David Chmilowskyi
I bought my erg in April 2006 as an effort to lose weight. I was successful in this endeavor, losing about 50 pounds in the first year. As time passed I realized I could be quite competitive and started racing eventually getting my 2k time down to a respectable 6:22.2.
I then started to row on the water and became competitive there too, starting in crew boats and in 2010 buying my own single. I suffered a severe ankle break in November 2010 and was worried my rowing would perhaps come to an end. I continued erging through my recovery, using one leg only for three months and getting back in the boat the following spring.
On the summer solstice of 2012, I erged a marathon outdoors in a temperature of over 30C to raise money for an adaptive single at Island Lake Rowing Club in Orangeville, Ontario raising about $900. It wasn't my fastest marathon but I got the job done.
I've been a regular racing at C.R.A.S.H.-B.s for the last five years or so, except 2011 after the injury, but I did do some coxing that year! I did my first Head of the Charles in 2012 and was also the US Masters Head race champion that year in the 40–49 1x.
Without the Concept2 erg I don't think I would have become as fit and healthy as I now am. I'm now closing in on 20 million metres with an additional 5 million in the single since 2010.
