While working as a customer service person for Concept2, Mark McAndrew realized that there was significant interest in a canoe paddling simulator. A serious paddler himself, Mark started working on a design which, in 1995, he developed into the first canoe paddling adapter.

The canoe paddling adapter temporarily transforms the Concept2 Indoor Rower into a machine which simulates the single blade canoe paddling stroke, while making use of the Indoor Rower's digital display monitor to track important workout information. The popularity of the adapter has grown over the past five years and is now playing an important role in the training and testing of competitive paddlers in several countries, as well as here in the U.S. The canoe paddling adapter has become popular with dragonboat competitors, as well as marathon canoe and outrigger racers.

More recently, Vermont Waterways has developed a kayak adapter for the Concept2 Indoor Rower that simulates the double-bladed stroke of kayaking. Again, the transition between rowing and kayaking is quick and easy and allows for sport-specific training for the kayaking athlete. Mark emphasizes that alternating workouts of rowing and paddling are the real benefit offered by the adapters.