Participants to hang 10 in Surfset class

EAST COUNTY — Until a month ago, Carrie Wicks had never surfed. But by the end of February, the Lakewood Ranch YMCA instructor plans to teach others to get fit through surfing — without the chance of a sunburn.

Wicks still has yet to ride the waves in an ocean. Instead, she started surfing in an air-conditioned studio inside the East County fitness facility.

In February, Wicks plans to launch a new 45-minute class called Surfset.

“This type of exercise makes the regular routine not so monotonous,” Wicks said. “This is actually fun and works the smaller muscle groups in your body — like surfing does.”

The idea of using a surfboard to perform cardio, balance and strength training exercises gained momentum when founder Mike Hartwick pitched Surfset on season four of ABC’s “Shark Tank.”

Hartwick was a professional hockey player who enjoyed surfing during the off-season. Performing exercises on the surfboard, while also keeping the board stable, targets smaller groups of muscles mostly in the stomach and legs.

To get the benefits of the surfing workout — lean muscle and a toned body — she created Surfset.

“People using the boards have to work to keep them stable, just like in surfing,” Wicks said.

To gauge community interest, Wicks hosted two demonstrations of the course this month, which each attracted 20 to 30 participants.

“People laughed and fell off their surfboards,” Wicks said. “They really enjoyed the class.”

The East County YMCA’s Facebook page got a spike in online traffic after members posted photos of a Surfset class, Wicks said. Now, more Facebook users are “liking” and commenting on the East County YMCA’s page than ever.

East County residents, such as Donna Puhalovich, are interested in diving in to the unique exercise routine.

Puhalovich said she’s excited to break up her regular workout routine.

She remembers watching Hartwick pitch the concept on “Shark Tank” but thought the surfboards were too expensive to purchase.

But, now that the international concept is coming to her local workout center, all she wants to know is where to sign up.

“It seems like an idea that gets you to think about other things instead of just working out,” Puhalovich said. “This a different idea.”

Contact Amanda Sebastiano at [email protected].

MAKING A SPLASH
Surfset classes will be free for YMCA members, and nonmembers can purchase a day pass for $12, which includes access to the swimming pool, saunas, gym equipment and classes.
The new course will offer four types of classes: balance, build, cardio and blend. Balance classes focus on yoga positions; build classes utilize resistance bands for strength training; cardio classes burn fat; and blend courses combine strength training and cardio workouts.
To provide a “wobbly” feeling a surfer feels while in the water, three balls are attached underneath the surfboard. Each ball is partially filled with air, which makes the board unstable.
For more information on local Surfset classes, call Carrie Wicks at the Lakewood Ranch YMCA — 798-9622, Ext. 331.

The Lakewood YMCA will likely host three of the surfing-inspired classes per week inside of Studio A, the largest classroom at the local branch beginning in late February.
But, the boards aren’t just resting on the cold floors inside the YMCA.
Participants will perform basic exercises, such as pushups or yoga poses, while maintaining balance on the lightweight, true-to-size surfboards.