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CoxitudeThe Coxtitude is similar to the Baditude (Bad Attitude). When arriving at a regatta, you can tell who the coxswains are right away. Okay, so maybe the physiological differences are a little easier to spot. Yeah, and then the second thing you notice is the bad-ass pair of sunglasses that they're wearing. Or maybe it's that they're being thrown into the river. But you can really tell who's a coxswain and who's not by how they carry themselves at a regatta. Because they have it; they have the Coxtitude.Some people may call it cockiness (coxiness?) or arrogance, but as a coxswain it's incredibly valuable to have the right attitude. For me, I had it from the get-go. My coxswain coach was telling me stories about when she used to cox, and I fell right into it and soaked all of them up. "There's nothing more intimidating than someone who can bark orders in that drill sergeant voice...while taking the boat out of the water." She told me about how she used to play the bow-ball game. How she's had other coxswains tear into her crew, then she spoke the right words to her crew and walked right back through the opposition. I ate it up and started applying it on water. Every day I was out there I gained confidence. Every day I gained their respect, and I don't think I could have done that without my confidence.You see, you're the focal point of the 8+. You have to have the confidence, nay, the fortitude to control it. Some days you'll be a friend, some days you'll be a parent, but most days you'll be that driving force that made a shell better through tough-love. Coxie love, in a sense. If another crew sees a coxswain barking out orders and getting things done crisply, they think "Daaaamn...". Actually, your crew could probably care less. It's us, the coxswains, that get psyched out.Which is the whole point of attitude. It's all about psyching each other out. Other than the odd comment like, "He's got his stuff together" the rowers won't notice the other coxswains thta much. During a race the rowers might here something that the other coxswain says, but how do you respond? Do you come right back? Or do you not stand up for your boys and girls. Ah, but mainly it's a head-game between us. We try to rattle each other. We try to get a leg-up on the competition by doing a lot of things. Including wearing sunglasses.Yes, sunglasses have had benefits on sunny days and whatnot, but when it's raining out and overcast we still wear 'em. The argument will go on for years as to whether or not you should wear them. I say, if it truly makes you more confident, go for it. But, as for me, you'll never know. Because you'll be so far behind that you'll never see. When a lot of novice cox'ns are going to be worried about their point, backing their boats in, etc., I'll be already set, two steps ahead of them. I'll be psyching the crew up, not a pep talk, but getting them ready to unleash hell. Calm and collected, but through my voice there's a fire that the whole eight can feel... "We're going racing." Then the countdown and the start, and you'll see us at the docks. Because you were late to the finish line.That's how I think of myself and my crew. Regardless of the competition. No matter how we rowed in warm-up. We're going out there and mixing it up with the best, and I KNOW we can come out on top. Getting your rowers to believe this is the challenge. Your coxtitude will determine how successful you are. During a race, I don't think it's unethical to mess with the other crews, that's part of our game. That's what we do. Play mind games. Squeeze a lane, intimidate. Throw each other off our rhythm. We're the chess players of this sport. But it can't only be in a race, it's gotta be every day.You have to go out to every practice knowing that you can make a difference in your crew that day. Gotta wake up and say, HELL YEAH, I'M GOING ROWING. The first day that you show up and think to yourself, "Why am I doing this?" Take a few days off. You'll either not miss it, or come crawling back to that boathouse again. But if you don't want to be there, you can ruin a practice. If the rowers don't want to be there, you can always affect that. But if you don't want to, practice is over.I can't really relate to women that well, you ladies are a mystery that I may never completely understand. But the easiest way to explain what I've been trying to say is that you need a steel pair of cajones. Forgive me for the male terminology.Every cox needs to know, with every part of their self, that they can win. I don't care if you're the most rinky-dink crew in the middle of BFE. You've got to race to win. You have to convince your crew that they can hold their own with the best. I can't stress enough how important attitude is. If you don't truly believe that you can win a race, your rowers will pick up on it. If you don't truly believe that they can set the boat, clear the puddles, etc., they'll pick up on it. Hold your expectations of your crew and yourself relatively high for your level of competition (i.e., don't expect a novice crew to row perfectly every stroke, and don't expect a high school crew to be able to row all eight right away).Walk tall. Look over at the competition and tell yourself that you can take them. Have the confidence in your voice, have it in your eyes. You're halfway there, then. But when you have it in your heart, you'll know what it feels like to get that boat flying. Because every call you make will feel like it's right, and every race you win, your Coxtitude will grow a little bit more. Practice to race. Race to win. Lay it on the line for the men/women in front of you. Let's all get better and give each other some stiff competition.Good luck, but I'll still be waiting for you at the finish line. ;-)GCoxthis is not my story it just fucking rox my coxie sox
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TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF - The Survey
Name: Jamie Holmes
Birthday: July 16th
Birthplace: Halifax
Current Location: Niagara Falls
Eye Color: Blue
Hair Color: Brown
Height: 5,8
Right Handed or Left Handed: right handed
Your Heritage: Irish
The Shoes You Wore Today: None
Your Weakness: My strength
Your Fears: hights
Your Perfect Pizza: meatlovers with onions
Goal You Would Like To Achieve This Year: complete classes
Your Most Overused Phrase On an instant messenger: wow...i'm dumb
Thoughts First Waking Up: .....
Your Best Physical Feature: ask some of the girls i dated
Your Bedtime: 10:00
Your Most Missed Memory: Stuff that happened in florida
Pepsi or Coke: coke
McDonalds or Burger King: mcdonalds
Single or Group Dates: single
Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea: neastea
Chocolate or Vanilla: vanilla
Cappuccino or Coffee: cappuccino
Do you Smoke: no
Do you Swear: yes
Do you Sing: when i want
Do you Shower Daily: yes
Have you Been in Love: i believe so
Do you want to go to College: yes
Do you want to get Married: yes
Do you belive in yourself: no all the time
Do you get Motion Sickness: nope
Do you think you are Attractive: yes
Are you a Health Freak: no
Do you get along with your Parents: mostly
Do you like Thunderstorms: yes
Do you play an Instrument: yes
In the past month have you Drank Alcohol: yes
In the past month have you Smoked: no
In the past month have you been on Drugs: no
In the past month have you gone on a Date: i unno i think so
In the past month have you gone to a Mall: yah
In the past month have you eaten a box of Oreos: yes
In the past month have you eaten Sushi: no
In the past month have you been on Stage: yes
In the past month have you been Dumped: i unno i think so
In the past month have you gone Skinny Dipping: no
In the past month have you Stolen Anything: no
Ever been Drunk: yes
Ever been called a Tease: no
Ever been Beaten up: yes
Ever Shoplifted: yes
How do you want to Die: with the girl of my dreams by my side
What do you want to be when you Grow Up: plumber
What country would you most like to Visit: Ireland
In a Boy/Girl..
Favourite Eye Color: as long as i get lost in them
Favourite Hair Color: brown
Short or Long Hair: not too long
Height: shorter then me
Weight: between 100 and 180 pnds
Best Clothing Style: could care less
Number of Drugs I have taken: 1
Number of CDs I own: enough
Number of Piercings: none
Number of Tattoos: none
Number of things in my Past I Regret: like 3 maybe
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Your love is... by ChibiMarronchan
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Your kiss is... mysterious
Your hugs are... friendly
Your eyes... burn into my heart
Your touch is... heart warming
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Your smile is... hypnotising
Your love is... unique
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