Jack Nunn | Owner | Roworx Fitness
Jul 2020 Shoutout LA
We had the good fortune of connecting with Jack Nunn and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Jack, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Over the past 30 years I’ve been extremely lucky and grateful to have known and been coached some of the best rowing coaches in the world. I’ve taken that knowledge and applied it to my business model of teaching indoor rowing classes with an incredible view overlooking Marine Stadium in Long Beach, the rowing venue of the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games. The idea is simple: teach the general public how to use the indoor rowing machine correctly and effectively to get the most amount of calories burned per hour (all while looking out over the water and sunsets that we have in Long Beach.) Rowing is probably one of the best total body workouts possible because it engages nearly 80-percent of all the muscles in the body during each and every stroke. It’s the most effective cardiovascular workout without the impact.
Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Roworx offers indoor rowing classes taught by experienced US National Team coaches and rowers. We use the Concept 2 rowing machine (used by Olympians and elite rowers) giving our clients a full hour of heart-pumping workouts while taking in amazing views overlooking the water. We are located at a registered California historical landmark (where the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games rowing events took place.) The LA Coliseum and Marine Stadium are the only two venues left from the LA 1932 Olympic Summer Games.
The Roworx indoor rowing program offers a group exercise that’s low-impact, high efficiency, and great for building strength and endurance. Roworx also utilizes interval training with plyometrics, various mat work, stretching, and light dumbbell weights. Our clients span all experience levels, ages and abilities. Anyone can row, but it’s about controlling individual pace and resistance. The ability to control your own resistance allows you to maintain rhythm with the group, while selecting your own difficulty level. I’m most proud of how I’ve been able to stay in business since 2008 while offering our clients new and create ways to train on the indoor rowing machine. Indoor rowing has becoming more popular over the past 10 years as it is a low impact exercise. It can be used as the perfect cross training tool for any recreation or competition sport. My goal is to teach people the best technique possible on the rowing machine while burning the most calories during each one-hour class. I’ve had many challenges over the years as a fitness business owner, but I would say the best thing I did was take things one day and one task at a time. Over the past 10 years I’ve completed 16 full Ironman competitions and one Ultraman triathlon. Doing these events is a constant reminder of how you can accomplish and finish long events and struggles in your everyday life by focusing on priorities, being patient, having a plan, and being very consistent. I would like the world to know that we offer the best indoor rowing class workout experience.
I’ve also had the best coach possible: my father, who won a bronze medal in Rowing in the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. He was also the 1976 Olympic Men’s Rowing coach in Montreal. I was also coached by Mike Teti on the USA National rowing team from 2001-2004. Mike coached the USA rowing team to a gold medal finish at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. When you take a Roworx indoor rowing class, you are in a sense getting Olympic caliber coaching from all the experience I’ve had over the past 30 years in the sport.
Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
Los Angeles is a massive as many people know, but it doesn’t have to feel that way. As a native, I like to take visiting friends to some of my personal favorites and city highlights. Here’s a sample itinerary:
Monday
Tour of Hollywood; Hike Runyon Canyon, or hike to the Hollywood sign; venture to the Hollywood Walk Of Fame; drive through Beverly Hills and Sunset Boulevard; take a drive up the coast and have lunch at Paradise Cove just north of Malibu; and end the day with desert at Duke’s in Malibu.
Tuesday
Take a drive to Palos Verdes and head to Albalone Cove and hike down to the beach to explore nature and tide pools. Don’t miss Wayfarers Chapel (also known as “The “Glass Church.”) It was designed by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s son, Lloyd Wright, and is one of the most beautiful spots on the Peninsula. Next, have a leisurely lunch at Catalina Kitchen or Nelson’s at Terranea Resort.
Wednesday
Grab a beach cruiser and ride along The Strand from Redondo Beach through Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach. Stop for lunch along the way and finish in Venice for people-watching. Make your way to the Santa Monica Pier for a carousel ride, arcade games, and dinner.
Thursday
Explore Long Beach
Take a Roworx indoor rowing class followed by lunch at The Boathouse along the bay in Long Beach. Next, rent a duffy, an electric boat, and explore the canals in Naples. After, take a tour of the Queen Mary or Aquarium of the Pacific.
Friday
Explore Laguna Beach
Have lunch at The Deck in Laguna. After, rent a stand-up paddleboard or walk around the town and peruse local art galleries.
Saturday
Drive to San Diego and explore La Jolla cove to see the sea lions up-close or devote the day to Sea World. At night, check out Fiesta Island. (You might be lucky enough to catch a fireworks display from nearby Sea World.)
Sunday
Downtown Los Angeles. Grab a coffee and explore Row DTLA. For sweeping views of the city and amazing art exhibits, head to the Getty Museum. Make sure to plan ahead and get tickets to a local sporting event at The Staples Center or Dodgers Stadium.
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to dedicate this shout out to my both my parents. They parents are the people I look up to most in life. Throughout my life they have embodied the perfect balance between studies, hard work, ethics, and sports and instilled these values in me. I’m so proud of my father, an Olympian and Olympic rowing coach, and my mother, a former high school teacher, philanthropist, and drug and alcohol counselor. Between raising five children (I’m the youngest), they had their hands full. Throughout my life my parents have inspired me with messages and encouraging stories of what it takes to accomplish goals, and that hard work and persistence pays off every time.
Website: www.roworx.com
Instagram: @roworx_rowing
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacknunn/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/roworx
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/powerhousefitlb
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/roworx-long-beach
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/powerhousefitness
Other: Roworx Blog: https://roworx.com/blog/