Product Details

• Format: Original recording reissued, Deluxe Edition
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0017PEOWM
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #76,515 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

WATCH WHILE YOU ROW One of the first "virtual" excersize videos to hit the market. This video takes you from the dock and out on the river with your fellow rowing companions. You'll start slow then build up to a full body motion while getting the actual sensation that your really out there on the water.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Does the job, could be great if re-done now..., October 31, 2010

By 

Katharine Hyde (Central New York) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Rowing Machine Companion (DVD)

Overall, I'm glad I got this DVD because it is beneficial with regard to keeping good form by simply watching the rower in front of you. It also has workouts that have you rowing with different strength and emphasis at certain times for more of an interval workout rather than just hopping on and rowing at some steady speed. My workout on it does seem to go a bit quicker and I'm watching the clock less despite there being a countdown clock in the corner as it plays. It was clearly shot many years ago as evidenced by the minimally acceptable at best picture quality, even on my 1080p upscaling DVD player. The sound quality is poor so when it's time to do a "power 10" you can barely hear him say that. It would be nice to get some short scenery shots in there now and then too rather than focus on the back of the rower every single moment. Again, that's very beneficial for the workout, but I don't think a few 10-15 second shots to the side for some scenery would impact the quality of the workout video and would make it more realistic.

I like that it has a beginner, intermediate and advanced workout, but I wish it had more of a variety of each on there. Back when it was originally done perhaps there wasn't room for multiple workout tracks, but in this day and age you can jam oodles of things on a DVD. I think that if a new one was shot now with several more workouts for each level, with HD picture quality and better sound that it could be fabulous and I'd certainly invest in it.

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Rowing the right way!, February 18, 2010

By 

N. Pisani (Albany, OR USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Rowing Machine Companion (DVD)

I have owned the Rowing Machine Companion in VHS for many years. When DVD came in. I did my best to find it in DVD, but to no avail! A friend copied the tape for me, when my VHS machine pooped out. I know I shouldn't admit this but I was frustrated that the author did not make it available in DVD at that time. About the first of February 2010, I was just playing around on Amazon and by golly I found it in DVD. I ordered it immediately, but I am partically disappointed with quality. This DVD has the added benefit of a table of contents. I can just "click" to the row I want! My "Micky-mouse" copy was unable to click from one row to another, and the copy is distracting for its flaws.
I would like to comment on another review I saw here: The reviewer did not like this DVD very much. I understand his feelings but I have come to "love" this production. As with any repetitive exercise it can get boring. But it is very important to keep the correct posture and cadence in rowing. I found that if I sloff off like many of us would do momentarily, watching the back of the rower on screen, helps remind me to stay with the motion of rowing and watch my posture. If I try very hard to keep up with the rowers back movement, I find I am benefiting much more. I also like the on screen count-down timer. Without the timer I am prone to stop before my 24 minutes are up. At 68, I find it helps me walk 40 minutes at least once a day. And walking motivates me to do my rowing. And visa-versa! I know rowing is not the "in" thing these days, but I found it very 'healthful". And easier than an ellipitical.

Additional note: I revised my opinion of this product and dropped it two stars, as this seems to be a copy of the VHS version and is very light (appearing overexposed). But never the less if it helps you keep your mind on rowing, with the correct posture, then I think it does it's job. We must remember "rowing" as out of favor for the masses to exercise with. Mine is an excellant machine for the home. but alas the company is out of business now due to lack of interest on the public's part.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good motivator, but too short, April 17, 2010

By 

L. S. Anderson "novice rower" (Eugene, OR USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Rowing Machine Companion (DVD)

This DVD gives a great opportunity to work on form, especially for sweeping, but is too short. At the end of the DVD you are invited to call a phone number to request a longer DVD, but my message was not returned. I really like the interval work, but could use a longer warm up with some focus drills.