It is a major boost for the team with the sport set to make its Paralympic debut at the Rio 2016 Games after being voted onto the sports programme by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Governing Board last year.

The deal also means that GB Canoeing will be able to use the revolutionary new Fluid UBE920 upper body ergometer machines provided by Health Clubs at Home both for their top athletes to train on and for talent ID days to help identify future elite stars in the sport.

The First Degree Fitness machines create variable fluid resistance, using water, giving fingertip control of resistance from 'feather light' to 'Olympic sprint' and it will therefore enable GB Canoeing to test athletes at all levels at the talent ID events.

Another main benefit of the UBE920 is that it can be adapted for wheelchair users to achieve their upmost potential and accurately assess whether they have the ability to become a future Paralympic champion.

GB Canoeing Paracanoe programme manager Steve Harris admitted that he is excited about the partnership, particularly as the UBE920 is one of the few machines in the world that can currently provide a good cardio workout for wheelchair users.

"We are delighted to be able to use first class equipment that will help enable our athletes to get the very best from their training," said Harris.

"The Fluid UBE920 upper body machines provide excellent strength and conditioning benefits and we are proud to be working with one of Europe's largest independent fitness suppliers."


It is hoped that the UBE920 fluid rowers will produce more British elite Paracanoeists like Pat Mahoney (pictured).

Mahoney was recently named the 2011 International Canoe Federation (ICF) Paracanoeist of the Year after becoming the first GB Paracanoe world champion in the men's V1 200 metre LTA race.

"We are delighted to support GB Canoeing by supplying equipment for the Paracanoeing training and talent days," said Health Clubs at Home's managing director Howard Braband.

"The Fluid UBE920 is a superb machine and will really ensure the athletes are put through their paces"

The UBE920 is part of a range of machines manufactured by Australian based First Degree Fitness.

The fluid technology, with its two chamber tank, offers a huge variation of the resistance range by varying the volume of water against the effort put in, and provides the most consistent linear resistance system available to make First Degree Fitness rowers and ergometers the closest experience to on-the-water rowing.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]