Reviews and Testimonials
Rob Rosser, Head Coach US Paralympic Biathlon Team, February 3, 2012
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.
Erik Wickström, Boras, Sweden, January 31, 2012
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!
Editor’s note: Erik finished 52nd in the 2011 Vasaloppet. The Vasaloppet is an annual 90km race with over 16,000 competitors!
Jason Zagami, USA Track and Field Distance Coach, January 25, 2012
SkiErg Training for Runners
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.
Preventing Injury
A common cause of injuries in runners stems from compensating for strength imbalances. The SkiErg was intended as a bilateral exercise but can be modified by having the athlete stand one leg on a 4" box. Using this single leg technique you can overcome asymmetrical strength differentials in the legs, decreasing the risk of injury, while increasing performance.
Injury Rehab
The SkiErg is a great tool for maintaining your fitness level through injury rehab. In some injury cases, the athlete may not be able to run due to the impact forces; the SkiErg allows you to train without generating high impact forces. In the extreme cases where loading the legs isn't possible due to injury, the SkiErg can be performed on a stool or ploy box (Arms only, or Arms and Waist), allowing you to complete your endurance training.
Jan Arne Hansen, Drammen, Norway, March 14, 2011
I received my SkiErg in August, 2010 and have been able to improve my double poling far quicker than I could by either roller skiing or double poling out in the forest. I can easily control my speed and heart rate in the correct training zones. After using the SkiErg I have improved my time in the Marcialonga (a 70k classic race) by one hour five minutes. I am racing in the Vasaloppet again this year, which runs 90 kilometers from Salen to Mora, Sweden. To ski this within my target time of five hours needs a lot of double poling in the autumn as well as in the winter. The SkiErg has saved me many times since, as a businessman who often travels, it can be difficult to find enough time to train. What takes me one hour on the SkiErg would take two hours of skiing to get the same effect.
Five friends of mine, who all ski for Sportsgutta Brandbu, also use the SkiErg as a fast and effective way to improve double poling. The challenges on the SkiErg are motivating and fun, and we compare our results by text message in the afternoon. We also race against each other to see our improvements and to motivate each other. Before the big races, like Vasaloppet and Marcialonga, we do a lot of intervals on the SkiErg such as 4x4 minutes with three minutes between, and 5x5 minutes with three minutes between.
My father, Per Arne Hansen, also uses the SkiErg several times a week, even at the age of 68. He recently came back from Wisconsin, after racing in the American Birkebeiner, with a new victory in the 65–70 age group. He did the 54k classical race in three hours seven minutes.
Kikkan Randall, October 7, 2009
“Last week I received a Concept 2 SkiErg in the mail. Like a kid at Christmas, I immediately tore into the box to set it up. It went together amazingly smooth and reminded me of my old lego sets. After my first few pulls on the machine I knew I had just discovered a great new tool. Now, when the snow first comes to the streets of Anchorage, and the city dumps a bunch of sand on the roads only to have the snow immediately melt, I can continue my double-pole specific training to bridge to the racing season.”
Morgan Smyth, September 17, 2009
“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!”
Merle McKenzie at CrossFit USA, September 9, 2009
“As your coach I am always on the search for ways to increase/test your fitness levels. It's rare that a new product comes out that is actually worth its salt but the gang at Concept 2 has managed to create a new idea that looks like it has a whole lotta suck attached to it (that means it's great).”
Morgan Smyth, August 25, 2009
“I am about 5 days post surgery and so far so good! The big bandages are still covering everything up (I am dying to see what is under there!) but I am able to walk without crutches and have been able to do some training on the SkiErg.”
Kris Freeman, June 14, 2009
"The SkiErg is a very good tool and helped a lot in my progression back into training. I am able to use good technique on it."
