Rowing Weight Categories
What is Rowing Weight Categories?
Competitive rowing divides athletes into lightweight and open (heavyweight) categories. Lightweight limits: men ≤75kg (with crew average ≤70kg for team boats), women ≤61.5kg (crew average ≤57kg). Open weight has no upper limit. These categories apply to both on-water racing and erg rankings on the Concept2 Logbook. Lightweight rowing exists because body mass significantly affects on-water speed — heavier crews move faster due to more absolute power. The weight categories allow smaller athletes to compete fairly. On the erg, the Concept2 weight-adjusted ranking system normalises times using the formula: Adjusted Time = Actual Time × (Reference Weight / Actual Weight)^0.222, allowing cross-category comparison. Lightweight rowing was contested at the Olympics until Paris 2024.
How Watta Uses Rowing Weight Categories
Watta uses body weight in the Effort Score's Work Output calculation to normalise across weight categories. The leaderboard can show weight-adjusted comparisons, giving lightweight athletes fair representation alongside heavier rowers.
Further Reading
- Concept2 Training Resources — Official training guides and workout plans from Concept2.
- Concept2 RowErg Specifications — Technical specifications and performance monitor details.
- World Rowing — The international governing body for the sport of rowing.
Frequently Asked Questions
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