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The 2km Erg test, why is it so feared?
Top tips for a 2k Erg test
For many a rower, just the thought of a 2k erg test sets the heart racing. It's a battle of nerves, fitness, strength and the mind. The whole exercise only lasts a few minutes, but those minutes can be the toughest few minutes a rower faces.
For a coach, it's a test of a crew's strength and helps guide selections of boats. It puts a number on each rower for what they pull on the water.
Whatever it is, it's something all rowers know they need to do.
For young rowers it can be a challenge that seems overwhelming.
"It depends on the erg, but it's the pressure to do well, and you know it's going to hurt. It's more than you're nervous about the result, not the actual erg," says Under 17 Auckland rower James Montgomerie.
Emily Dick, also an Under 17 Auckland rower says the 2k erg is one of the toughest mental experiences for her.
"Initially, I feel the build-up to the erg during the week is very overwhelming, and it's the only thing on my mind. Then, during the erg my mind always tells me to give up because of the pain, which makes it challenging. Finally, if I don't get the results I wanted, it causes a lot of emotions as I feel disappointed."
U17 Auckand rower, Emily Dick (centre), feels the build up to the erg test during the week
Was the ergometer always so feared?
In fact, no, when the erg first came into New Zealand, it was a novelty. Rowers were excited to get on an erg that for once showed where you were at and what you could improve. It meant you could work on your rowing when the weather outside was terrible.
The Gjessing-Nilson ergometer was one of the first and only ergs in the country, used to test aspiring New Zealand rowers.
It was housed in a shed on the Whanganui riverbank and used for national rowing trials up until the late 80's. Auckland Rowing Club's Peter Mills was rowing and then coaching in the 80's when the very first Concept Model erg came into the country.
"This was the first time we had seen this sort of technology in the 'wild' and it revolutionised our thinking and training, but we were thinking of other benefits other than getting 2k scores and suffering. Back then, it was feedback you had never had before. Stroke rate, pace and rhythm were suddenly quantifiable," says Pete.
In the 1970s, the Gjessing-Nilson ergometer from Norway used a friction brake mechanism with industrial strapping applied over the broad rim of the flywheel. Weights hanging from the strap ensured that an adjustable and predictable friction could be calculated.
The benefits of an erg mean it isn't going away anytime soon so how do we take the fear out of this machine?
RowingHub asked some Club and Masters rowers who offered some valuable advice.
Masters West End rower Carolyn Steele says you need to train for an erg test.
"You can't just jump on and expect to race. Get used to doing race pieces on the erg, especially in the two weeks leading up to an erg test. Have a plan about what you normally eat and drink before erging, what music you normally listen to and what split and rating you are going to hold and try to settle into that plan quickly at the start."
And these women know what they are talking about. The West End's women's team of 10 recently set a masters group world record for a 24 hour team erg, smashing the record by 27 kilometres.
Our crew has a set Erg session every week that we do, whether it's 4x500m or 2x19min, it helps you to know what split you can sit on for each rating and amount of time, it keeps ergs interesting as always changing up rating and timings every week. It's a good way to track fitness progress," Carolyn says.
Masters West End rower Carolyn Steele in the forefront of photo.
So what top tips do these rowers have for the next rowing generation?
"When things start getting hard, I recommend having a technique pattern doing 10 strokes or 1 minute thinking about the catch, legs, swing, or finish to help distract from the pain and to keep technique sharp."
She says when you are starting to wonder "why I am here?" have a phrase that you will tell yourself, a technique pattern piece that you will do, or a thought, like thinking about your competition racing along behind you at Karapiro.
Smashing a 24 hour World Erg Record, West End's Masters women
New Zealand Beach Sprints trialist Holly Chaafe says the key is not to compare your erg time to others. She says being smaller she's learnt not to look at what others are pulling.
"It's more important what you do on the water and the erg is just practising."
New Zealand Beach Sprints trialist Holly Chaafe says the key is not to compare your erg time to others. She says being smaller she's learnt not to look at what others are pulling.
Former New Zealand Elite rower Rachael Smith turned coach says there is a massive amount of pressure with having the best erg score.
"If an athlete has either not finished an erg or a score wasn't what they were aiming for, both of those things can create a barrier in their mind until they can push through. There is only one person affecting the result."
Rachael's top tips are to find ways to relax and focus on other measures like times and splits.
"Be prepared, use good rowing technique, don't google "how to get a better erg", have a plan and be consistent in your approach. Be determined, positive and focused."
Amy Robson, West End Novice coach says women also have their cycle to think about.
"There is a week which is shoddy but as long as you are giving it your all in that week, that's the best you can do on that day... so find some friends and erg alongside them."
The future does offer a glimmer of hope with the continued advancements of virtual reality technology for ergs. The advancements could help with shifting athletes focus away from fatigue and pain with offering a more engaging experience that could also ease anxiety.
Rowers of past generations didn't get on an erg to suffer, but to understand rowing. So, for now, perhaps a change in mindset, seeing an erg for how it can create a more technically proficient rower, might be a step in the right direction in battling those nerves and getting through it.
Wendy Petrie
A favourite news presenter on our screens for many years, Wendy Petrie has now hit her stride outside the studio. Telling stories for Rowing New Zealand's RowingHub, Wendy can often be found lakeside during big regattas interviewing rowers, parents and coaches. A love of people and their stories is what drives her. With three sporty children, two rowers and a swimmer, she knows the dedication that goes into a sport.
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- Home
- /
- School Rowing
- /
- The 2km Erg...
The 2km Erg test, why is it so feared?
Top tips for a 2k Erg test
For many a rower, just the thought of a 2k erg test sets the heart racing. It's a battle of nerves, fitness, strength and the mind. The whole exercise only lasts a few minutes, but those minutes can be the toughest few minutes a rower faces.
For a coach, it's a test of a crew's strength and helps guide selections of boats. It puts a number on each rower for what they pull on the water.
Whatever it is, it's something all rowers know they need to do.
For young rowers it can be a challenge that seems overwhelming.
"It depends on the erg, but it's the pressure to do well, and you know it's going to hurt. It's more than you're nervous about the result, not the actual erg," says Under 17 Auckland rower James Montgomerie.
Emily Dick, also an Under 17 Auckland rower says the 2k erg is one of the toughest mental experiences for her.
"Initially, I feel the build-up to the erg during the week is very overwhelming, and it's the only thing on my mind. Then, during the erg my mind always tells me to give up because of the pain, which makes it challenging. Finally, if I don't get the results I wanted, it causes a lot of emotions as I feel disappointed."
U17 Auckand rower, Emily Dick (centre), feels the build up to the erg test during the week
Was the ergometer always so feared?
In fact, no, when the erg first came into New Zealand, it was a novelty. Rowers were excited to get on an erg that for once showed where you were at and what you could improve. It meant you could work on your rowing when the weather outside was terrible.
The Gjessing-Nilson ergometer was one of the first and only ergs in the country, used to test aspiring New Zealand rowers.
It was housed in a shed on the Whanganui riverbank and used for national rowing trials up until the late 80's. Auckland Rowing Club's Peter Mills was rowing and then coaching in the 80's when the very first Concept Model erg came into the country.
"This was the first time we had seen this sort of technology in the 'wild' and it revolutionised our thinking and training, but we were thinking of other benefits other than getting 2k scores and suffering. Back then, it was feedback you had never had before. Stroke rate, pace and rhythm were suddenly quantifiable," says Pete.
In the 1970s, the Gjessing-Nilson ergometer from Norway used a friction brake mechanism with industrial strapping applied over the broad rim of the flywheel. Weights hanging from the strap ensured that an adjustable and predictable friction could be calculated.
The benefits of an erg mean it isn't going away anytime soon so how do we take the fear out of this machine?
RowingHub asked some Club and Masters rowers who offered some valuable advice.
Masters West End rower Carolyn Steele says you need to train for an erg test.
"You can't just jump on and expect to race. Get used to doing race pieces on the erg, especially in the two weeks leading up to an erg test. Have a plan about what you normally eat and drink before erging, what music you normally listen to and what split and rating you are going to hold and try to settle into that plan quickly at the start."
And these women know what they are talking about. The West End's women's team of 10 recently set a masters group world record for a 24 hour team erg, smashing the record by 27 kilometres.
Our crew has a set Erg session every week that we do, whether it's 4x500m or 2x19min, it helps you to know what split you can sit on for each rating and amount of time, it keeps ergs interesting as always changing up rating and timings every week. It's a good way to track fitness progress," Carolyn says.
Masters West End rower Carolyn Steele in the forefront of photo.
So what top tips do these rowers have for the next rowing generation?
"When things start getting hard, I recommend having a technique pattern doing 10 strokes or 1 minute thinking about the catch, legs, swing, or finish to help distract from the pain and to keep technique sharp."
She says when you are starting to wonder "why I am here?" have a phrase that you will tell yourself, a technique pattern piece that you will do, or a thought, like thinking about your competition racing along behind you at Karapiro.
Smashing a 24 hour World Erg Record, West End's Masters women
New Zealand Beach Sprints trialist Holly Chaafe says the key is not to compare your erg time to others. She says being smaller she's learnt not to look at what others are pulling.
"It's more important what you do on the water and the erg is just practising."
New Zealand Beach Sprints trialist Holly Chaafe says the key is not to compare your erg time to others. She says being smaller she's learnt not to look at what others are pulling.
Former New Zealand Elite rower Rachael Smith turned coach says there is a massive amount of pressure with having the best erg score.
"If an athlete has either not finished an erg or a score wasn't what they were aiming for, both of those things can create a barrier in their mind until they can push through. There is only one person affecting the result."
Rachael's top tips are to find ways to relax and focus on other measures like times and splits.
"Be prepared, use good rowing technique, don't google "how to get a better erg", have a plan and be consistent in your approach. Be determined, positive and focused."
Amy Robson, West End Novice coach says women also have their cycle to think about.
"There is a week which is shoddy but as long as you are giving it your all in that week, that's the best you can do on that day... so find some friends and erg alongside them."
The future does offer a glimmer of hope with the continued advancements of virtual reality technology for ergs. The advancements could help with shifting athletes focus away from fatigue and pain with offering a more engaging experience that could also ease anxiety.
Rowers of past generations didn't get on an erg to suffer, but to understand rowing. So, for now, perhaps a change in mindset, seeing an erg for how it can create a more technically proficient rower, might be a step in the right direction in battling those nerves and getting through it.
Wendy Petrie
A favourite news presenter on our screens for many years, Wendy Petrie has now hit her stride outside the studio. Telling stories for Rowing New Zealand's RowingHub, Wendy can often be found lakeside during big regattas interviewing rowers, parents and coaches. A love of people and their stories is what drives her. With three sporty children, two rowers and a swimmer, she knows the dedication that goes into a sport.
