Historically, rowing has been a largely inaccessible sport to many, limiting both investment and popularity. In recent years, increased public interest and participation in indoor rowing has helped to propel our sport forward into more mainstream popularity.
Helped dramatically by lockdown and everyone finding new ways to get fit, a lot of people have turned to indoor rowing to satisfy their needs.
Concept2 alone found that their ergs were selling often for 250% of their original prices, and the trailblazing platform EXR was created.
EXR is a great way to create an entry for amateurs into the sport. It made indoor rowing fun and enjoyable, just like Zwift had done for indoor cycling. I was an early alpha-tester of EXR myself, and I’m incredibly impressed by what the platform has become.
When it comes to water-based rowing, boat suppliers worldwide found that their orders for new-build singles skyrocketed after lockdown, with many often generating waiting lists of up to 14 months for customers to receive their orders.
However, the journey to make rowing accessible is far from over. Despite a new interest in indoor rowing from non-rowers nationwide, the high barriers to entry into the sport as a whole remain in place.
It’s no secret that indoor rowing has always been more mainstream than outdoor rowing, due to the comparative ease of access and the fitness world’s growing (but not complete, I hasten to add) understanding of the usefulness of the exercise. However, a lot of the water-based rowing community continues to turn up their noses to casual erg users, whether it be due to the questionable technique or how ‘easy’ their workouts are in comparison to how rowers train.
This means we aren’t benefiting from the increased investment and interest in indoor rowing in recent years.
To a degree, it’s unlikely that rowing will truly be accessible to all, because of its incredibly high equipment costs and the fact that the barriers to entry are high – whether that be a boat or having a body of water nearby. Essentially, it is hard for someone to casually get into rowing compared to sports like football or netball. However, we as a community need to endorse the indoor rowing scene to a greater extent than we do currently.
EXR is doing an incredible job in creating a platform for amateurs and professionals in rowing. Similarly, in cycling, Zwift created a brand-new offering that is used and enjoyed by the full spectrum of cycling abilities. As Zwift did with cycling, if EXR or another platform continues to attract an even greater membership, or encourages members to go one step further and buy an erg, this has the potential to profoundly increase rowing club membership rates.
While some may have to put up with the ‘questionable’ technique used by more casual users of ergs, it could open the door to increased investment. The consequences of this would be felt across the entire industry, which would result in dramatically lower costs, both in indoor and outdoor rowing. This will enable rowing to enter into the mainstream, which will be positive overall.
We shouldn’t forget that the increase in indoor rowing events has caused a spike in interest in the sport as a whole. A lot of schools that may not be able to access a boat club are able to participate, for example.
Overall, indoor events such as the British Rowing Indoor Championships (BRIC) have had a profound effect on the popularity of both indoor and outdoor rowing.
Some may argue that the addition of all these new members may detract from the traditional aspects of the sport and may trivialise certain elements. I find this argument hard to justify. You don’t see cyclists at a world tour level make fun or hate people who ride the bikes they use but aren’t professional athletes. I don’t understand why this attitude exists in rowing. I think it acts as a massive detriment to the sport and will be incredibly negative in the long term.
The surging popularity of indoor rowing and especially EXR is an opportunity that should not be passed up. And with Boys In The Boat coming to cinemas this weekend, now is the time to capitalise on the increased mainstream awareness of rowing, else as a sport we will be stuck.
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