Catching Waves in the Concrete Jungle: My SURFSET NYC Experience

In the heart of Manhattan, I embarked on an unexpected adventure that transported me to the ocean without ever leaving the city. Standing on the rooftop of Margaritaville Resort Times Square, I found myself wobbling on a custom balance board designed to simulate surfing – catching waves while surrounded by skyscrapers instead of seagulls. After an hour of pop-ups, duck dives, and numerous wipeouts, my muscles were screaming for mercy, but my heart was full of joy. The unique experience of “surfing” in Midtown left such an impression that a week later, I still couldn’t stop thinking about how much fun it was to hang ten amidst the urban landscape.

SURFSET NYC, founded by husband-and-wife team Aaron Thouvenin and Diana Garrett, has been bringing the surf experience to New Yorkers since 2014. As dedicated surfers themselves, they recognized that surfing provides an exceptional full-body workout that builds strength, stability, and body awareness. “We wanted to bring our favorite parts of the sport of surfing to land with creative workouts that are equal parts challenging and fun,” Garrett explained. Their vision has materialized into year-round classes at their East Village studio, plus special retreats to New Jersey’s indoor surf wave park and Long Island beaches for those ready to transition their skills to actual water. Until the end of October, they offer their signature “Surf & Shore” workout at Margaritaville – complimentary for hotel guests and available to the public for $32. These interval-based classes incorporate elements of strength training, Pilates, yoga, and athletic conditioning in a functional, accessible format.

My session began in front of Margaritaville’s appropriately named “Chill Bar,” where master trainer Thouvenin invited us to mount our boards – a challenge easier described than accomplished. The moment I stepped onto the Rip Surfer X – a six-foot board balanced on three shifting stability balls – my legs transformed into jelly, and I tumbled off almost immediately. Thouvenin offered a simple but effective tip: stop looking down at the board and instead focus on a fixed point ahead. Miraculously, this worked. I found my balance, as did my fellow classmates, though simply standing on the unstable surface was enough to break a sweat. Just as I was congratulating myself on this small victory, I remembered this wasn’t merely a balancing exercise – it was a full workout that required movement.

Soon we were performing lunges, crunches, and squats on our unstable platforms, with every muscle in my body firing just to prevent a face-plant. The classic “pop-up” move proved particularly challenging – starting flat on your stomach, paddling with extended arms, then quickly pushing up and jumping into a crouch before rising to your feet, all while the board shifted beneath you. This fundamental surfing technique doubles as an excellent full-body exercise, strengthening the chest, shoulders, arms, and core while improving coordination, balance, and flexibility. We then moved to duck dives, mimicking how surfers dip under oncoming waves by paddling hard, lifting our upper bodies, arching our backs, and raising our hips before lowering back down. By the time we transitioned to similar exercises on stable mats, I was breathless and drenched in sweat, watching with admiration as returning students demonstrated advanced moves that made my earlier achievements seem modest by comparison.

The second half of class involved a circuit of floor exercises including mountain climbers, cross-body crunches, and lateral jumps. When the foghorn finally signaled the end of our session, I was completely soaked, with muscles I didn’t know existed screaming in protest. Yet I couldn’t wipe the smile from my face. I had just completed one of the most challenging workouts of my life, and though I knew I’d feel it for days afterward, I also realized I might actually have what it takes to tackle real waves someday. “Surfing is a lifelong sport that you can start at any time,” Garrett encouraged. “If you would like to learn to surf, the best way to prepare is to take a SURFSET NYC class.”

Thouvenin’s three-part mission for every class resonated deeply with my experience: have fun, learn something, and sweat. I undoubtedly accomplished all three objectives, discovering a new form of exercise that challenged my body while lifting my spirits. As Garrett wisely noted, “Surfing combines movement with happiness. Finding joy and community in fitness is one of the most valuable things you can do to support your overall well-being.” Standing on that rooftop in Times Square, miles from the nearest ocean but somehow feeling connected to the surfing lifestyle, I understood exactly what she meant. In a city known for its relentless pace and concrete confines, SURFSET NYC offers a refreshing escape – a chance to catch a different kind of wave, one that carries you not just across water, but toward better health, newfound confidence, and pure, unadulterated fun.