How well does a SkiErg complement the rower and elliptical?

[trifona]

Was contemplating adding another torture device to my basement gym. I have a Model D with PM3, and a nice higher end Precor elliptical.

I like the rower for HIIT and the elliptical for LISS when I'm just not feeling it.

Am I going to see big differences in how the SkiErg hits me vs the rower? or am I wasting time and money?




Unrelated PS....thoughts on the benefits of upgrading the rower to a PM5? How much do used PM3's usually fetch?

[hjs]

Big difference.

Rower hits the legs/back.

Ski is upperbody, crunch.

[kini62]

I see it as the perfect compliment to the erg.

The erg is posterior work and the skierg is anterior work. Basically the the skierg works what the rowing erg does not.

[hjs]

I see it as the perfect compliment to the erg.

The erg is posterior work and the skierg is anterior work. Basically the the skierg works what the rowing erg does not.

Also find the skierg easier to recover from, it certainly can be very tough, but maybe because rating is higher and smaller muscle do the work, its less demanding.

[trifona]

Am I wrong for thinking that the skierg and overhead ball slam are very similar? Overhead slams are very explosive full body moves that target the core, abs and like the skierg involve 3 main joints (ankles, knees, and hips). Both motions train hip flexion under load.

I love overhead slams because they are full body workouts, and can raise my heart rate to its max as quick if not quicker than any other training I do, and that includes the C2 rower, and heavy kettlebell swings.

I came really close to pulling the trigger on the skierg, and still have curiosity but I keep coming back to thinking that the skierg is at best equivalent to the overhead slam with an erg and a PM5 to track my output. Am I close, or dead wrong on this assessment?

[hjs]

Am I wrong for thinking that the skierg and overhead ball slam are very similar? Overhead slams are very explosive full body moves that target the core, abs and like the skierg involve 3 main joints (ankles, knees, and hips). Both motions train hip flexion under load.

I love overhead slams because they are full body workouts, and can raise my heart rate to its max as quick if not quicker than any other training I do, and that includes the C2 rower, and heavy kettlebell swings.

I came really close to pulling the trigger on the skierg, and still have curiosity but I keep coming back to thinking that the skierg is at best equivalent to the overhead slam with an erg and a PM5 to track my output. Am I close, or dead wrong on this assessment?

Movement is indeed very simular, if you use the skierg for sprints. Longer work is more gentle. Also no picking up a ball, so that movement is extra with the slams

[trifona]

Okay...I finally broke down and placed an order for a new skierg and floor stand.

[kini62]

Okay...I finally broke down and placed an order for a new skierg and floor stand.

Awesome. You'll love to hate it.

It crushes my soul, in a good way of course.

[trifona]

OMG!

So I set it up late Friday night, and did nothing more than a few warmup sets to get used to the motion and then went to bed:

100m @3.58/500m split @ 23 s/m
100m @2.38/500m split @ 42 s/m
500m @5.26/500m split at @18 s/m

I woke up Saturday sore everywhere! Lower back, hips, glutes, legs, calves

On Sunday i got back to it with some light intervals to continue acclimating to the motion:

500m @2.38/500m split at @ 42 s/m
500m on the rower @ 18 s/m(I don't know my times since the rower is a PM3 and I don't have a cable to connect to my phone)
250m @2:20/500m split @41sm

I had to beg my arms to finish, I was really struggling. Ongoing issues I've been having with tennis elbow in my left arm didn't help either. This Skierg is unreal.

Now I'm contemplating adding a PM5 to my model D and/or wondering if it makes sense to just sell it and buy a new Model D with PM5.

[kini62]

OMG!

So I set it up late Friday night, and did nothing more than a few warmup sets to get used to the motion and then went to bed:

100m @3.58/500m split @ 23 s/m
100m @2.38/500m split @ 42 s/m
500m @5.26/500m split at @18 s/m

I woke up Saturday sore everywhere! Lower back, hips, glutes, legs, calves

On Sunday i got back to it with some light intervals to continue acclimating to the motion:

500m @2.38/500m split at @ 42 s/m
500m on the rower @ 18 s/m(I don't know my times since the rower is a PM3 and I don't have a cable to connect to my phone)
250m @2:20/500m split @41sm

I had to beg my arms to finish, I was really struggling. Ongoing issues I've been having with tennis elbow in my left arm didn't help either. This Skierg is unreal.

Now I'm contemplating adding a PM5 to my model D and/or wondering if it makes sense to just sell it and buy a new Model D with PM5.

My rower has a PM2+. Your PM3 certainly should display your pace per 500m and give you a total time and recall every 500m split. Don't know why you would need a phone.

Did a 7500M row, then 10 rounds of 30 on 30r. Felt like passing out. My glutes are pretty sore this morning. I really like what the skierg has added to my workouts.

[trifona]

My rower has a PM2+. Your PM3 certainly should display your pace per 500m and give you a total time and recall every 500m split. Don't know why you would need a phone.

Meaning I didn't remember my split times, that's all. Since the Skierg has a PM5 I was able to use bluetooth to sync it to my phone and the ergdata app where I can view my online C2 log. I was looking at my phone and the online logbook when this morning when I typed out my post and my times form the Skierg....it spoiled me.

[kini62]

My rower has a PM2+. Your PM3 certainly should display your pace per 500m and give you a total time and recall every 500m split. Don't know why you would need a phone.

Meaning I didn't remember my split times, that's all. Since the Skierg has a PM5 I was able to use bluetooth to sync it to my phone and the ergdata app where I can view my online C2 log. I was looking at my phone and the online logbook when this morning when I typed out my post and my times form the Skierg....it spoiled me.

I tried using ergdata. Couldn't get it to work. I just manually enter workouts in the log.

[warnie]

After reading the posts in the forum I've decided to add the SkiErg to the BikeErg order (mid June) to go with the Model E and gym I'm currently building. Hoping all three machines will compliment each other and try to kill me!!!

[Psychopasta]

Hey guys,

I hate stationary bikes, ellipticals and treadmills etc. They make me think of something out of Dante's Inferno. Strangely, I took to the Concept2 rower very naturally. It's a bit hard to explain why I relate to it differently than a treadmill, but certainly the quality of the data output from it is part of it. I really like power in Watts, pace in m/s etc.

How does the SkiErg do when thinking about boredom on longer pieces? I don't get bored on the rower, but I do on the treadmills etc.

Also, for those with both, do you use both on the same day, or alternate them, or what?

- Pasta

[hjs]

Hey guys,

I hate stationary bikes, ellipticals and treadmills etc. They make me think of something out of Dante's Inferno. Strangely, I took to the Concept2 rower very naturally. It's a bit hard to explain why I relate to it differently than a treadmill, but certainly the quality of the data output from it is part of it. I really like power in Watts, pace in m/s etc.

How does the SkiErg do when thinking about boredom on longer pieces? I don't get bored on the rower, but I do on the treadmills etc.

Also, for those with both, do you use both on the same day, or alternate them, or what?

- Pasta

I do 50/50, but only use one machine per day. They load the body very differently, mostly in the spine, rowing very much uses the spine, the skier not at all.

Re boredom. Rating on the skierg is higher, so certainly at first it feels longer. But that will change.

Recovery, although the skierg can be supertough if you go 100% its less taxing on the body. I recover faster from the skierg.
Think is a rating matter, per stroke the force on the rower is higher, also using the back a lot us tough on the body.

Sidenote, I don,t do much easy sessions, think that both machines used relative easy can be done for high volume. Its the intensity that makes or breaks.