Think about the huge expanse of open waters, the rhythmic sound of oars pulling a ship by way of waves, and the fun of navigating throughout highly effective currents. That’s the world of coastal rowing, a once-niche exercise that may quickly be within the highlight, with a debut on the 2028 Summer time Video games in Los Angeles.
As extra individuals search on-water recreation alternatives, rowing visionaries and Co-founders of NEXT Boatworks, Dennis Loebs and Ben Sales space, are redefining the rowing expertise with boat designs which can be quicker, extra seaworthy and extra accessible for all ranges. Their fashions’ distinctive options is not going to solely assist Olympic athletes compete on the highest degree however will seemingly spark a rowing revolution for all those that love the outside.
Founder Inspiration
Dennis Loebs grew up across the water and all types of small watercraft together with crusing dinghies, runabouts, SUPs, and kayaks. “I’ve been hooked up to coastal water from a really younger age. I can’t even keep in mind how younger I used to be after I realized to swim in a Lengthy Island bay. I started water snowboarding on the age of 5 and have been dinghy crusing for the reason that age of eight, and so forth.”
Whereas rowing tugged on the periphery of his curiosity for a very long time, he by no means took the dive. It appeared “a bit too esoteric.” In 2015, Dennis’s spouse Sinead, herself a lifelong water and sports activities addict, advised him a few new class of “coastal” rowboats coming onto the scene, primarily in Europe. The couple had been “erging” on indoor rowing machines for years, and Sinead had not too long ago begun casual flatwater rowing classes. Their curiosity piqued, they took the plunge by importing a half-dozen coastal boats from Europe.
“It was enjoyable–we beloved having the ability to row in any situations, however the boats weren’t notably well-designed or well-constructed. So it was actually a combined expertise. My ‘construct a greater mousetrap’ mind was instantly activated.” Dennis shares.
“The small companies that I’ve (co)based all sprung from fixing my very own ache factors and issues, and/or filling a market void, then constructing a greater mousetrap.” These ventures included co-founding Loebs + Gordon Poolcraft which makes a speciality of set up of bespoke concrete vessels; Blue Sq. Consulting offered intensively detailed design companies within the water function market; and Loebs + Gordon Poolcare offers upkeep for these vessels. Management was additionally within the playing cards for Dennis–he was CEO or President of every of his earlier ventures.
NEXT Boatworks
Bringing coastal rowing boats to the States and experiencing firsthand the issues with present designs received Dennis problem-solving, and led to his first assembly with co-founder Ben Sales space.
Former Olympic rower Jim Dietz and Ben tried out the European coastal boats that Dennis and Sinead imported. “When Ben and I met, we started speaking about boats, in fact.” The 2 rapidly found that they’d recognized the identical design shortcomings. Ben additionally shared that for a number of years he had been designing and constructing his personal boat options in his yard.
“By the point I met him in 2015, Ben had already had a couple of prototypes constructed, examined, and raced. He had received races in them–primarily lengthy distance races just like the 20 mile New England legend Blackburn Problem. Ben had received his division three years in a row in a NEXT prototype at that time, and continues to win in NEXT manufacturing boats and prototypes as not too long ago as final yr. He was fixing his personal ache with these boats. Ben and I made the choice to construct a greater mousetrap collectively.”
Ben’s motivation was easy: “With a demanding set of necessities for what I needed in a ship, I couldn’t discover something available on the market that suited me. So I began constructing the boats that I dreamed of.”
Ben rows year-round in an offshore reef break for enjoyable and health, and the all-conditions NEXT boats replicate that breeding. Dennis notes that, in distinction, most present coastal boats are made by firms focusing on flatwater boats designed for straight-line efficiency on flat water. As a consequence, “different coastal boats don’t carry out nicely in true coastal situations that may embrace every little thing from harbor chop to breaking surf, swells, cross winds, you title it,”
Dennis explains.
With Ben’s expertise, recent eyes and a “clean slate” strategy, Ben and Dennis went to work. “We threw out every little thing that everyone else was doing on this house and simply stated, let’s begin with a clean sheet of paper.” They utilized Ben’s battle-tested coastal-specific hull design, and constructed the primary NEXT Boatworks mannequin, The Prophet. “We designed it the way in which we thought it must be, given the foundations in place for this class of boat ruled by world rowing.”
So far, forty-five Prophets have been offered, however with a $12,500 price ticket reflecting the bespoke construct, Ben and Dennis set to work on their subsequent design that shall be dropped at market at a extra accessible worth. The result’s the NEXT Treatment, already efficiently prototyped, and scheduled for abroad manufacturing in 2024Q1. This primary composite model is deliberate to hold a really aggressive sub-$6,000 worth. And Ben and Dennis plan to supply a rotomolded model of the Treatment as nicely, meant for the sub-$4,000 entry-level market.
Technical Imperatives
Dennis and Ben aimed to handle a prevalent concern of leaking in coastal boats when designing the Prophet. Not like opponents’ boats which will stay leak-free for a restricted time, the Prophet affords a long-lasting answer to leakage.
Moreover, NEXT Boatworks mannequin includes a novel fin idea for simple removing, stopping breakage on the seashore. The tapered stern, additionally distinctive to the Prophet, appeals to all rowers by lowering wetted floor space and turbulence, and offering enhanced glide. The boat’s distinctive design, together with facet drains, additionally permits for higher dealing with in open water, coastal situations with improved browsing management.
With the announcement of the 2028 Olympic Seaside Dash occasion, NEXT Boatworks anticipates elevated demand, emphasizing the Prophet’s velocity, surf-handling capacity, and stability, making it a game-changer for each racers and leisure customers looking for a enjoyable and secure expertise.
The Rowing Revolution
Dennis and Ben’s imaginative and prescient goes past making a coastal boat made for aggressive athletes. They see a world the place rowing evolves very similar to mountain biking. “For some time, it was only a bunch of untamed riders in California on trails.” It started with a modified highway bike with greater tires and garage-built suspension. Now, there are such a lot of bike diversifications for every type of experiences, terrain, and worth factors, that folks of all ages and talents are collaborating in mountain biking.
Dennis and Ben see that very same evolution occurring in rowing. “We envision a world the place individuals of all ranges are utilizing our watercraft for rowing. Whether or not it’s leisure customers of all ages, highschool rowers competing in coastal dash occasions, or the Olympic athletes that shall be competing in 2028.”
And Dennis, Ben and NEXT Boatworks are main that cost by designing boats which can be approachable and permit individuals to row anyplace, anytime. “The very fact is, NEXT Boatworks crafts are going to be extra accessible; they may finally outsell skinny flatwater boats, and be usable by individuals of all skills.”
Dennis provides, “If coastal rowing is to flatwater rowing in the identical approach mountain biking is to highway biking, then our development has no bounds. The innovation, segmentation, and development in MTB has been phenomenal. In truth, globally, non-road bikes now outsell highway bikes! Ben and I’ve the identical imaginative and prescient for rowing: we’re simply now scratching the floor of what’s doable.”
