Who’s Using the SkiErg, How and Why

At Get Fit NH, we specialize in small and large group personal training. We design our training programs to be ground based and on our feet, not seated on a machine. In fact the only machines in our gyms (besides our awesomely athletic clients, of course) are Concept2 SkiErgs.

Why? Because too much of our lives are lived in the seated position, and our health is suffering for it. When we were looking for a piece of equipment that focused on working energy systems, the Concept2 SkiErg was the perfect choice.

Reasons we love them:

• The ability to train in a standing position
• Easy for coaches to teach technique
• A small footprint
• Proven to be very durable
• The Performance Monitors allow us to objectively quantify progress
• They are a load of fun!

We are also using them as a way to standardize our fitness testing and heart rate training protocol. I can't recommend them highly enough. In my opinion you can't go wrong by investing in a Concept2 SkiErg (or 2 or 3—we have 11).

We have been incorporating the SkiErg into threshold training circuits for junior alpine ski racers. It offers an excellent closed-chain multi-joint movement at a sustained sub-maximal or maximal effort. It helps with developing strength endurance.

I train at Crossfit Distinction in Beachwood, Ohio. I use the SkiErg in my workouts at least once a week. It is a great piece of equipment. I also use it for warm-up prior to heavy Olympic lifting. I also like doing alternating intervals on it and the Concept2 Indoor Rower.

It has helped me significantly in terms of cardiovascular endurance. I feel like it is a great exercise to strengthen your posterior chain. It also is great if you are fighting to come back from a lower body injury or just beginning CrossFit. It is easy to use and is excellent for improving your overall fitness.

JETtraining is a no frills, predominantly strength and conditioning facility in the UK. We cater to the individual's needs. We prepare our athletes nutritionally, physically and most importantly, mentally. Our entry levels work on basic athletic movement, cardiovascular improvement and mental strength. We use the SkiErg as one of three pieces of cardio equipment we have deemed necessary and useful to our facility. Primarily it is used in our power/power endurance work. We use it on the highest damper setting and have various different workouts which are used depending on the task at hand. I also like the fact that the cardio stress it puts on the athlete (again like the row) transfers well to all sports played at a high level, whether it is MMA or rugby. Our athletes are seeing performance increases consistently since I installed the SkiErg. Skill and technique is still needed to produce a decent time, which correlates well to most sports (ie., you still need to be able to perform with a high level of technique even though you are extremely tired, or you will inevitably lose).

I am a cross-country and roller skier who started my career in 2009. Since then I have done five Vasaloppets and my best result came this year with 582nd place with a time of 04:55 (editor's note: The Vasaloppet is a 90km cross-country ski race and has over 15,000 entries). I do running, skiing, weights, roller skiing and SkiErg for the basis of my training. I do around 10-15 hours of training each week—sometimes even more.

I use the SkiErg mostly for doing my interval training. It is very time efficient and the weather is always good. My friends and I also use it for competing against each other to keep motivation up since you can compete on the same conditions without being in the same place.

The SkiErg helps me build muscles so I do not need to spend a lot of time at the gym and can focus more on my cross-country and roller skiing.