Indoor Rowing
What is Indoor Rowing?
Indoor rowing, or ‘erging’ (named because of the equipment used for this type of sport – the ergometer), has been widely used as a training tool for rowers since it’s creation. Today, indoor rowing has grown to become a competitive sport in its own right.
Ergometers have been used in rowing training since the 1950s in many countries. The earliest examples were huge metal contraptions with a solid iron flywheel.
Indoor rowing competitions take place all over the world. The longest running and best known is the C.R.A.S.H-Bs, held every year in February in Boston, USA. In 2018, the first World Rowing Indoor Championships were held in conjunction with Concept2 in Alexandria, USA.
The 1980s saw the development of lighter, slightly more rower-friendly machines. The Dreissigacker brothers, founders of Concept2, developed an ergometer using bicycle parts. This innovation helped to make the rowing machine light and affordable, and allowed rowers to compare their performances against one another. This caused indoor rowing to grow rapidly in training, and made indoor rowing competitions possible.
Just like on-water rowing, the most infamous benchmark test on the ergometer is 2000 metres for time. Many competitions include various race formats, including races for time, for distance, for maximum wattage, relay and team competitions, blind races, and elimination races. Indoor rowing is also found in other sport competitions, such as CrossFit, Functional Fitness, and ‘indoor’ triathlon.
Indoor rowing is naturally suited to virtual training and competition, and to eSports. Augmented reality and virtual racing and training platforms are being developed regularly, and 2020 saw a boom in virtual training and competition. The 2021 World Rowing Indoor Championships will take place virtually, with five continental qualification events taking place virtually as well.
Indoor Equipment
Go to the Concept2 website for more details
In 1981, brothers Dick and Peter Dreissigacker created the Concept2 Indoor Rower, which swiftly became the rowing machine of choice worldwide. Several models later, it’s used every day by Olympic champions and novices alike.
Model D Indoor Rower
The Model D is known to competitive rowers as the standard for indoor training.
Model E Indoor Rower
The Model E sits higher off the ground, making it easier to get on and off for those with mobility considerations.
Dynamic Indoor Rower
The Dynamic Indoor Rower offers the closest simulation to rowing on the water and was developed to meet the specific training needs of competitive rowing athletes.
The Performance Monitor sets us apart from the competition with accurate, detailed and, importantly, comparable data from machine to machine. This is what makes the indoor rower an essential tool of training programs and boathouses around the world, and has led to indoor competitions, as well as world records and rankings.
Concept2 is dedicated to providing the most innovative products and programs. Every machine and oar we produce comes from a background of over thirty-five years of excellence. Our primary goal is to promote and encourage the growth of rowing, both indoors and outdoors. We believe that rowing is a lifelong activity, accessible to all.
Go to the Oartec website for more details
Oartec is a rowing company committed to designing, manufacturing and marketing innovative rowing products for the performance rowing market.
It is a major supplier of rowing machines for the rowing club, school, home use and commercial fitness markets. With a long association and strong background within the sport of rowing they design products that specialize in improving the benefits and value of land based rowing training.
Go to the RP3 Dynamic website for more details
The RP3 Dynamic rowing simulator has been designed to simulate as closely as possible the dynamical and mechanical properties of a racing shell. It is the world’s only rowing machine that truly simulates the dynamics of a light racing shell, freely floating on the water. The main frame with its flywheel, stretcher and seat are the boat simulating parts and the main bar simulates the water. The rower’s body does not move up and down the whole length of the main bar but stays still, while the main frame moves, simulating the boat moving underneath the rower. As a result there are no peak loads on lower back and knees which are often the cause of injury.
In its patented design, the flywheel assembly weighs about 20 kg’s which closely approximates the weight (per person) of most racing shells. The seat needs balancing as in a boat, forcing the rower to sit and pull symmetrically. The RP3 is built for rowers who want to improve their technique, and take their performance to the next level. The free software program gives the rower direct feedback by showing their power curve every stroke. This way the rower is able to learn how to row more efficiently, and crews can synchronize their technique and row faster. The RP3 is able to connect to other RP3’s so you can build a double, a quad or even an eight.
Go to the WaterRower website for more details
WaterRower has been making a wide selection of rowing machines for over 20 years combining stylish design, hand crafted workmanship, and ethically sourced materials. The WaterRower’s unique WaterFlyWheel was invented by former US team oarsman John Duke in 1988 and all the machines are still made in WaterRower’s own factory in Rhode Island, USA.
Go to the Technogym website for more details
Technogym rowers are designed with the latest technology, combining innovative and transformational solutions to push your training to the next level. The ground-breaking technology of SKILLROW features a modal control, allowing you to focus on power or cardiovascular training by shifting from air to magnetic resistance. These rowers are designed to give an authentic experience that exceeds traditional ergometers, by making the resistance more fluid, whilst maintaining a high level of comfort.
Go to the Hydrow website for more details
Row in London, Scotland, Miami, Boston, and beyond with Hydrow’s immersive experience offering both live and on-demand workouts from the water. The Hydrow combines design-forward beauty with innovative technology. Its electromagnetic, computer-controlled drag system creates the ultra-smooth feel of being on the water.