Concept2

Concept2
Jane023 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	Concept2
Type	Private
Industry	Sporting goods
Founded	1976
Founders	Dick Dreissigacker; Pete Dreissigacker
Headquarters	Morrisville, Vermont
Products	Rowing ergometers; ski ergometer; oars; blades; indoor rowers; performance monitors

Concept2 Concept2 is an American manufacturer and developer of indoor rowing equipment, oars, and performance-monitoring systems, founded by former competitive rowers and engineers. The company is notable for popularizing the ergometer in indoor training and competition, influencing training methods used by Olympic teams, collegiate programs, and fitness communities. Concept2 products and standards are frequently referenced by regattas, training centers, and national federations across United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee, British Rowing, and other national governing bodies.

History

Concept2 was established in 1976 by engineers and former rowers Dick and Pete Dreissigacker after developing modified oars for competitive use in the 1970s. Early interactions with clubs such as Princeton University and institutions including the University of Cambridge influenced adoption. The company advanced through collaborations with coaches and athletes from programs at University of Washington, Harvard University, Yale University, and national teams preparing for the Summer Olympics and World Rowing Championships. Concept2 introduced its first indoor rowing machines to address winter training needs for crews associated with regattas like the Henley Royal Regatta and used by clubs attending the Head of the Charles Regatta. Over decades, relationships with organizations such as USRowing, Rowing Canada Aviron, and elite training centers on Thames River and Charles River helped establish industry standards.

Products and Equipment

Concept2 produces several lines of products used by athletes, clubs, and fitness facilities. Flagship items include the Model D and Model E indoor rowers favored by collegiate programs and private clubs in cities like Boston, Oxford, and Seattle. The company also manufactures the SkiErg, marketed to cross-country skiers from teams in regions like Vermont and Scandinavia, and the BikeErg which has seen use in training centers aligned with United States Cycling Federation programs. Concept2 supplies oars and blades to competitive crews, including sculling and sweep sets used by national squads prepping for the Olympic Games and World Rowing Cups. Accessories such as Performance Monitors are integrated into regattas and time trials run by bodies like FISA and national federations.

Technology and Design

Concept2’s products combine mechanical engineering heritage with electronics and industrial design influenced by partnerships and feedback from elite athletes at institutions including Stanford University and University of California, Berkeley. The flywheel-and-damper system in the Model D and Model E replicates on-water resistance used by crews training for events like the European Rowing Championships and Pan American Games. Performance Monitors implement firmware and algorithms that provide standardized metrics valued by teams attending selection regattas such as Olympic trials administered by national committees. Materials science choices for oars and blades reflect composite developments popularized in boatbuilding centers like Nottingham and Leander Club workshops. Ergonomic seat and handle design evolved through consultation with physiotherapists and strength coaches from programs at Oxford Brookes University and Syracuse University.

Competitive and Recreational Use

Concept2 ergometers are used in organized indoor competitions including the annual CRASH-B Sprints and Masters events attended by athletes from clubs like Vesper Boat Club and university teams from University of London. National indoor championships run by bodies such as British Rowing and USRowing often reference Concept2 times for selection and ranking. Recreational users in fitness centers and commercial gyms in metropolitan areas like New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago rely on Concept2 equipment for conditioning programs promoted by coaching associations and private trainers who have worked with Olympic and collegiate squads. Cross-training communities, including participants from CrossFit affiliates, also use Concept2 machines in events and workouts that emulate modalities from international competitions.

Manufacturing and Business Operations

Concept2’s manufacturing and distribution infrastructure is centered in Morrisville, Vermont, with logistics supporting wholesale and retail channels across North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania. The company maintains quality control and supply-chain relationships with suppliers of composites, electronics, and machined parts serving customers including clubs, retailers, and institutions such as university athletic departments. Business operations have navigated regulatory and trade environments involving export to markets in the European Union, Australia, and Japan, while coordinating with shipping partners and trade shows frequented by organizations like Racing Yacht Club and sporting goods expos. Concept2’s direct sales, dealer networks, and online ordering serve a global customer base spanning grassroots clubs to elite national teams.

Community, Training, and Records

Concept2 supports a global community with online tools, training programs, and logbook features used by athletes, clubs, and coaches at institutions like Penn State University and University of Michigan. The company maintains record-keeping standards referenced by event organizers for indoor world records and ergometer rankings often cited at selection events and by national federations. Training content, workouts, and coaching resources are utilized by strength and conditioning staff from elite squads preparing for World Rowing Championships and Olympic Trials, as well as by recreational groups organizing local challenges and charity events in cities such as London and Melbourne.

Category:Rowing equipment manufacturers