Concept2 CTS will be on site at the World Rowing Championships in Sarasota-Bradenton, Florida, September 23–October 1. The Concept2 CTS trailer will be located in the athlete area where the CTS regatta service team will be available to competitors who need oar repairs and service. There will also be a CTS booth in the spectator area, where people will be able to try out the new BikeErg, as well as Concept2 indoor rowers and SkiErg, when not watching the competition.
The World Championships is exciting—it’s Olympic-caliber racing in non-Olympic years. This is the first time in 23 years that the World Championships will be held in the USA! Come join us! These are some of the athletes and events we’ll be watching. (World Rowing provides a helpful explanation of boat classes.): Continue Reading ›
The Concept2 CTS team traveled to Madison, Wisconsin, for the CrossFit Games as it debuted in its new location. The city met athletes, spectators and vendors alike with open arms. An event was even named after the city, “The Madison Triplet”, where weighted sandbags were encased in yellow and aptly named "Cheese Curds" to reflect the popular Wisconsin dish.
The indoor rower has been an integral part of the CrossFit Games since 2007. Continue Reading ›
At the end of July, world records fell at The World Games. Olena Buryak (Ukraine) set a new 2k world record of 6:22.8. In addition to setting a new fastest time in the Olympic distance, she also set a new world record in the 500m sprint distance. Her world record now stands at 1:24.5. Continue Reading ›
The Concept2 ErgData app provides a number of additional data options for your workouts, including Drive Length. Why is drive length important, and how can this information be used in your training? Continue Reading ›
You may have heard the term “Power Ten” in reference to rowing and racing. Specifically, this term is often said by the coxswain to motivate a crew. A “Power Ten” is, traditionally, ten hard strokes of power. The coxswain often will count out each stroke for the crew. Contrary to common belief, the coxswain doesn’t yell “row” with each stroke that the athletes take. (After all, the athletes all are well aware that they are rowing.) More frequently, the coxswain is providing motivation, giving feedback, or executing a race strategy. The coxswain’s first job is steering (and safety), but that responsibility is usually a silent one.
A Power Ten is an all-out effort, but the term is a bit ironic in a race where every stroke should be pulled your hardest. So why does a coxswain call a Power Ten? Continue Reading ›
World Record Holder Shawn Baker
The 500 meter row. A staple for many; an all-out fly and die effort. For the fast it’s over quickly yet feels like it takes forever when done at max effort. Many, such as Sam Loch, have tried to chase down a two-decade old world record and come close, but it still sits out there beckoning challengers to try it. Others excel in their age group and dominate many different distances, such as Anne Bourlioux, who owns 35 world records.
Some people battle records for months; others break their own records, almost daily. Shawn Baker has done just that: he’s broken the 500 meter record for heavyweight men, age 50–59, over ten times in 2017. The previous record holders? Shawn Baker himself. Shawn likes to push to that dark mental place often, way more often than this writer does. A brutal 500 meters isn’t something that often crosses my mind as a piece I’d like to do every day.
What pushes someone to want to do such a challenging piece over and over? Continue Reading ›
This past April, New Zealand played host to the World Masters Games, an international sporting event held every four years. It’s an opportunity for masters athletes in 28 different sports to compete on an international level. Concept2’s Dick Dreissigacker and Judy Geer made the trip to New Zealand and took part in the rowing portion of the Games. World Masters Games rowing venue on Lake Karapiro in New Zealand.Continue Reading ›