I was in Wisconsin last month attending a roller ski clinic, and the very first day we were lined up to do a three minute time trial on the SkiErg. I had heard of your machine but had never seen one. I went first and quickly found out how awesome your machine is. When I finally caught my breath, the first words out of my mouth were, "I need to get one of those!" I’m shooting for 2:45 this year (at the Birkebeiner) and the SkiErg is going to be my not-so-secret weapon.
I would recommend the Concept2 SkiErg to anyone in any type of fitness or training facility. First of all, the workout is unbelievably challenging, no matter how good a shape you are in. Your upper body, core, legs, and lungs get an amazing workout. The small footprint and mobility of the unit make it versatile for small group training or in our cardio machine lineup. In an era of very expensive cardio machines, the SkiErg is a fifth of the cost of a traditional treadmill and much more beneficial to train on.
The SkiErg is one of the best buys we have made as a club.
Several months ago I had a chance to train with the SkiErg. I was hooked immediately. It is a great ‘tool of pain.’
I'm 32 years old and a professional firefighter and rescue diver in Pori, Finland. I have trained pretty hard for almost 17 years now. I found CrossFit in 2007 and it immediately became my favourite thing! I won the 2009 CrossFit Games. In my training, the Concept2 Indoor Rower has a big role. I believe that rowing is one of the major factors to my work capacity. I like to use the indoor rower for intervals and for metcons.
The SkiErg can be a great training tool, especially to people who don't have much time.
I've done one or two ski mountaineering races each year for the last four years, and I love them. They typically involve about 700m vertical height gain, and I love the extreme physical challenge. It's like the hardest ever erg 10k you've ever done, plus a bit more! Having used your SkiErg for the last six months, I managed to knock four minutes off my best time for a 700m vertical race! Most of this improvement I would put down to using your machine 3–4 times weekly for the last six months. I think it is a brilliant fitness machine. It works different muscles than the erg, and I think it is a harder aerobic/V02max type exercise.
The SkiErg has very quickly become the most popular machine at Platinum Fitness. Whether it’s Lance Armstrong, Chad Reed or a 70-year-old client trying to stay fit, the SkiErg will whip them into shape fast!
It’s awesome to have a piece of equipment where I can get a cardiovascular workout while using my upper body and core.
The SkiErg is the best alternative training for rowing, with the same rhythm and engaging muscles in a very similar way. It is also an excellent supplemental exercise, strengthening core muscles and providing a cardiovascular workout at the same time. I would wholeheartedly recommend every rowing center or club to get hold of a SkiErg. Every rower, whether elite or recreational, can greatly benefit from this exercise.
As the Head Coach of the US Paralympic Biathlon team, my vision is to have a SkiErg in all the major military medical facilities across the country by the fall of 2012. I see these SkiErgs as not only a great piece of equipment to facilitate rehab for wounded warriors, but a fantastic recruiting tool for the Paralympic Biathlon Team as well.
I use my SkiErg every week as a preparation for the Vasaloppet. I usually do intervals, such as 5 times 1000 meters, but I also do some distance training of up to 1 1/2 hours. I like the SkiErg because it is great exercise for both strength and endurance and is more gentle on your body compared to rollerskiing. Lastly, it’s fun to race against yourself and against friends!
The SkiErg is a great training tool for runners, where you can increase one's propulsion force without increasing stroke rate or cadence. The Recovery Phase of the motion activates the posterior chain of the legs similarly to hill runs or track sprints. My athletes can simulate the stresses of hill sprint intervals or distance, without having to find hills of optimal grade and distance. The PM3 or PM4 is fantastic, allowing output to be measurable and repeatable.
What takes me one hour on the SkiErg would take two hours of skiing to get the same effect.
After my first few pulls on the machine I knew I had just discovered a great new tool.
I have been training away here in Park City. A typical week of primarily upper body training involves 2 double pole intervals workouts on the SkiErg. One level 3 and one level 4. Two upper body strength sessions. Three or four distance swims and a combi bike/swim over distance workout. I am up to 75 min of very easy biking and it feels great to actually go somewhere while exercising!
It's rare that a new product comes out that is actually worth its salt but the gang at Concept2 has managed to create a new idea that looks like it has a whole lotta suck attached to it (that means it's great).