The Evolution of the Concept2 SkiErg

When developing products and flushing out product ideas, Concept2 has always sought to innovate, and create original, unique products. The first prototype for the Concept2 SkiErg came about more than 40 years ago! Even in the early 1980’s brothers Peter and Dick Dreissigacker were thinking of other ways to use the flywheel from the Model A RowErg. The rowing market was small, and the Model A RowErg was primarily only being sold to rowers.  Being in Northern Vermont, a cross country ski trainer was a natural fit. With a few nails and a Model A, the first SkiErg prototype was born.  

By the mid 2000’s ski clubs and even Concept2 employees had the Model D RowErg attached to walls, and began fussing with attachments. When Dick’s own daughter had an ankle injury in 2005, he set up a Model D vertically on the porch and fashioned a seat to keep her off her feet. As she spent hours on this altered RowErg, Dick thought, “There ought to be a way to redesign this and make it better for skiing.” While the vertical rower worked, the user was dodging a chain and the attachment method was rudimentary. The design thoughts continued to percolate and eventually turned into concepts and prototypes. In 2009, we released the SkiErg1. The SkiErg1 allowed users to double pole, but single poling was not on the table in the original design. Aside from wanting to add that capability, the founders felt there was more to do to improve on with the SkiErg. 

In 2014 the updated SkiErg2 was released and came to be the Concept2 SkiErg we all know and love today. The SkiErg2 introduced several key upgrades, including the ability to single pole, updated frame geometry for a more distinctive Concept2 look, and a simplified floor stand design. Longer-lasting cord materials also increased longevity of the product and a redesigned spool system streamlined cord routing and made cord replacement easier. Since it’s release, we’ve made incremental changes, one being including handle hooks with the product. This allows for an improved experience for adaptive athletes or those of shorter stature. After a product has been on the market, we may tweak and add upgrades, but they’re all upgrades that can be retrofitted to earlier iterations. “We want to make changes in a way that older users can upgrade as opposed to making a product feel obsolete,” says Dick. This has been true across all products we carry.  

The popularity of the SkiErg has grown far beyond the cross country skiing market. From functional fitness to celebrity trainers, it’s seen far and wide. Dick Dreissigacker sees a lot of the adoption across the simplicity and effectiveness of the SkiErg. “The simplicity of the SkiErg makes it appealing, just walk up and grab the handles. It doesn’t take up a lot of floor space, and it’s a full body workout.” While widespread adoption didn’t happen overnight, the founders saw this product and its features having universal appeal from inception.