Offering an innovative exercise experience that its maker describes as 'AQUAFEEL', Technogym's new SKILLROW is changing the indoor rowing workout and creating a new type of group class

SKILLROW is the second product to be launched into Technogym’s SKILL LINE, a growing range of equipment developed in collaboration with Olympic athletes and academic research institutes, bringing athletic performance training to the traditional gym floor. SKILLROW is the first indoor rowing product capable of improving anaerobic power, aerobic capacity and neuromuscular abilities in a single self-powered solution. The product was developed with expert opinion and feedback from international Olympic rowers: 3-time Olympic medallist Rossano Galtarossa from Italy, and Great Britain’s Scott Durant, who claimed the gold medal in the Men’s Eight at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

AQUAFEEL – THE UNIQUE FEELING OF ROWING ON WATER
SKILLROW’s resistance follows the natural curve of the stroke in the water, closely replicating the unique feel of rowing on water for the first time in the indoor rowing world. This innovative feature, coined AQUAFEEL, means that SKILLROW’s resistance is gradual, creating an experience that is closer to the experience of rowing on water for professional athletes, but also significantly reduces the strain on the lower back, making it ideal for gym goers.

LEADING THE RACE IN A CONNECTED WORLD
Data, performance and stats continue to become increasingly important both in and outside the gym. SKILLROW’s intuitive and clear console enables users to monitor their performance data including power (watts), strokes per minute (SPM), distance, time, heart rate and calories. However, the real beauty of SKILLROW comes from the dedicated SKILLROW App (available on smartphones). Users can place their smartphone in SKILLROW’s integrated phone holder and enjoy a more motivating digital experience with four different ways to train:

• RACE TO THE PACE
Set a pace boat target or compete against a friend’s personal best in different challenges.

• BIOFEEDBACK
Real-time feedback on performance metrics, helping to improve stroke force and length.

• VIRTUAL TRAINER
Row like a champion with guidance from top coaches including Alexia Clark, Kenny Santucci, Scott Durant and Omri Rachmut.

• TRAINING PROGRAMMES
A library of programmes from goal-oriented (time, distance, pace), to interval training and Technogym Neuromuscular Training (TNT) programmes developed by exercise professionals.

Beginners can access a library of videos from top coaches to assist them with the correct technique, whilst data-obsessed gym-goers will enjoy a detailed results summary through the app at the end of each session, enabling them to analyse and better understand their performance.

SKILLROWING CLASSES
Indoor rowing studios are set to be the next big thing, and SKILLROW is ideal for this environment. Facilities can use a large screen to run competitive team races, individual performance classes or intensity-based classes in a dedicated room or studio, or simply on the gym floor. This truly engaging experience motivates participants, whether they are driven by their individual performance feedback or competing with others thanks to the real time display of training data on a large screen.

Competitive races can be set up between individuals or team boats in an immersive 3D environment to create a huge amount of energy in a class. For team-based races, participants must attempt to row in total synchronicity as a real crew, or they will slow down.

For individual performance classes – designed to appeal to participants looking to improve or simply track their own performance – the trainer sets a focus for the class, such as SPM, power, heart rate, or calories. Individuals’ results are displayed in real-time, providing motivation for participants.

Intensity-based classes are based around a predefined class profile set by the trainer. After the class, participants can look at their compliance index as part of their performance data in the mywellness app to compare their performance with the expected class intensity. This is a really powerful way for participants to measure progress over time.

POWER WITH MULTIDRIVE
Incorporating technology from SKILLMILL, SKILLROW also has MULTIDRIVE technology (patent pending) allowing users to add further resistance in addition to the typical air resistance. This ground-breaking innovation makes it possible for users and trainers alike to change the equipment mode from cardiovascular training to power training, simply by adjusting the resistance level. Three power modes – low, medium and high – allow users to perform a traditional rowing movement with additional load, or execute power exercises based instead on repetitions.

IT’S ALL IN THE DETAIL
Beyond the impressive performance features, SKILLROW was also designed, like all Technogym equipment, with the comfort of the user at its heart. This human-centric approach means that all settings on SKILLROW, including the handlebar and MULTIDRIVE knob to control the resistance and power settings, are within comfortable reach from the seated position. SKILLROW’s comfortable seat, inspired by boat design, also allows long workouts to be performed in comfort.

SKILLROW is truly innovative; offering a resistance more closely aligned to the natural feel of an oar stroke in water; the addition of magnetic resistance to enable power training; and connectivity to engage and motivate members: It will revolutionise indoor rowing as we know it.