Most rowing clubs focus their attention on their top athletes, leaving all others to fend for themselves. After the guidance of a school rowing program, it can be disheartening and frustrating to suddenly recieve no attention and to feel unimportant. You deserve someone in your corner, someone who values you as a person and believes in your goals as much as you do.
Customised training program
Training that fits your lifestyle
Tailored technical advice
Train to your goals
Support when you need it
Nicki completely transformed the way I approached the sport. Her technical focus was next level, every session centred on quality over quantity. She placed a big emphasis on controlling the controllables. From nutrition and recovery to mindset and training smart. She was incredibly knowledgeable and supported me all the way to my peak performace.
Selected for the Australian Under 19 Eight
Nicki's ability to to teach brilliant technique and her immense knowledge of the rowing world has helped me to attain my goals as an athlete, teammate and now gaining a full scholarship at a Division 1 US College. Nicki is a true mentor, brilliant coach, advisor and friend to me. Thank you Nicki!
Recruited to Oklahoma University
Nicki was a great mentor and support for me as a rower. Her knowledge and passion for rowing led our crew to successes on and off the water. She helped us all push to our individual best on the ergs and in the gym, helping calm the nerves that all of us get. I couldn't recommend her highly enough as a coach!
Selected for the Victorian Pathway Eight
I've been where you are. I first rowed in a private school program, where I had consistency, structure and guidance and I thrived. I became the top rower in the school and, in my final year, earned a place on the Victorian Junior team. But when I moved into an elite club, everything changed. The structure I had relied on disappeared, and suddenly I was competing for attention against older, stronger athletes. While I did experience some success, I inevitably got sick from overtraining, and then I felt invisible. If I couldn't keep up with the heavy training load, I wasn't worth the coach's time. In the space of a season, I went from being valued to forgotten. The dissapointment cut deep, and all too soon I walked away.
When I made the choice to return, it was to a small squad in a non-elite club. But this time, I had a strategic coach. He gave us structure, purpose and coaching every session. More importantly, he saw me as a person, not just an athlete. He worked my training around my full-time job, supported my health and helped me rebuild my fitness without burning out.
That experience changed how I saw rowing and coaching. I learned that great coaching isn't about chasing watts or breaking athletes down, it's about building people up, giving them the structure, guidance and the belief they need to succeed both in the boat and beyond it.
At Ratio Theory Rowing, we believe rowing should build people up, not leave them behind. That's why we focus on you, your goals, your journey, your potential. You'll get the structure, guidance and support to unlock speed, sharpen your technique and build confidence. At Ratio Theory, you don't fade into the background, you step into your full potential.
Your goals, lifestyle and wellbeing shape your custom training. We build your aerobic base, anerobic engine, strength and pacing - then develop your threshold so you can stay fast while others fade.
We'll assess your fitness and strength, set ambitious short and long term goals, and create training targets to keep you motivated, purposeful and proud of your progress every session.
Your wellbing is the key to your success. We'll take this journey together, keeping your physical and mental health at the forefront. Through our sessions, we'll build your training intelligence, racing maturity, and competitive instincts to help you get the most out of your season.
Through in-person coaching or on-line video analysis, we identify your keys areas to improve. You will have guidance every session with a clear technical focus and targeted drills to help you make lasting changes.
Strength is so much more than lifting heavy things. Your program will focus on injury prevention, core stability, flexibility, and having free and comfortably movement in your body. We'll also develop functional and dynamic strength, speed of movement and stability to boost your erg scores and speed on water.
We work with your club schedule so you can enjoy the benifits of big boats, squad training and racing, while still getting the individual attention you need. You'll experience team sessions and on-water camaraderie, without compromising the personalsied coaching, structure, and guidance.
It doesn't matter what stage of the season you're at. We can start wherever you are and help you improve once you decide to prioritise your own experience. Whether you want targeted technical advice, support to get through erg tests, or the complete coaching experience, you chose the level of guidance that fits your goals and situation. The first step is a conversation - we'll discuss your goals, your current training, and how Ratio Theory Rowing can enhance your rowing, giving you the structure, support and a clear plan to make this season your best yet.
Discuss your goals and asperations
Review your current training and perforance
Go over lifestyle and commitments
Explore coaching options and support
Assess your current fitness and technique
Set short and long term goals
Design your personalised training plan
Ingegrate lifestyle, wellbeing and your club
Follow your personalised training schedule
Track your progress
Refine and adjust
Apply your skills in training and racing
Nicki has steered some of Australia's most prominant school rowing programs inlcuding Ballarat Clarendon College, Firbank Grammar and Wilderness School. Alongside her school coaching, she has also been part of the bigger picture, coaching State Pathway and Under 19 crews with Rowing Victoria, and taking on roles with Rowing South Australia as a Queen's cup and Under 19 coach.
Wherever she goes, results follow. Under Nicki's guidance, crews have stood on the podium at the Australian Rowing Championships with multiple gold medals, while school crews have celebrated Division 1 titles at Head of the Lake and Head of the Schoolgirls. Nicki has a particular knack for making smaller rowers move boats fast on the water, proving that speed comes from technique, skill and grit, not just watts on the erg.
What really sets Nicki apart, is her coaching philosophy. Every athlete is seen, valued and coached as a person first, not just a seat in the boat. That approach has not only driven success on the water, but has also helped her athlets grow into confident young people who go on to represent their State or Australia, or row at prestigious US colleges, carrying those lessons well beyond the finish line.
Years directing rowing programs
State or National team selections
US College Recruitements
1km or 2km personal bests
Elevate your rowing with our Performance Plans - created to match your goals and the way you love to train. If you don't see the perfect fit, get in touch! We'll design a plan that's made just for you.
Ratio Theory Rowing - Copyright . All rights reserved.
At Ratio Theory, we combine technical knowledge with strategic planning to help you gain back control, row faster, train smarter and perform at your best when it counts.