ROGUE ROWING CLUB’S MASTERS COACH LAUNCHES FITSPAN STUDIOS, WITH FLAGSHIP STUDIO OPENING IN MEDFORD
Few sports combine power, endurance, technique, teamwork, and mental focus quite like rowing. In Southern Oregon, the rowing community has found a home at Rogue Rowing, a nonprofit rowing club located on Emigrant Lake in Ashland. The organization offers opportunities for juniors, masters, veterans, and recreational rowers while fostering a lifelong love of the sport. Rogue Rowing operates from Emigrant Lake, one of Southern Oregon's most beautiful rowing venues and a centerpiece of the region's outdoor recreation community.
At FitSpan Medford, we have a special appreciation for rowing and a deep friendship with the Rogue Rowing Club. Our Chief Fitness Officer, Andy Baxter, has been a longtime member of, and coach at, Rogue Rowing. He has spent decades competing, coaching, and training rowers at the highest levels of the sport. Andy has competed in World Championships, won multiple national championships, participated in the 2008 Olympic Trials, and continues to be actively involved in the rowing community.
For Andy, rowing is more than a sport. It is one of the purest expressions of human performance.
ROWING MAY BE THE MOST COMPLETE SPORT ON EARTH
Ask experienced rowers what they love about rowing and you'll often hear the same answer:
Everything matters.
Rowing demands:
• Leg strength
• Core strength
• Upper body strength
• Cardiovascular endurance
• Balance
• Coordination
• Timing
• Mental toughness
Unlike many activities that emphasize one system, rowing challenges nearly every major physiological system simultaneously. That is one reason rowing has remained a lifelong pursuit for so many athletes.
Andy Baxter explains:
“Rowing rewards efficiency. The strongest athlete doesn't always win. The athlete who can generate power efficiently and sustain it repeatedly is often the one who succeeds. That philosophy heavily influenced how we designed the FitSpan Protocol.”
THE CHALLENGE OF AGING AS AN ATHLETE
Many rowers remain active well into their 60s, 70s, and beyond.
But aging presents challenges.
Recovery takes longer.
Mobility decreases.
Power declines.
Joint discomfort becomes more common.
The goal shifts from simply maximizing performance to maintaining the ability to continue participating.
At FitSpan, under Andy Baxter’s leadership, we believe this is where intelligent training becomes essential.
INTRODUCING THE FITSPAN PROTOCOL
The FitSpan Protocol, developed personally by Andy Baxter, is a coach-led, 30-minute circuit utilizing concentric-only, water-resistance equipment.
Unlike traditional strength training, FitSpan eliminates the eccentric phase of movement while maintaining challenging resistance throughout the range of motion.
The result is a workout designed to maximize adaptation while minimizing wear and tear.
More Benefits. Less Risk.
WHY ROWERS APPRECIATE FITSPAN
FitSpan provides a full body workout benefitting from 6 unique pieces of equipment that utilize water resistance tanks to:
Build Power
Every rowing stroke begins with power generated through the legs and transferred through the core.
FitSpan's compound movement patterns help reinforce these qualities.
Improve Endurance
Rowing is one of the most demanding endurance sports in the world.
The interval structure of the FitSpan Protocol develops cardiovascular and muscular endurance simultaneously.
Enhance Recovery
Traditional strength training often leaves athletes sore for days.
Because FitSpan emphasizes concentric-only movement, participants frequently experience less soreness and shorter recovery periods.
Support Longevity
Many rowers want to continue enjoying the sport for decades.
FitSpan helps support the strength, balance, mobility, and resilience necessary to remain active long term.
A PERFECT FIT FOR THE SOUTHERN OREGON LIFESTYLE
The same qualities that make someone a better rower also support many of Southern Oregon's most popular activities:
• Hiking Table Rock
• Skiing Mt. Ashland
• Rafting the Rogue River
• Golfing
• Mountain biking
• Pickleball
• Gardening
• Active travel
At FitSpan, our goal is not to replace these activities. Our goal is to help people enjoy them longer.
THE LESSON ROWING TEACHES US
Perhaps the greatest lesson rowing teaches is consistency.
Improvement does not come from one workout.
It comes from thousands of strokes performed over many years.
Fitness works the same way.
The goal is not a perfect workout.
The goal is creating a body capable of continuing to perform, explore, compete, and enjoy life.
At FitSpan, we believe the purpose of exercise is not to become better at exercise.
The purpose of exercise is to improve life.
For many Southern Oregonians, that means spending more mornings on Emigrant Lake.
And enjoying the sport of rowing for decades to come.