Technogym’s Stephen Barton reveals a more natural way to row indoors

Stephen Barton

Developed in collaboration with Olympic athletes and research institutes, Technogym’s SKILLROW has been designed to improve anaerobic power, aerobic capacity and neuromuscular abilities in a single self-powered product.

“SKILLROW draws upon the knowledge of Olympic rowers to replicate the unique feeling of rowing on water,” says Technogym UK managing director, Stephen Barton.

“It also boasts more training possibilities thanks to multidrive technology, which provides a power mode as well as the traditional resistance settings, and offers vast connectivity options to enrich the user’s experience, including real-time biofeedback and engaging team boat races in an immersive 3D setting.”

SKILLROW’s resistance follows the natural curve of the stroke in the water, closely replicating the unique feel of rowing on water.

This feature, coined ‘Aquafeel’, means the resistance is gradual, creating an experience that is closer to rowing on water for professional athletes, but also significantly reducing the strain on the lower back, making it ideal for gym goers.

Users can monitor their performance data with the SKILLROW app.

fitness-kit.net keyword: TECHNOGYM

“SKILLROW draws upon the knowledge of Olympic rowers to replicate the unique feeling of rowing on water,” says Technogym UK managing director, Stephen Barton.

SKILLROW recreates the feeling of rowing on water

Reaxing’s Gionata D’Alesio outlines the
various benefits of the new Reax Board

Gionata D’Alesio

Reaxing has recently launched the Reax Board, a ‘smart’ floor able to reproduce and generate sudden interferences during movements.

“Reax Board destabilises any movement performed on it,” says Reaxing CEO Gionata D’Alesio. “Standard exercises become unpredictable and much more fun and effective. All muscles are activated and focus must always be kept high and steady.”

Thanks to the dedicated app, the user or PT can select the difficulty level and choose from preconfigured programmes. Some sessions are available only in the presence of a trainer, to keep intense, customised programmes safe.

Users can perform free body exercises on the board, or use it in combination with other functional tools, adding unpredictability and boosting effectiveness.

The unstable surface works to improve balance and proprioception, neuromuscular efficiency and calorie burn, while reducing risk of injury.

fitness-kit.net keyword: REAXING

“Standard exercises become unpredictable and much more fun and effective. All muscles are activated and focus"

Users can perform free body exercises or use other functional tools

Justin Smith on how Precor’s new bike accurately measures performance

Justin Smith

Set to be released later in 2017, the Spinner Chrono is the latest addition to the Precor Spinner family of bikes. The bike is designed to eliminate the need to replace batteries in either the console or power sensor.

It also offers direct power measurement at the power source, the most accurate way to measure individual performance on an indoor cycle.

A power sensor is bonded directly onto the resistance system to measure actual wattage, providing high accuracy and durability without using batteries. A new console supports Precor’s SpinPOWER programming and is network capable using Bluetooth and ANT+.

The Spinner Chrono Power also includes a patent-pending magnetic resistance system designed to more evenly apply resistance as the rider adjusts the resistance knobs. This will prevent abrupt jumps in resistance from one turn of the knob to the next – a common issue with other indoor cycles.

“The Spinner Chrono was created in response to the demand from Spinning enthusiasts for high accuracy power measurement,” says Justin Smith, Precor’s head of UK.

fitness-kit.net keyword: PRECOR

“The Spinner Chrono was created in response to the demand from Spinning enthusiasts for high accuracy power measurement,” says Justin Smith, Precor’s head of UK.

A power sensor is bonded directly onto the resistance system to measure actual wattage

Matrix’s group training system offers a year’s-worth of workouts, says Steve Barrett

Steve Barrett

The MX4 Training System has been designed by Matrix for facilities seeking to differentiate their group training offering in a way that attracts, engages and retains more members. This new group training concept uses Matrix-exclusive equipment and original turnkey programming to address multiple aspects of fitness — cardio, power, strength and endurance — in a unique, motivating and result-driven multi-modality framework.

Matrix products like the Connexus Functional Training System, S-Drive Performance Trainer, Rower and Krankcycle can be combined in a myriad of ways to challenge members of all ability levels. Certified trainers guide members through flexible progressions to help them establish, enhance and elevate their overall fitness while building the kind of relationships and camaraderie that foster lasting loyalty.

“MX4 is unique in that it’s the only group training programme that has an entire year of workouts designed,” says Steve Barrett, Matrix’s director of group education and training. “One hundred and fifty-six pre-planned, ready-to-go group training sessions have been created for the PT, releasing them from the lengthy task of creating their own sessions.”

fitness-kit.net keyword: MATRIX

“MX4 is unique in that it’s the only group training programme that has an entire year of workouts designed,” says Steve Barrett, Matrix’s Director of Group Education and Training.

Pre-designed workouts free up trainers to focus more on client care

Jochen Michaelis discusses eGym’s use of gamification for member motivation

Jochen Michaelis

A new graphical user interface (GUI) has been developed by eGym for its strength training equipment, and is designed to enhance the training experience on eGym machines by incorporating elements of ramification.

“Our latest offering places gamification at the heart of the user experience,” says Jochen Michaelis, eGym’s managing director UK. “As a user trains on the eGym strength circuit, points are automatically accrued, awarded according to variables such as activity, duration and intensity. As points are achieved, the user moves up through the Activity Levels.”

To reflect the reality of fitness, the system only takes into account the last 28 days of activity. So if a user stops or reduces their physical activity, points start to decrease.

“The Activity Levels are designed to help users keep their training on track and provide motivation to maintain or improve their level of fitness,” says Michaelis.

Throughout their training, the user is made aware of the physical benefits they will receive if they continue to train at the current level. For example, the system will advise by what percentage the risk of cancer, diabetes or heart disease will be reduced or how many kilos could be lost per year.

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“Our latest offering places gamification at the heart of the user experience,” says Jochen Michaelis, eGym’s

eGym’s new interface brings gamification to strength training

Chris Johnson on how Pulse is making treadmill running more entertaining

Chris Johnson

Over the past five years, Pulse has been developing groundbreaking new virtual reality technology in partnership with CSE Entertainment.

It will initially be compatible with Pulse treadmills, with other cardio products to follow later this year. The technology will be available via the console and is also fully compatible with virtual reality headsets.

“This is the first real innovation the treadmill has seen since its origin in 1818,” says Chris Johnson, managing director for Pulse. “It will be a complete game-changer for the industry and help gym operators attract users that might have otherwise been completely disengaged with the traditional gym offering.”

Users will be able to explore over 100 different programmes and environments such as coastal, countryside and city based locations. The software provides a 360° experience, with incline and resistance that autonomously adjusts to the terrain.

Users can compete by running alongside fellow gym users or web racing globally. “Our VR equipment is the next step to providing fully immersive fitness experiences that will allow a new generation to create lifelong fitness habits,” says Johnson.

fitness-kit.net keyword: Pulse

“This is the first real innovation the treadmill has seen since its origin in 1818,” says Chris Johnson, Managing Director for Pulse

The virtual reality treadmill is described as ‘a game-changer’

John Gamble on Core Health and Fitness’ new high-intensity offering

John Gamble

Core Health and Fitness has added two new products, both designed to meet the growing demand for High Intensity Interval Training style workouts. The StairMaster HIITMill and HIITMill X are self-powered machines created to help users build explosive power when used in a HIIT programme. They are built to withstand the movements and forces generated by performance athletes and those who want to train like them.

“The unique design of the StairMaster HIITMill and HIITMill X delivers a resistance training platform that can create a heart pounding HIIT destination in a compact footprint,” says John Gamble, Core’s MD of UK, Europe, Middle East and Africa.

HIITMill products allow users to simulate sled pushing, farmer carries and speed and agility training. Its compact design leaves more space for other types of training.

Both machines feature an 11 per cent incline and a simple to use, magnetic resistance mechanism. Lift arms on the HIITMill X are capable of adding 200 pounds of load to enable the one-of-a-kind ‘farmer’s carry’ workout.

The HIITMill X also features a unique cushioned turf belt that simulates outdoor field workouts – allowing authentic strength, speed and sled training workouts to be practiced indoors.

fitness-kit.net keyword: CORE

“The unique design of the StairMaster HIITMill and HIITMill X delivers a resistance training platform that can create a heart pounding HIIT destination in a compact footprint,” says John Gamble, Core’s MD of UK, Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Lift arms can take 200lbs of load to create a ‘farmer’s carry’ workout

Paul Bowman on Wexer’s new trainer for the gym floor

Paul Bowman

How can we improve the digital fitness experience to ensure club groups remain relevant to members, both inside and outside the four walls of the gym?” asks Paul Bowman, CEO for Wexer.

“This is the first question I asked myself, and my team, when we began to brainstorm the elevation of Wexer. From our research and observations, we know that when it comes to fitness, people simply want three things: flexibility, convenience and variety.”

Wexer Virtual is designed to serve these needs inside group exercise studios, while Wexer Mobile allows operators to engage members outside of the gym. Both products deliver digital fitness experiences, but when Bowman and his team examined the member journey and subsequent digital ecosystems within large club groups they saw a new opportunity.

“It was the opportunity to use technology in a way that will attract, educate and engage a new category of members,” says Bowman. From here evolved Wexer Trainer. Designed for functional areas and gym floors, Wexer Trainer is a touch screen unit pre-loaded with an extensive library of exercises, a workout builder and virtual fitness classes.

fitness-kit.net keyword: WEXER

“It was the opportunity to use technology in a way that will attract, educate and engage a new category of members,” says Bowman.

Wexer Trainer is pre-loaded with a large exercise library