Rowing in Minneapolis

By the Watta Team · Updated March 2026

Minneapolis has a dedicated rowing community that takes full advantage of the Chain of Lakes and the Mississippi River during the warmer months, then shifts almost entirely to indoor erg training through the long Minnesota winters. The University of Minnesota's rowing programme and several community clubs keep the sport thriving. Minneapolis's fitness scene, including a robust CrossFit community, ensures Concept2 ergs are widely available for the five-plus months of winter training.

Rowing Clubs & Programs

Minneapolis Rowing Club

Based on Lake Nokomis, MRC offers competitive, recreational, and learn-to-row programmes for adults in the Twin Cities metro area.

Minnesota Boat Club

One of the oldest rowing clubs in the Midwest, located on Raspberry Island in the Mississippi River in neighbouring St. Paul. MBC has a rich competitive tradition and strong masters programme.

University of Minnesota Rowing

The U of M women's rowing programme is a Division I varsity team, while the men's team is a competitive club programme. Both train on the Mississippi River.

Gyms with Concept2 Ergs

  • +University of Minnesota Recreation Center -- a large campus facility with Concept2 ergs used by both varsity rowers and the campus community.
  • +CrossFit Minneapolis in Northeast -- a strong local box with Concept2 RowErgs and programming that frequently features rowing benchmarks.

HYROX & Functional Fitness

Minneapolis hosts HYROX events at the Minneapolis Convention Center, and the city's functional fitness community is well-prepared for the race format. CrossFit Minneapolis, The Firm MN, and Orangetheory locations across the metro area offer HYROX-specific classes. Minnesota's long winters mean athletes spend significant time on the erg, building the rowing fitness that translates directly to HYROX performance.

Track Your Ergs in Minneapolis

Whether you row at a club, a CrossFit box, or your home gym in Minneapolis, Watta tracks every session. Snap your PM5 screen, get your Effort Score, and see how you compare on the leaderboard.

Frequently Asked Questions

Explore More

Rowing in ChicagoRowing in DenverRowing in TorontoUT2 Training GuideConcept2 2K Training PlanFor Concept2 Users
Available Now

Every erg counts.

Download Watta and start tracking your workouts today.

Download on the App Store