From CrossFit to HYROX, military training to rehabilitation, a unique design and data-driven approach are redefining functional fitness — one powerful pull at a time
What if you could do more than just train athletes, but also test them? This is precisely what Concept2’s SkiErg does, and more.
When Concept2 introduced the SkiErg in 2009, it was an unfamiliar sight at industry trade shows and conferences. It lacked the instantly recognizable appeal of a treadmill or stationary bike. Its founders, Dick and Peter Dreissigacker, brought extensive ties to both on-water rowing and Nordic skiing – sports largely unfamiliar to the general fitness market. Over time, as coaches and athletes put it to the test, they discovered its unique ability to build endurance, power and strength – and any skepticism faded.
In fact, over the past 16 years, the SkiErg has gone from being a niche training tool to a widely accepted piece of fitness equipment, embraced by professional athletes, coaches, personal trainers and boutique fitness studio owners. The reasons for this are plentiful and rooted in science.
Signature Technology & Scientific Approach
As with the RowErg and BikeErg, the SkiErg follows Concept2’s commitment to performance-driven innovation. What started as a tool for elite skiers has now found its way into functional fitness, high-performance training centers and even rehabilitation programs. In 2016, Concept2’s SkiErg also made it into the CrossFit games.
Today, it’s used in places its creators never imagined — from CrossFit boxes to military training facilities to adaptive sports programs. It has also inspired competitors to develop imitations, a testament to the SkiErg’s lasting effectiveness.
Concept2 has long been known for its scientific approach to equipment development, and the SkiErg is no exception. The machine incorporates the signature Flywheel resistance system, ensuring that the athlete’s effort dictates the load, providing a safe and natural training experience.
“We considered using other methods of creating resistance when developing products but kept coming back to our signature Flywheel technology for its similarity to the athlete experience in the natural world,” said co-founder Peter Dreissigacker.
“The load generated by the flywheel is directly related to the effort that the athlete puts into the machine. This is important because it prevents the athlete from creating too much load or resistance which makes it safe and reduces the chance of injury, compared to other cardio equipment. After nearly three decades of innovation and modification to the rowing machine flywheel and Performance Monitoring system, the technology has become part of our identity.”
PM5 Performance Monitor
That identity includes a defining feature — the PM5 Performance Monitor, which delivers specific, consistent,and comparable data. This makes the SkiErg an ideal tool for:
– VO2 max testing
– Metabolic assessments
– Force curve analysis for technique improvement
– Benchmarking athlete progress
The force curve display on the PM5 allows athletes to refine their technique, providing real-time feedback on power application — a crucial component of sport-specific training.
Additionally, the SkiErg’s ability to mimic real-world conditions makes it a key piece of equipment for off-season training. Cross-country skiers use it to train their double poling motion, one of the most physically demanding movements in the sport. Athletes in biathlon and Nordic skiing regularly incorporate SkiErg sessions to build endurance, improve upper-body strength, and track progress with data-driven insights.
“An underutilized aspect of the SkiErg is the force curve on the PM5 monitor,” said Raleigh Goessling, Head Biathlon Coach, Craftsbury Green Racing Project.
“This data allows me to teach athletes how to apply power across a complex movement, which is a universal coaching challenge. The short, visual feedback loop provided by the force curve screen is the best tool for accomplishing this complex bit of skill development. We also use the SkiErg for VO2 metabolic testing. Its consistency allows for objective measures of progress in a sport specific moment.”
The SkiErg’s Full-Body Benefits
At first glance, and to an untrained eye, the SkiErg may appear to solely be for an upper-body workout, but in reality, it engages the entire body. Each stroke activates the core, legs and upper body in a dynamic, coordinated movement. The drive phase involves a quarter squat, activating the quads and hamstrings, while the downward pull engages the lats, shoulders and core muscles.
Beyond strength and endurance benefits, the SkiErg is also an inclusive training tool. It provides a low-impact option for injured athletes, allowing them to maintain intensity while minimizing strain on the lower body. The long drive cords enable use from a seated position as well, making it a valuable tool for adaptive athletes and rehabilitation programs.
Goessling sums up Concept2’s impact: “The SkiErg allows athletes who are differently abled or recovering from a lower-body injury to get quality aerobic, anaerobic and strength training. These qualities are unique to the SkiErg and make it an invaluable tool for our team.”
The SkiErg can accommodate injured athletes with lower-leg injuries by allowing them to sit or kneel, enabling them to train at normal intensity and duration using just their upper body and core.
Competitive & Functional Applications
The SkiErg has proven its versatility in functional fitness and athletic conditioning. It is now a staple in elite competitions, including CrossFit, HYROX, and tactical training programs.
David Magida, HYROX Global Head of Training and 2023 HYROX North American Champion, emphasizes the machine’s adaptability:
“Always an avid rower, I finally took the leap, purchased my own SkiErg, and the rest is history,” Magida says. “I immediately realized the value of the machine, not just for its tremendous aerobic benefits, but because I could use the SkiErg to train both capacity and power! The SkiErg allows you to build your endurance, and even your core strength, without putting any significant load on your legs. This allows you to train hard on a SkiErg without compromising the next day’s running, cycling, rowing or lifting routine. The SkiErg has proven to be one of my most effective tools for building strength and endurance.”
The SkiErg has also been widely adopted by military, law enforcement, and functional fitness training programs, where its ability to build endurance, power and cardiovascular fitness makes it a critical component of high-performance workouts.
Additionally, many functional fitness gyms and personal trainers incorporate the SkiErg into interval training circuits, endurance challenges and strength-conditioning programs. Unlike traditional cardio machines, the SkiErg offers a unique training stimulus, challenging both aerobic capacity and muscular endurance in a single workout.
The Future of the SkiErg
The SkiErg’s growth parallels that of Concept2’s other ergometers, which have expanded beyond their original intended audiences. Just as the RowErg became an essential tool in gyms far beyond the rowing community, the SkiErg has found its place across numerous fitness and wellness verticals.
The SkiErg offers a full-body workout, but its real power lies in the science behind its flywheel technology and the repeatable, comparable data from the PM5 monitor—making it the perfect tool for fitness testing and evaluation.
Looking ahead, Concept2 continues to explore potential enhancements, including advancements in performance tracking and data visualization, ensuring that the SkiErg remains at the forefront of fitness technology. With Concept2’s continued dedication to data-driven innovation and product refinement, the SkiErg will remain a cornerstone of training for years to come.
