VERMONT : A LOVE STORY
Not long after I moved to Vermont , I began to realize what being in Vermont meant .
Not just cows and quiet , syrup and lots of trees , but an embrace of community . And accessibility . I could ask a neighbor for a jump start on my snow-covered car . I could call the Governor and ask for advice . I had a cocoon of help and support and kindness .
As we considered this series - about people who thrive , grow and succeed in Vermont - we knew the stories are not just about business or money , but a love story . The interweaving of a person with an idea , a mission , and how Vermont plays such a vital role in the process .
Rowing has a mystique , a grace . It is also a healthy , bucolic way to cross the water . Rowing grows in popularity every year - on lakes , rivers , ponds and even oceans . And indoor rowing machines are used as a measurable fitness tool in gyms everywhere .
Almost guaranteed , every rower knows the name Concept2 .
Why ? Because Concept2 oars are the oar of choice , and the company ’ s indoor rowing machines are the gold standard .
And where are they made ? Vermont .
The Start
Concept2 began in 1976 when Dick and Peter Dreissigacker ( brothers and rowers ) - fresh from Olympic training - started making composite racing oars .
They loved rowing , and as engineers studying at Stanford , identified a need and a challenge : Can we make oars lighter ? Can we make crews faster ?
They decided to take on the twelve-foot long traditional wooden oar and use their skills to bring technology into the mix . Using carbon fiber and fiberglass in their kitchen , the brothers developed the first viable , affordable composite racing oar . The use of composite material technology had not yet been applied to oars ( or at least not successfully ). Wooden oars weighed about 15 pounds , their new oar was light-weight ( about 5 pounds ) and durable .
— Margot Zalkind
14 VERMONT MAGAZINE