The Ski Erg: The full body workout you need!

Why the Ski Erg Geelong Gyms Install is So Effective

The ski erg Geelong lifters love is one of the best full-body conditioning tools you can use. It hammers the lats, core, triceps, and hip hinge in the same pull, building power and cardio at once. At Carbon Gym, our ski erg Geelong members use sits alongside rowers, bikes, and sleds in our conditioning zone. It is part of why our group classes and personal training programs produce results. Ski erg Geelong training at Carbon Gym

How to Use the Ski Erg Geelong Coaches Recommend

The ski erg was designed by Concept2, the same brand behind most commercial rowers. That pedigree is why you find it in serious gyms around the world, including Carbon Gym.

Stand tall, reach high, drive hips back, and pull the handles past your hips. Keep rhythm smooth. Power comes from the hinge, not your arms.

It’s true, the ski erg is the best full body workout machine that you’re probably not using.

The Ski Erg is a full body cardio machine designed to improve cardio and tone both upper and lower body muscles, and it’s actually 10 times more exhausting than it looks! Unfortunately, many gym goers are missing out on this versatile calorie crusher because they just aren’t familiar with it. But here’s everything you need to know!

The benefits of the Ski Erg:

  • One of the biggest benefits of this machine is that it gives an intense yet low impact, high calorie burning workout suitable for all ages and abilities.
  • The Ski Erg is a low impact exercise that is easy on the knees and ankles making it a great choice for those with lower leg injuries: as it allows the user to sit or kneel, reducing the amount of leg involvement, while training at normal intensity and duration using just the upper body and core.
  • The primary muscles engaged while working on the Ski Erg are lats, shoulders, chest, and upper back, so if these are areas of your body that you want to build, then the Ski Erg is a great option. Not only can the machine build these areas of your body, but it can also do it with no impact, meaning it can be used even for people who have previously injured their lower back or neck.

How to use the Ski Erg:

Grip the handles with a slight bend in your elbows. Rise to the balls of your feet, reach arms up, and then pull down hard, sending hips back and fists toward the ground and dropping into a slight crouch. Immediately push through heels to reverse, and then pull again.

But, here are 4 common mistakes to avoid when using the Ski Erg:

  1. Squatting – remember it’s a hip hinge – like a dead lift movement, not a squat
  2. Dropping the chest – you want your torso at a slight angle, but you don’t want to be fully horizontal and parallel to the floor
  3. Cutting the stroke short – the longer the stroke, the faster the metres will climb
  4. Looking up – puts a lot of strain on your neck, keep your chin tucked

As a workout tool, the Ski Erg ticks a lot of boxes and with these tips from us you can master the Ski Erg and build a banging body in the process.

At the Carbon Gym Gym in Geelong, we have memberships to suit a variety of lifestyles, including gym only options and memberships offering a full schedule of timetabled classes. Our gym is a comprehensively equipped space with everything from treadmills, rowers, ski ergs, bench presses and bikes to an adjustable four-bay cross rig and chin up station, a large variety of weights and boxing equipment. Learn more about our multiple level gym in Geelong here. In addition to this, our gym has a recovery facility to help with post-workout muscle recovery and detoxification.

Ski erg Geelong pulling hard at Carbon Gym

Ski Erg Geelong Workouts to Try

Start with a simple 10-minute steady pull. Work up to interval sessions like 8 rounds of 1 minute hard, 1 minute easy. Finish weeks with a 500 metre time trial to track progress.

Book a class on our timetable to use the ski erg Geelong members rate, or try the intro offer and pair it with personal training.

FAQ

Is the ski erg hard on the back?

Not if you hinge from the hips and keep the spine neutral. Coaches at Carbon Gym teach the full pattern before any intensity.

How often should I train on it?

Two to three sessions a week is plenty. Mix it with lifting and other cardio for balanced training.