Mike Hartwick: Founder & CEO

Mike graduated from Dartmouth College in 2007 & received his MBA in International Finance while playing professional hockey overseas. Mike would train with heavy weights in the gym during hockey season, and run away to the beaches of California to enjoy daily surf sets when the season ended. Mike loved the way his body looked and felt after months of surfing, and he hated having to leave the ocean behind and lose all the conditioning that came from his surf sessions.

“I would quickly bulk up and lose the lean and toned physique that surfing gave me, no other workout could compare. Then it hit me. I’ll design a machine to mimic the workout that I got while surfing. It might not be as awesome as catching real waves, but it will keep me in peak physical condition and I will still see all of the benefits to my body. SURFSET Fitness was born."

Sarah Ponn: Training Director & Brand Manager

Sarah has worked in the fitness industry for 6 years as a personal trainer, group fitness instructor and a nutritional consultant. For Sarah, the key component of any exercise routine is fun. From pilates to adventure racing, she's studied the biomechanics & physiology of many different exercise methods and strongly believes working out should be the best part of your day.

“Surfing is the perfect workout. If you look at it scientifically, it gives you everything you need to get the lean athletic physique that people love. And besides that, its fun! Developing the workout routine for SURFSET Fitness has been amazing. The mix of strength training and cardio on the SURFSET® Board is exactly what you need to build lean muscle and burn fat without bulking up. The versatility and exercise progression will keep you motivated and on track as you keep seeing results.”

Bill Ninteau: Operations & Business Development

As a college athlete, Bill learned the traditional methods of working out, spending long days in the gym to get in shape. When he ended his hockey career to get into the finance world, he started to lose his conditioning and couldn’t find the motivation to work out anymore. He began looking for a way to keep fit that didn’t involve a boring gym routine or a killer hockey workout that would leave him injured.

“Surfing is an awesome way to stay in shape and see full body benefits while having fun. The SURFSET® workout gives me exactly what I’m looking for, an athletic look and cardio conditioning without stressing my joints or old injuries. My goal in designing the SURFSET® Board was to bring the physical challenge of surfing to people looking for a way to look and feel athletic with an extremely effective workout that builds a lean and muscular body type."

Nick Karwoski: Event Marketing & PR 

Nick graduated from Dickinson College in 2010 where he was a 3-time All American in Track and Field. He continued his training after he moved out to Los Angeles to work and run professionally. Constantly searching for new ways to improve his fitness lifestyle, Nick helped the SURFSET® team with their West Coast endeavors before he moved back East to get more involved in developing the company.

“SURFSET® found a way to combine the importance of the core during any strength training session with all the other aspects of true fitness. It’s fun, it brings a surfer's edge to working out, and it elevates my endurance & core strength for running. I think everyone should be able to experience such an awesome sport whether they live near a beach or not, and I'm excited to be on board & help grow the SURFSET® brand."

Mike Nicholson: Strategic Account Manager

Mike graduated from the University of Delaware with a degree in Exercise Physiology and spent his summers lifeguard training, using the ocean as a tool for fitness. He studied as an Athletic Trainer at the 2008 Summer Olympic Beijing games, before moving to NYC to grow his beach-inspired Personal Training programs. He met the SURFSET® Team when they first launched in New York, and was the first certified SURFSET® Trainer.

“During my lifeguarding days I discovered that working out on the beach and in the ocean offers an instability that forces your mind and your body to align, with a strong emphasis on core strength. I brought this to my personal training business and used unstable surfaces that forced my clients to engage the core and stabilizer muscles in functional movements. SURFSET® captures the ability to strengthen the core, build long lean muscle & burn fat with intense cardio intervals effectively & efficiently, and the SURFSET® experience is the coolest way to get in shape.”"

Do you want to get involved? Inquire about career opportunities hey@surfsetfitness.com