WaterRower
A "water rower" is an indoor rower machine where the resistance medium is provided by water, rather than the more common air resistance on models such as the Concept2. The leading - and possibly the only - company manufacturing these products is WaterRower Inc, which has main offices located in Warren, Rhode Island; London, England; Nordhorn, Germany; Lys-Lez-Lannois, France; Krimpen aan de Lek, The Netherlands [1].
Slightly confusingly, with the upsurge in off-water rowing on gym machines, a "water rower" can also refer to a person who rows in a boat on real water; a usage similar to "acoustic guitar".
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[edit] WaterRower Inc.
WaterRower Inc. was established in 1988 when John Duke (an alumnus of Yale University (USA) and a member of the US National Rowing Team) invented and Patented the WaterFlywheel [2] which provided the resistance mechanism for his indoor rowing machine. The machines are still built today in-house by WaterRower at their facility in the small coastal town of Warren in Rhode Island, USA. Machines may be sold under the name Indo-Row [3].
The wood used to manufacturer the wood frame WaterRower’s are sourced from the sustainable Appalachian Forests. Most manufacturing takes place at the Warren, RI production facility, however some manufacturing and finishing also takes place at WaterRower’s global headquarters in London England and also at WaterRower GmbH Germany.
WaterRower rowing machines are made in a variety of wood types and metal frame finishes, but essentially all the machines provide the same rowing experience and geometry for the user. The wood machines are more often found in the home and in light commercial and luxury gym environments, while the metal M1 machines are more often found in heavier commercial environments.
Unlike the brutally functional Concept2, the advertising for the WaterRower emphasies the beauty of their product, and produces a number of different models in different finishes.
[edit] Rowing on the WaterRower
WaterRower asserts that the advantage of their product is that it simulates the ‘real’ feel of the oar locking onto moving water [4], providing a natural, smooth and realistic action. As with real on water rowing the faster you go the more the resistance generated and the harder you must work. The Rule of Cubes explains this exponential effort in detail. The machines may have the virtue of being quieter than air-resistance types.
[edit] Partnerships
UK – Street Games & Clubs for Young People – in association with British Rowing, WaterRower are working with these two youth organisations to bring indoor rowing to young communities across the UK that would not otherwise have access to the equipment, in order to promote healthy living [5]
