Todd Schumlick is the owner of PerformX and has more than 25 years of coaching experience (fitness training, nutrition, rehab and mental development), including kinesiology, strength and conditioning, rehabilitation, sports nutrition and more. Since 2008, he has been a Red Bull contracted coach for motocross and downhill mountain bike athletes. His action sports athletes have included multiple snocross/motocross champion Blair Morgan, World Cup downhill MTB champions Aaron Gwin (multiple champion), Steve Smith, Finn Iles and Miranda Miller, pro freeskier Mark Abma, multiple Enduro World Series MTB champion Richie Rude, pro kayaker Benny Marr, multiple national motocross champion Colton Facciotti, multi-MTB champion Casey Brown and many more.
We recently spoke with Todd about his experience using Concept2 ergometers in his training plans for extreme athletes.
When was the first time you heard the Concept2 name or tried one of our products?
I'm not sure when I first heard the Concept2 name, but I assume it was around the time I first started using their rowing machines. I think it was around 2008 at the Meadow Park Sports Centre in Whistler, British Columbia. I remember jumping on the rowing machine at that time as a warm-up for strength training.
Can you remember your first workout on a Concept2 machine?
As I mentioned, I used the rowing machine a lot to warm up, but I don't remember doing any "workouts" before 2012-2014. Then, around 2013-2015, someone mentioned they had seen studies that rowing is one of the hardest cardiovascular activities a person can do. That got me curious and led to a 30-minute workout on a Concept2 rowing machine. Well, at least that was the intention. I think after about 15 minutes I convinced myself that I didn't want to overexert myself and stopped. Ha! It was pretty darn hard! I think I had sore muscles in my biceps for a few days afterwards.
What Concept2 products do you use?
I have a RowErg, a BikeErg, and a SkiErg at my gym, so I use all three equally. All for training and fitness testing my PerformX athletes.
What types of athletes do you primarily work with?
For 2022 and 2023, about a third are downhill mountain bikers, a third are enduro mountain bikers, and a third are a mix of moto and action athletes.
How have you integrated the RowErg and SkiErg into the training of athletes who use a bike for their sport?
I integrate both devices into 1) warm-up exercises that specifically target the upper body, 2) workouts that are primarily composed of distance sessions (250m > 4000m) and interval training (from 20 seconds to 5 minutes and 6 to 20+ minutes in duration), and 3) fitness testing, which includes the BikeErg.
Can you tell us about the benefits of getting cyclists to do more off-bike training?
First, I believe (and have experienced myself) that athletes who train only "on the bike" 1) limit their fitness development/adaptation, 2) develop imbalances in the body's biomechanics (including alignment and posture), which in turn limits development/adaptation and increases the risk of both acute and chronic injuries, and 3) limit mental development because the athlete is not faced with a variety of challenges. In short, I believe that cycling alone is not dynamic enough to reach full athletic potential. (This is backed up by scientific studies, which is why cross-training is best).
Why a rowing machine for cyclists?
Because rowing 1) targets the posterior muscle chain and biomechanics (in many ways the opposite of cycling, so it improves/balances muscle performance and biomechanics), 2) great grip/forearm development (a major problem for enduro and downhill mountain bike athletes), of the rhomboid/trapezius and lumbar spine/trunk, 3) improves the rider's posture (mainly due to what I described above), 4) fuels the energy system with something other than cycling (perhaps the most important point), and 5) it's HARD! This helps the athlete (in my case MTB and Moto) improve by "being comfortable being uncomfortable".
What is your favorite or go-to workout?
Rowing 4000 meters!
We'd love to hear a short story related to Concept2 equipment, something motivating, funny, or a learning moment.
Oh, so many moments! It's a pretty cool experience when an athlete completes their follow-up fitness test with improved performance results. It definitely boosts confidence before competition season, because it proves that training was a good investment of time and energy. Oh, I have another funny story to tell. Once an athlete asked me how much a boat would cost when I told him I was going to prescribe rowing in his training! Ha!
How have you expanded or changed the use of our equipment over the years?
Since the introduction of the SkiErg, I have used it more with my athletes, especially in strength and conditioning programs (when access to the SkiErg is available).
What advice would you give to someone training on a Concept2 machine for the first time?
If using a RowErg or SkiErg for the first time, go for a specific distance, maybe row 2000m or ski 1500m.
What coaches or athletes do you look up to?
Coaches: Tudor Bompa and Charles Poliquin. Athletes: Anyone who is committed to a high goal.
What or who inspires you to keep going?
Athletes. In particular, knowing that I have the experience and expertise to help athletes achieve high levels of athletic performance and injury prevention makes my "job" so exciting and rewarding.
What is your favorite music to listen to while training?
Punk or metal. Actually, pretty much anything except Nickelback, Top 40/Pop, Country or Nickelback (yes, I've mentioned that twice).
Buy Concept2 directly from the manufacturer
Source and image source: Concept2
Published on: 24 February 2023