SkiErg pace calculator

Understanding SkiErg pace and watts

Concept2's PM5 monitor reports pace as a split — time per 500 metres — rather than power directly, but every split corresponds to an exact wattage via a fixed, publicly documented formula (power scales with the cube of speed), the same one used on the RowErg. This calculator applies that formula so you can quickly convert between the two, compare effort levels, and see what a target split works out to for a 2K test, 5K piece, or any other distance.

Enter your /500m split and a distance to see the resulting power output, Calories/hour, projected finish times across common piece lengths, and cumulative splits for pacing a longer ski.

Training on more than one erg? RowErg pace calculator and BikeErg pace calculator use the same PM5 watts formula, so your effort translates directly across machines.

Frequently asked questions

How do I convert SkiErg pace to watts?

Enter your /500m split (e.g. 2:00) and the calculator applies Concept2's official PM5 power formula: watts = 2.8 / (split seconds per metre)³ — the exact same formula and base distance used for the RowErg. A 2:00/500m split (0.24 s/m) works out to roughly 202 watts.

What is a good SkiErg pace?

It depends on piece length and experience. For a 2000m test, most reasonably active people can break 8:00 fairly comfortably; breaking 7:00 (splits under 1:45/500m) is a more satisfying recreational milestone, while advanced/competitive club-level skiers typically fall in the 6:15–6:45 range (roughly 1:34–1:41/500m). For reference, Concept2's official 2000m world records are 6:02.4 for men (Phil Clapp, GBR, 2018) and 6:58.9 for women (Kate Hilliard, AUS, 2021) — averaging roughly 1:30.6/500m and 1:44.7/500m respectively (see Concept2's official records page).

How does the calculator estimate Calories per hour?

It uses the same formula Concept2's PM5 monitor displays on-screen: a 300 Cal/h baseline at 0 watts, plus roughly 4 Cal/h for every extra watt, then adjusted for a 175 lb (79.4 kg) reference bodyweight. Actual calorie burn varies with your own body weight and efficiency.

Is SkiErg pace the same as RowErg pace for the same effort?

Mathematically, yes — the SkiErg's /500m split uses the exact same Concept2 PM5 power formula and base distance as the RowErg, so a given split converts to identical watts on both machines. In practice, most athletes post slower SkiErg splits than RowErg splits at the same perceived effort, since the SkiErg relies more on upper-body and core power and doesn't drive the flywheel with the legs the way rowing does.