Some people aren’t sure they love the rower.

Maybe it’s never felt intuitive. Maybe no one’s ever shown you how to use it well. Or maybe you’ve just never thought of it as something that could actually improve your climbing.

At ROQ, the rower plays a real role in how we train. It’s not an extra — it’s a key part of the system. And once you understand how and why we use it, there’s a good chance you’ll start to love it too.

Rowing Feels Good Fast

One of the best things about rowing is how quickly it feels like you're doing something. You can go from zero to working in seconds — all without pounding your joints or overthinking the movement.

It’s low-impact, smooth, and easy to scale. You can keep it chill to warm up or go hard and light up your lungs. That makes it perfect for high-intensity intervals — the backbone of how we train at ROQ.

And unlike a lot of traditional “cardio” equipment, rowing isn’t just legs or just arms — it’s full-body. In fact, about 70% of the power in a proper rowing stroke comes from your legs, with the rest from your core and upper body. That makes it an ideal complement to climbing: you’re building strength and endurance in the areas that often get neglected.

It also burns a surprising number of calories in a short amount of time — especially compared to more isolated movements. That means you’re not just working hard — you’re training efficiently.

Not Comfortable on the Rower? We’ve Got You.

If the rower hasn’t clicked for you before, don’t worry — we’ll teach you in under a minute. Our coaches will get you moving well, fast, without overcomplicating anything. Once it feels right, it’s one of the most satisfying ways to train.

Rowing at ROQ isn’t a random add-on. It’s a smart, effective tool built into the system — just like the climbing walls, just like the strength work. It’s there to help you move better, train harder, and feel stronger.

Even if you didn’t think you liked rowing — we think you might change your mind.

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