What’s that upright machine in the gym that looks a bit like a rowing machine standing on its end? Oh, it’s the SkiErg, and in my opinion, the toughest, most grueling machine you’ll find in most gyms. Naturally, when Tom’s Guide asked if I was keen to challenge myself to ski 100 calories on the SkiErg machine every day for a week, I said yes — they say you should face your demons and I was about to do just that.
The SkiErg works the full body, even though you may think it’s primarily an upper-body machine. I’m fairly familiar with the ski erg, having used it on and off for several years, plus it’s also an integral part of Hyrox, a global fitness competition in which I have competed several times. I won’t lie, it’s my least favorite part of the whole event — I find the SkiErg really tiring, and my upper body has always been my weakest area. But, practice makes perfect, and the more you work on the ski erg, the easier it will become.
