unloved.
By this stage of life if you like using them they are the right blades for you.

Cheers.

Tim

On Sunday, August 20, 2023 at 8:42:42 PM UTC-4, Tim Wise - Admin wrote:
> On Monday, August 21, 2023 at 10:35:17 AM UTC+10, TwoTone wrote:
> > On Monday, August 14, 2023 at 2:06:53 AM UTC-4, Tim Wise wrote:
> > > On Monday, July 31, 2023 at 8:55:39 AM UTC+10, TwoTone wrote:
> > > > Hi Folks, its been awhile since I last posted here - maybe going back to 2005 - long story. Anyway, I've been following a Swiss sculler for a couple of years through U19 and now U23 champion - Aurelia-Maxima Janzen.
> > > >
> > > > The interesting thing is she's bucking all the trends, most importantly she's sculling with Macon blades. Haven't seen those since early 90s. She's also using Braca sculls - my personal choice but not many are using them. Thirdly she's sculling in a Swift Racing shell. And she's winning - at the U23 Worlds, with clear water.
> > > >
> > > > is this an oddity or how long will it be till her competition go the same way?
> > > >
> > > > I'm 65 now - may be Macons are right for me and my aging knees!
> > > >
> > > > Interested to read the the thoughts of this group.
> > > > Tony
> > > Is that you Tony Curran?
> > >
> > > Tim W
> > Hi Tim,
> > Yes it is I. Been away from social media but not from rowing. Actually been doing more rec rowing than competing - was last at the Masters Worlds in Varese Italy and nearly jumped in to a 4x with a crew from Adelaide but their fourth member turned up at the last minute. Anyway, I'm just about to pull the trigger on a set of Macon sculls.
> >
> > No ones talking about them!.
> > Tony
> Good morning Tony, nice to hear from you.
> Seems like only yesterday that you came up and said hello at the Masters in Montreal, but it was in fact 22 years ago.
> Glad to hear you are still rowing, rec rowing on the flat or the ocean?
> Surprised you would have to buy a set of Macons, you would imagine there would be some still lying around
> club houses unused and unloved.
> By this stage of life if you like using them they are the right blades for you.
>
> Cheers.
>
> Tim
Hi Tim,
How time flies, eh! Macons. I don't need a set. I own a nice pair of Braca Fusion Blade sculls. I do find Braca more skilful with their carbon layup techniques but getting a pair of sculls from Europe in North America is next to impossible. But Macon blades together with the latest in carbon shafts is an interesting proposition and will test to see how they fair against other blade types. Its more of an experiment though I suspect I'd favour them due to their lower surface area and load.
I'm rowing on a stretch of river (Madawaska) that sits between two dams so nice and flat with a little run - only when there's a need for air conditioning in Toronto does it run quickly!!
The interesting thing about Aurelia-Maxima Janzen is that she's only 19 and wing at U23. Quite the achievement.
Tony

On Wednesday, August 23, 2023 at 10:43:39 AM UTC+10, TwoTone wrote:
> On Sunday, August 20, 2023 at 8:42:42 PM UTC-4, Tim Wise - Admin wrote:
> > On Monday, August 21, 2023 at 10:35:17 AM UTC+10, TwoTone wrote:
> > > On Monday, August 14, 2023 at 2:06:53 AM UTC-4, Tim Wise wrote:
> > > > On Monday, July 31, 2023 at 8:55:39 AM UTC+10, TwoTone wrote:
> > > > > Hi Folks, its been awhile since I last posted here - maybe going back to 2005 - long story. Anyway, I've been following a Swiss sculler for a couple of years through U19 and now U23 champion - Aurelia-Maxima Janzen.
> > > > >
> > > > > The interesting thing is she's bucking all the trends, most importantly she's sculling with Macon blades. Haven't seen those since early 90s.. She's also using Braca sculls - my personal choice but not many are using them. Thirdly she's sculling in a Swift Racing shell. And she's winning - at the U23 Worlds, with clear water.
> > > > >
> > > > > is this an oddity or how long will it be till her competition go the same way?
> > > > >
> > > > > I'm 65 now - may be Macons are right for me and my aging knees!
> > > > >
> > > > > Interested to read the the thoughts of this group.
> > > > > Tony
> > > > Is that you Tony Curran?
> > > >
> > > > Tim W
> > > Hi Tim,
> > > Yes it is I. Been away from social media but not from rowing. Actually been doing more rec rowing than competing - was last at the Masters Worlds in Varese Italy and nearly jumped in to a 4x with a crew from Adelaide but their fourth member turned up at the last minute. Anyway, I'm just about to pull the trigger on a set of Macon sculls.
> > >
> > > No ones talking about them!.
> > > Tony
> > Good morning Tony, nice to hear from you.
> > Seems like only yesterday that you came up and said hello at the Masters in Montreal, but it was in fact 22 years ago.
> > Glad to hear you are still rowing, rec rowing on the flat or the ocean?
> > Surprised you would have to buy a set of Macons, you would imagine there would be some still lying around
> > club houses unused and unloved.
> > By this stage of life if you like using them they are the right blades for you.
> >
> > Cheers.
> >
> > Tim
> Hi Tim,
> How time flies, eh! Macons. I don't need a set. I own a nice pair of Braca Fusion Blade sculls. I do find Braca more skilful with their carbon layup techniques but getting a pair of sculls from Europe in North America is next to impossible. But Macon blades together with the latest in carbon shafts is an interesting proposition and will test to see how they fair against other blade types. Its more of an experiment though I suspect I'd favour them due to their lower surface area and load.
> I'm rowing on a stretch of river (Madawaska) that sits between two dams so nice and flat with a little run - only when there's a need for air conditioning in Toronto does it run quickly!!
> The interesting thing about Aurelia-Maxima Janzen is that she's only 19 and wing at U23. Quite the achievement.
> Tony
Hello Tony, yes Braca make very nice oars although I must admit I have used their kayak paddles a lot more than I've used their oars.
They seem to be very nice made and durable, although the local schools here seem to destroy them at a frightening rate.
Sounds like a nice stretch of water to row on, our little lake seems to be constantly whipped to foam by strong winds nearly every day.
Bit strange as winter is normally a very stable time of year.
Aurelia-Maxima Janzen seems to be a remarkable sculler regardless of the oars and boat she uses.
Last year I believe she was junior world champion and silver medalist at U23, this year gold at U23.
I wonder what next year will bring?
Maybe macons are actually an advantage?

Hope you are able to get some Braca macons to try.
All the best Tony.

TW.