BOSTON, May 23, 2003

Digital Rowing has announced a revolutionary precision 3D rowing engine that will open up a whole new dimension for Indoor Rowing enthusiasts.

Using a Concept2 Indoor Rower and a standard Windows PC, the new 3D rowing engine displays an on-water rowing scene in true 3D, using proven industry-standard Open GL graphics technology. All the elements shown are exact scale models of their real-world counterparts.

With the Indoor Rower connected to the PC, the 3D rowing engine moves an on-screen boat along a realistic 3D on-water rowing course in real-time, accurately matching the boat's position to the rower's distance reading on the Indoor Rower. The 3D engine also moves the on-screen rower and oars accurately through each stroke, keeping time with the stroke action of the person on the Indoor Rower.

Digital Rowing has paid particular attention to ensuring the on-screen rower uses excellent technique. Olympic Rowing Coach Brian Hawthorne, who has coached a number of World and Olympic Champions, has worked closely with Digital Rowing graphics designers to ensure the on-screen rower has world-class rowing technique. 'I love it. Give or take style differences, this is about as good as it gets' says Hawthorne.

Digital Rowing President Pete Loeffen describes the new 3D rowing engine as a breakthrough. 'This exciting new technology will open up a whole new dimension for home users of Concept 2 Indoor Rowers' says Loeffen. 'Coach Brian Hawthorne is an acknowledged master of the sport, and we're delighted at the excellent stroke technique he has helped us craft into our state-of-the-art on-screen rower. This has huge potential to increase users' rowing performance and decrease their risk of injury from technique problems'.

'We're also seeing great reactions from users' says Loeffen. 'Their stroke technique improves noticeably, and they seem not to notice time passing as they take in all the rich feedback the 3D rowing engine provides. Naturally, we're delighted'.

The 3D rowing engine is one of several breakthrough technologies that together make up Digital Rowing's new flagship software product RowPro, which was launched in February 2003 at the CRASH-B World Indoor Rowing Championships in Boston.