As many gyms struggle to bring clients back, one local
studio in southern Westchester is growing in the middle of the pandemic one
stroke at a time.
The Pelham Community Rowing Association is really getting
into the swing of things after trying to open its first of a kind studio back
in March.
The indoor facility, which features 30 machines, didn't
launch on time, but owners pivoted and began offering outdoor
classes twice a week across the street at Wolf’s Lane Park.
Each one of the rowing machines is eight feet apart and
allows anyone in the community to get some exercise safely.. "Everything feels the most normal when I'm coaching rowing, whether that's on the water or here socially
distanced in a park. It was a lot of hard work to get this gym open again, so we're just so excited to be able to bring
this sport to so many more people," says instructor Elizabeth Calder.
Their growth during a pandemic comes at an interesting time
when other big-box gyms just can't keep up. Recently a pair of major national
gym chains filed for bankruptcy after the state's gym shutdown forced them into
financial trouble.
But they're optimistic in Pelham that they can open the
indoor facility soon, which will also serve as
the official training site for 150 members of the local youth and master's
rowing teams.