The Concept2 8+ at Head of the Charles Regatta 2025

On Saturday morning at 9:11a.m., the Concept2 staff 8+ launched on the Charles River for the Men’s Grand Master Eights [50+] event at the 2025 Head of the Charles Regatta® (HOCR).  

Carrying bow number 22, a fitting nod for the Concept2 boat, the crew represented nearly five decades of rowing innovation, friendship, and passion. From co-founders Dick and Peter Dreissigacker to current staff, which included former national team rowers and longtime friends, the lineup represented the shared passion and purpose that continues to define Concept2 almost 50 years after its inception. 

Lineup
Coxswain: Brack Baker 

8: Ezra Carlson 

7: Dan Brooks 

6: Dries Beer  

5: Aaron Thurston 

4: Dick Dreissigacker 

3: Peter Dreissigacker 

2: Kevin Stevenson  

1: Oscar Rijneveld 

Though this crew came together for the first time on race day, their preparation reflected the Concept2 way; thoughtful training and teamwork. In the weeks leading up to the HOCR, the team followed a shared training plan built around RowErg interval sessions, steady-state workouts, and time on the StrengthErg to build power and endurance. The goal wasn’t just to race at the event, but to celebrate the sport and the community that’s powered Concept2 since 1976.

A Team Effort On and Off the Water 

While the 8+ raced down the course, the rest of the Concept2 team was just as active on land. At our booth near the Eliot Bridge, staff welcomed rowers, spectators, and friends. We offered free oar repairs, hosted warm-ups on the RowErg and BikeErg, and cheered on participants during our Tug-O-Erg battles and HYROX challenges. Our repair team worked throughout the long weekend, restoring over 600 oars, helping rowers get back on the water quickly and race their best. 

We also continued one of our Head of the Charles traditions: oar rentals for athletes throughout the weekend. This year, we rented 620 oars to competitors, a service that keeps us busy but allows countless rowers to compete with reliable, high-performing equipment that they can depend on. Through all of this, we were proud to support the A Most Beautiful Thing Inclusion Fund, an initiative that aligns deeply with our mission to make the sport more inclusive and accessible to all.  

Rowing for the Love of It 

The Concept2 8+ finished 14th out of 30 crews in the Men’s Grand Master Eights [50+] event, with a time of 16:38.820, a strong result for a scratch crew brought together by shared experience and commitment to the sport. 

Seeing Dick and Peter still pulling hard, decades after building their first oars, was a powerful reminder of why Concept2 exists: to keep people rowing, together, active and having fun. It was especially meaningful for the rest of the crew, who joined two legends of the sport that continue to inspire not only their teammates and staff, but the entire rowing community.