The secrets of creating elite indoor rowing machines like the RP3 Aqua
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Jan Lammers is the CEO of RP3 Rowing, an innovative rowing machine brand based in the Netherlands. With over 20 years of experience crafting rowing ergometers that revolutionize the way athletes train, Jan is an expert in the fitness gear industry. In collaboration with EXR, RP3 created the new connected rowing machine RP3 Aqua. With this model, the manufacturer brings innovation to your living room: a dynamic rowing machine using water resistance with an integrated screen for low noise levels, injury-free workouts and the best virtual rowing — perfect for staying fit at home!
Question: Jan, what’s your background? What was your way into the fitness industry?
I'm Jan Lammers. I'm married to Annet with who I run RP3 Rowing, and we have two daughters, Leonie and Susan, plus two grandkids, Cato and Noortje. I first studied mechanical engineering at the University of Twente in the Netherlands and then business administration. I worked at Thales, a multinational focusing on innovation, before buying Metaalindustrie Knobbe in 1987, a metallurgy company. There, we started making Rowperfect rowing machines in 1991.
Q: Do you row yourself? If so, do you row indoors or outdoors?
Yes, I row both on the water and indoors. I also teach a HIIT class every Tuesday night using RP3 rowing machines.
Q: You've been with RP3 Rowing for over 20 years. What inspires you to seek new solutions to the problems of rowers?
From the start, I was excited about creating a machine designed to help rowers prevent lower back pain. Additionally, the dynamic motion of RP3 rowers is similar to the rowing movements on the water, which makes training more targeted. For a long time, the ergometer was perceived as beneficial for rehabilitation rather than a training tool, which resulted in low popularity and consequently held back its development. After taking over RP3 Rowing in 2011, we’ve convinced the rowing world that our products are indoor rowing simulators every rower should use. For instance, world champion Oliver Zeidler is training on an RP3. In general, rowing machines provide a great full-body workout that's easy on the joints for fitness enthusiasts of any experience level.
Q: RP3 Rowing has several rowing machine models. How do you decide when to develop a new model and what features it should have?
The development of RP3 rowers is mainly based on feedback from coaches and athletes with consideration of new technologies. The RP3 S is the base model. Its successor, the Model T, was designed to mimic the feel and weight of rowing on the water more realistically, with low-moving parts and a springy back leg to simulate the motions of a boat. The latest, the RP3 Aqua, uses a water tank instead of an air flywheel to reduce noise for home use and provide a boat-like feel.
Q: The new RP3 Aqua is the latest rowing machine of all RP3 Rowing models. What's special about it compared to other RP3 rowers?
The RP3 Aqua is the first dynamic water rower that combines our expertise from elite rowing with water resistance. All current water-resistant rowing machines on the market are static. At RP3 Rowing, we focus on dynamic rowing to deliver the best training experience possible and ensure high quality in every aspect.
The RP3 Aqua is the first dynamic water rower that combines our expertise from elite rowing with water resistance.
Q: The RP3 Aqua was designed for home workouts. Who would benefit from using an RP3 Aqua and what advantages does it have compared to other rowing machines?
The RP3 Aqua is for anyone who needs a home workout machine for a quick yet highly efficient full-body workout. One big issue you often hear about is people worrying about the noise level when exercising. For example, if you have a sleeping baby, train at odd times, or simply have thin walls and don’t want to disturb your neighbors. Compared to rowing machines using air resistance by featuring air flywheels that can get loud (dB>83), a water resistance rowing machine stays relatively quiet and the gentle splashing noise may even be relaxing.
The RP3 Aqua is for anyone who needs a home workout machine for a quick yet highly efficient full-body workout.
Q: The RP3 Aqua comes with a 1-year free EXR membership. This means that you immediately have a rowing app that helps you build a workout routine. What other advantages are there?
The EXR integration offers users pre-programmed workouts and the ability to row in virtual worlds, making training more fun. EXR’s online group rowing events are very popular, as they’re open to everyone no matter your skills or location. By completing an event, you even get to claim rewards. Users can also join others to train or race together. Plus, all performance data is available in the RP3 Portal for tracking and analysis and can be synced with other apps like Strava.
Q: RP3 Rowing is known for high-performance equipment and has catered to pro athletes for a long time. Given your years of industry-specific expertise, what do you see as the future of indoor rowing?
Of course on-the-water rowers train on ergometers. But by now, many athletes from other sports are also turning to indoor rowing due to time constraints or injuries. Rowing is low-impact, suitable for all ages, and offers a mix of endurance and strength training, engaging 86% of muscles. I believe indoor rowing is a great sport for everyone. Especially since the pandemic, fitness enthusiasts worldwide are increasingly recognizing its benefits like increased strength, stamina and weight loss. In the USA, people are already saying, "rowing is the new spinning"!
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