2025 Concept2 Holiday Challenge Is Almost Here!

The Concept2 Holiday Challenge is back for its 26th year and we are excited to share this year’s charities with you. When we first started the challenge, the main goal was to encourage people to be healthy and stay motivated during the busy holiday season. Getting meters in is a great way to burn off stress and all the extra goodies we usually consume during the holidays. In 2008, we introduced a charitable giving component to further encourage participants to log meters for a good cause. Holiday Challenge T-shirts, pins, and the friendly competition for the most meters have also helped boost motivation. It has been a tremendous success, thanks to your dedication and hard work. We hope you’ll join us again this year. 

The Holiday Challenge runs from American Thanksgiving through midnight on Christmas Eve. This year, the dates are November 27 to December 24—that's 28 days total. Row, ski or ride 100k on the Concept2 RowErg, SkiErg or BikeErg  during the challenge and Concept2 will donate $.02 per kilometer (1000 meters) to your choice of this year's charities. Once you get beyond 100k accumulated meters, we'll donate $.04 per additional kilometer. Note: BikeErg meters are counted as half when applied to the challenge and meters can be combined from all machines. 

Last year, we raised nearly $60,000, which was distributed among five non-profit organizations. Billions of meters were rowed by almost 20,000 people in over 60 different countries. This year we want to make even more of an impact, but we will need your help. One charity that we supported last year was Team RWB – a non-profit that helps veterans, service members, and military families with mental and physical health at the forefront of their mission. With over $13,000 raised towards Team RWB, they were able to put those funds towards their Health & Wellness Scholarship Fund to empower veterans, as well as supporting other RWB Eagle expeditions.  

This year we selected four non-profit organizations that help local Northeast United States communities, global communities in need, veterans, and children. Learn more about these charities below and be sure to select which one you want your meters to go towards. If you can’t decide which organization to choose, you can allow Concept2 to allocate your meters; or you can opt not to support any of the charities. See full details on how your meters will count toward the charitable giving options. 

Oxfam America
Oxfam is a global organization that fights inequality to end poverty and injustice. Their efforts are currently focused on helping Gaza, Israel, Ukraine, and East Africa. 

ValorFit
ValorFit provides Veteran support through a network of gyms and fitness professionals designed to drive strength, wellness, and to foster meaningful relationships that inspire individual success, growth, and empowerment. 

KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now)
KEEN empowers youth with disabilities through participation in free, non-competitive, one-on-one programs of physical activity and fun. They strive to support the overall health and well-being of all participants with the help of volunteer-based coaches. 

Northern Forest Center
Northern Forest Center (NFC), impacting northern Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York, strives to invest in advancing rural economies, communities, nature, and recreation in sustainable and renewable practices to create a foundation for a vibrant future in the North Country.  

Use ErgData to Log Your Meters 

Use ErgData to automatically upload all your meters for the Holiday Challenge directly to your Online Logbook, eliminating the need to manually upload meters. ErgData also has features like Workout of the Day (WOD), that automatically programs the WOD for you, as well as the Real Time Loop which lets you Erg with people all over the world and motivated! 

Shorter Holiday Challenge Time, More Meters Per Day 

This year’s Holiday Challenge is shorter than normal with only 28 days total as Thanksgiving falls late this year. That means more meters per day than usual to complete the 100k and 200k challenge! Below you will see the needed meters per day depending on how many days you plan to Erg, and which distance you want to go for the Holiday Challenge. Looking for some inspiration of work outs? Check out our 28 day Holiday Challenge workout suggestions here! Each day is a little different and will help you reach your desired Holiday Challenge total meter goal. 

28 Days Total on the Erg
100K Goal: Aim for 4,000m a day
200K Goal: Aim for 7,500m a day 

22 Days Total on the Erg (About 5 days a week)
100K Goal: Aim for 5,000m a day
200K Goal: Aim for 9,500m a day