Let It Slide

Rowing on Slides creates a sensation closer to being in a boat: The RowErg “floats” on the Slides to replicate being in a rowing shell. The “boat” moves beneath you, allowing the RowErg to move towards you as you approach the catch.

Each Slide consists of a base with two tracks and a wheeled carriage that runs on the tracks. Light shock cord tension keeps the carriage centered on the base. It takes one pair of Slides to "float" a Concept2 RowErg for individual use. To connect Slides for team training, you add one more Slide for each athlete you add.

There are many great reasons to train on Slides. For the individual, Slides give you more feedback about the effect your body motions are having on your "boat". Like a boat, Slides work best with a consistent rhythm, controlled recovery, and smooth well-timed catch. Sudden changes in stroke rate and rough transitions at either end of the stroke can cause the wheeled carriage to hit the front and rear of the base. Working to avoid this feedback will help you improve your stroke sequence and power application.

For teams, Slides allow you to connect multiple athletes together to synchronize your stroke. Trained athletes can feel the precision at the changes of direction at the catch and finish. Again, the RowErg will react when athletes aren’t coordinated with their efforts. If power application is not timed precisely, the Slide carriage may start bumping into the front or back of the base.

Slides are a fun and convenient way to create dynamic rowing. It can be a great way to mix up a workout and give different focus (usually on good technique!) to your training. Many athletes report that they can maintain higher stroke rates while rowing dynamically. Similar to rowing on the Dynamic RowErg (which is dedicated to only dynamic rowing), personal best times or distances may vary when compared to static rowing. This will depend on the individual athlete and the workout rowed. Strong boat movers on water usually do well when they row dynamically.

We added Slide World Records in 2007. There are still many categories that invite competition. Interested? Grab your Slides and send us your best efforts!

Just a few of the open World Records on Slides up for the taking:

• Men ages 0-12 (5000m, 6000m, marathon, 30 minute, 60 minute)
• Women ages 0-12 (6000m, 10,000m, half marathon, marathon)
• Women ages 17-18 lightweight (half marathon, 4 minute, 30 minute, 60 minute)
• Women ages 13-14 (10,000m, half marathon, marathon)
• Men’s (lightweight and heavyweight) ages 80-89, 90-99, many events!
• Women’s (lightweight and heavyweight) ages 70-79, 80-89, 90-99, many events!

American records:

• Men ages 0-12 (5000m, 6000m, 10,000m, half marathon, marathon, 30 minute, 60 minute)
• Women ages 0-12 (5000m, 6000m, 10,000m, half marathon, marathon, 60 minute)
• Women ages 13-14 (4 minute, 30 minute, 60 minute)
• Men ages 13-14 (5000m, 6000m, half marathon, 30 minute, 60 minute)
• Men’s ages 15-16, 1000m • Women ages 17-18, lightweight, many events!
• Men ages 19-29, lightweight (5000m, 6000m, 10,000m, 1 minute)
• Women ages 19-29, heavyweight (2000m, 5000m, 6000m, half marathon, 30 minute, 60 minute)
• Men ages 19-29, heavyweight (6000m, half marathon, 60 minute)
• Women ages 30-39, lightweight, many events!
• Women ages 30-39, heavyweight, many events!
• Women ages 40-49, lightweight (6000m, 10,000m, half marathon, marathon, 60 minute)
• Women ages 50-59, lightweight, many events!
• Men’s (lightweight and heavyweight) ages 80-89, 90-99, many events!
• Women’s (lightweight and heavyweight) ages 70-79, 80-89, 90-99, many events!

This is not a comprehensive list and can change daily. Before attempting any record, we recommend that you search our World Record and American Record databases to see what records, if any, are up to date. Also read up on Record Requirements to plan your effort.

We’re eager to see more records placed (and broken) in 2022!