Author: row-admin

  • Get Ready! HOCR 2022 Is Just a Few Days Away

    Our favorite fall head race is shaping up to be a legendary one. (Aren’t they all?) As a New England small business with deep roots in New Hampshire, the Rowing Pad team looks forward to the Head of the Charles each year with enthusiasm and fondness. From the incredible racing talent to the feel-good vibes of the rowing community that gathers on the banks of the river, it’s truly a weekend of pure rowing joy.

    This year, the 57th installment of the event, we are particularly proud to be cheering on our founder, Victor Pisinski, as he rows once again in the Men’s Grand Master Eights (Event 16). What pad will bring with him to take on the three-mile course? Rowing Pad’s 20MM Boat Pad with Non-Slip.

    Victor’s first Head of the Charles was the third rowing of the event, in the fall of 1967. He has made many appearances on the Charles since then, but he always makes sure to give deference to HOCR’s perhaps most infamous repeat competitor, his great buddy Jim Dietz, who has rowed in every instance of the annual race except for one! This year Jim will be rowing in the Veteran Singles event on Friday, October 21.

    On Saturday morning, October 22, Victor will team up with fellow Northeastern University rowing alums to try to top their effort last year and make a great showing among the other Grand Masters entries. He’ll be joined in his boat by lifelong rowers and familiar faces on the New England rowing circuit, like Larry O’Toole, the founder and owner of Gentle Giant Moving Company, who will be rowing in seat 5. Four of the eight men in the lineup this year are over the age of 70! If you see them out on the docks or the course, give a “hooray” for Rowing Pad and good old NU.

    Rowing Pad founder Victor Pisinski likes to keep things in perspective as he mentally prepares for the big race!

    Key Facts About the 2022 Head of the Charles

    This year’s installment of the Head of the Charles takes place October 21 – 23, Friday to Sunday, on Boston’s famed Charles River. The event, started in 1965, draws competitors from around the world—this year competitors total more than 11,000—for a three-mile race upstream full of notorious sharp turns and iconic bridges.

    Attending for the first time? The HOCR website gives some helpful pointers about the best points from which to view all the action on the river. Don’t miss the fun (and food, drinks, and merch) at the Weld Exhibition and Reunion Village gathering areas (special entry tickets required for the latter). We hope to see you there!

  • Up the Comfort Factor with RowingPad’s brand-new Soft ErgPad Line

    RowingPad LLC has just introduced two new ErgPads designed for rowers who crave extra cushion on the erg seat. The 20MM Soft ErgPad and the 20MM Soft ErgPad with Non-Slip provide twice the comfort with a pairing of two layers of our soft-density high-performance foam.

    This soft-soft twist on the classic RowingPad dual-density design, which features one firm layer of foam and one soft layer, provides that extra comfort factor many rowers crave during rowing machine workouts. In fact, these ergometer seat pads are so soft, your sitz bones will feel total relief (no comfort cutouts necessary)! As with all our products, these two latest rowing accessories are constructed from durable, high-quality polymer foam that can stand up to regular use and still provide incredible cushioning and protection.

    Designed specifically for the erg seat, the solid 20MM Soft ErgPad addresses the drive and release positions of rowers with a short upper physique or overall short stature. The extra height can improve rowing geometry—for rowers of all shapes and sizes—helping rowers get their body weight in front of their hips for a more powerful drive. (Interested in more benefits of using an erg seat cushion? Read this post.)

    The 20MM Soft ErgPad with Non-Slip is the ultimate training tool, featuring the new soft-soft density design along with a layer of our proprietary non-slip technology. Textured rubber grips the rowing machine seat for improved slip resistance—even when things get sweaty. The non-slip layer arrives separate from the 20MM pad. Simply follow the enclosed instructions to apply the peel-and-stick application directly to one side of the foam pad. (It’s quick and easy.)

    Our pads are designed for rowers by rowers—with input from some of the sport’s most revered collegiate rowing coaches as well as professional and Olympic athletes. The Soft ErgPad line incorporates feedback from our wonderful customers and is actually the current erg butt pad of choice for our founder, Northeastern Men’s Rowing alum Victor Pisinski. We are delighted to provide yet another seat pad choice for indoor rowing enthusiasts and rowers who train regularly on the erg.

    RowingPad designs, manufacturers, and distributes all of our products from our cozy corner of New Hampshire, right here in the USA. It is our mission to continue to provide the highest quality products and attentive customer service as we support the rowing community.