Customer Reviews

Rowing Machine Companion [VHS]

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've been using this video for ten years as part of my Concept 2 Ergometer training. It features four pieces of increasing difficulty, rowed by top oarsmen from the Harvard HW men's crew and the US National Team. Your perspective is from the bow seat, and for the most part, except on piece three, the coxswain's commands are loud and clear. My least favorite piece is #3 anyway, since it is in a quad scull which I don't like. Piece 2 and Piece 4 are really strenuous if you grip & rip. The last set (#4)is two four minute full-pressure pieces at about 30-32 STM, and you can truly bring back that feel of practice under a sadistic old goat of a coach with that. Overall, this is a great video for the dedicated indoor rower that will also serve the novice well. For me, it brought back that slightly sick feeling just before for a race..."Ready all. ROW!." If there is one shortcoming it would be that the pieces are not planned for standard distances like 2000 meters. You get an hour of good rowing here, though, on the beautiful Charles. Strongly recommended.

Pros: Fun, fluff-free video
Cons: The equipment they show may have been state-of-the-art in 1987, but now seems antiquated. However, the technique shown still applies, and I haven't been able to find anything better.
This is the oldest rowing workout video I'm aware of. Designed to be used with a rowing machine, but the rowing machines in the Harvard boathouse are all pre-Concept2 models. That said, this is a great video. it begins with stretches, then takes you on-water with championship rowers on that Mecca of rowing, the Charles River in Boston. And the equipment you see is classic: wooden sculls, oars & sweeps--no graphite, fiberglass or hatchet blades in sight. The video features three different workouts at beginning through intermediate levels, with a series of ladders and power-10s. The absolute animal rowers out there will find this less than the ultimate challenge, but as a "million meter" guy on my C2, I've found it to be a good video when my motivation is lagging.
Too bad they never released a DVD version.
There was once another, similar video, "Real Workouts," released by Three Rivers Rowing in Pittsburg. It was a good workout for beginners, but I think it is no longer available.
Also, a fellow named Xeno in Southern California recently released 4 DVDs, which alternate various workouts on the erg with shots of him rowing a single skull.

I read [another] review and anxiously awaited my order. When it came, it contained only TWO workouts: First, a 6 minute warmup, almost too slow to even follow (est. 24-26 spm). Then, came a 22 minute "pyramid" row, with a minute of very slow (like above), then a short burst of 10 strokes at maybe 28-29. After another minute of "paddling", they rowed 20 strokes at 28-29,etc up to 50 strokes, then back down to 10. Finally came 20 strokes at 30-31. Fine for a beginner, but MUCH too easy for even a good intermediate.

I agree with Viewer who says this video has been changed. As he indicates, it has only two workouts-a 6 minute and 5 second one for beginners and a 22 minute and 43 second one for the intermediate level. The entire video from beginning to end is only 34 minutes. However, if proper form is used, the two workouts done together provide a pretty good aerobic session. At the end of the video is an 800 number to call for a longer version of the video; however, the number is disconnected. England and Church must have reviewed the longer video.