Best of the Beach Sports 2024
Neighborhood Gym
Beach Life Fitness Boutique
If you were going to try and concoct the perfect neighborhood gym for women at all stages of life, it would be high nigh impossible to come up with a better combination of attributes than Beach Life Fitness Boutique. It all starts with the gyms’ founder and lead instructor, Danielle Spangler. She obtained her B.S. in Kinesiology and did master’s work in Exercise Physiology with an emphasis in pre- postnatal fitness at the University of North Texas. She worked as a trainer for three decades in several big box fitness gyms, at high-end resorts in the Caribbean and Mexico, and at the Beach Cities Health District, accumulating the experience and knowledge that coalesced into a vision. She realized that in the very crowded field of fitness operations, something was missing.
“There is a lack of fitness programming that’s specific to pregnant women and new mothers, to help them have a healthy pregnancy and prepare for delivery but also recover from pregnancy and delivery,” Spangler said.
Thus was born Beach Moms Fitness (formerly known as CoreMoms), a program designed by Spangler. She is a mother of three herself, and so Beach Moms thoughtfully covers every aspect of how to maintain your health before, during, and after pregnancy. And once the baby has arrived, there are even small group classes in which moms bring their babies.
“We have this specialized programming for women which has been very successful,” Spangler said. “I’ve personally trained hundreds of women in the South Bay in this program and in this method, and it’s really made a difference for them.”
That was the foundation for Beach Life Fitness Boutique, which is also a Pilates studio. Spangler has since broadened the gym’s capacities for meeting the differing needs of women.
“We have also expanded to really working with menopausal women,” she said. “So we’ve come full circle, because most of my peers are at that age where they’re almost empty nesters, or they are empty nesters now. It’s similar to the way that you would approach fitness in the pre- and postnatal phases, when women have a lot of similar issues, with pelvic floor dysfunction, weaker muscles, especially in their core, lower back problems — all related again to hormones and the aging process. We work with women from all phases of life.”
And when Spangler says “we,” she means her team of instructors as well as the always expanding community within Beach Life Fitness Boutique, where a whole little universe of small businesses now coexists, offering everything from a physical therapist, a Rolfing therapist, an esthetician, an Endermologie specialist, a woman who conducts sound baths, another fitness studio-within-a-studio called Shine, and even a Jazzercise instructor. Several of the smaller businesses struggled to survive during the pandemic, and Spangler welcomed them into Beach Life.
“We have a huge umbrella,” Spangler said. “I’ve been in the fitness industry since the early 90s, and one thing that I always love is not only helping people feel better, but also helping connect to them.”
Beach Life Fitness even helps connect dogs and their people by way of a “Puppies and Pilates class” that helps out a local rescue operation called Rover’s Retreat. “It’s better than goat yoga,” Spangler said.
Spangler has even taken over the space next door and turned it into a vegetarian restaurant called Pura Vita. Her business may have won Best Neighborhood Gym, but what she’s created is a vibrant, growing community.
“I want everyone to feel included, so that’s the kind of vibe that we try to give,” she said. “We also have a mantra, ‘Fitness that feels good,’ because I think that that’s another disservice in the fitness industry — that we’ve made people feel like no pain, no gain, and that they’re not getting results if they are not uncomfortable. That’s completely the opposite of where I come from as a fitness professional, and where my staff comes from. We want people to feel good. We want them to feel strong. We’re not going to talk about weight loss and being skinny. We’re talking about being strong and healthy.”
308 ½ S. Catalina Ave.
Redondo Beach
(310) 890-7216
Personal trainer Lou Sidella, owner of Body One Fitness in Redondo Beach. Photo by Chelsea Sektnan
Personal Trainer
Lou Sidella
Lou Sidella knows some hard truths. People enlist the help of a personal trainer because they seek change, and there are few trainers who have helped more people change their lives by transforming their bodies than Sidella, who owns and operates his own gym, Body One Fitness in Redondo Beach. But Sidella is upfront: that change will not come easy, or quickly. He knows this from personal experience. Sidella was overweight and out of shape for most of the early years of his life.
“I’ve gone through so many of the struggles that these people are going through now, and I try to tell everyone, ‘This is a marathon, not a sprint,’” Sidella said. “From my experience, the slower you make the changes, the longer it’s going to stay with you. I let people know that when they come in the door, whatever their goal is, it’s a process. You can’t expect to walk in the door and then in 6 or 12 weeks, you have a brand new body and you’re going to be pounding your chest out on the beach this summer. You know, there are some, some trainers, they go for a run and they’re under 10% body fat. I was just the opposite growing up. I was a fat kid and I made lifestyle changes to get where I am, and that’s become my lifestyle for the last almost 30 years.”
What Sidella learned was that he had to hold himself accountable not just for doing his workouts but also for his lifestyle.
“I try to tell people also, ‘Hey, you’re only in here one hour a day. You’ve got 23 other hours in the day to hold yourself accountable. And I’m not standing right next to you pushing you.’ So if you want the ultimate results from what you’re putting in the gym, you’ve got to put in work outside the gym as well.”
The good news is that it’s not that complicated, and it is very doable. The slogan this year at Body One Fitness is “Effort equals results.” Sidella has seen this truth in his own life and in the lives of hundreds of people he has worked with. “If you put in the effort, you will get the results,” he said. “So if you want to make changes, just put in the effort.”
Sidella is also the rare personal trainer who has been able to translate his one-on-one skills into operating his own gym, training other trainers, and designing and leading group classes. A testament to his effectiveness in this role was the legendarily dogged crew who kept with Body One through the pandemic, doing their group workouts in the parking lot. Sidella’s commitment was such that he moved workouts earlier and earlier, in order to better stagger the groups and keep them small enough, to the point that the earliest began at 4:45 a.m. And it’s a testament to the commitment of the community that has formed at the gym that after the pandemic, they asked to keep the 4:45 a.m. start time.
“I can easily coach those classes, no problem,” Sidella said. “I don’t know if I can put in the effort that they put in that early, man. It’s crazy. I mean, they probably aren’t awake enough yet to realize what the hell they’re doing.”
Body One Fitness
201 Herondo St.
Redondo Beach
(310) 807-2737
The Bay Club in King Harbor, Redondo Beach. Photo by Chelsea Sektnan
Athletic Club
Bay Club
In a world of cookie cutter athletic clubs, Bay Club has taken the exact opposite approach. What started as a single club known for its unusual combination of state-of-the-art equipment, great staff, gorgeous surroundings, and impeccable attention to details has since grown into a regional powerhouse. Each Bay Club facility pulls off the trick of retaining these high-end qualities while being utterly unique. The three clubs in the Beach Cities are each iconic in their own way. In Redondo, the Bay Club is a little smaller but right in the heart of King Harbor marina; in El Segundo, Bay Club has a sprawling facility in the heart of the Rosecrans commercial corridor; and just down the street, in Manhattan Beach, the fabled Manhattan Beach Country Club is now a Bay Club.
“The great thing about our clubs is that we have what’s called a campus model,” said Annie Batista, Bay Club executive vice president. “And so our clubs in LA, they’re all very different. You’ve got the club in Redondo Beach, which is a little more casual, with the outdoor jacuzzi and outdoor workout space. And then you come four miles north to our El Segundo club, you’ve got full fitness classes, a café, a full basketball court and a half basketball court. You’ve got your adult pool for laps. We have an amazing child care program. We take babies at six weeks old so that mothers can work out and we go all the way up to 12 years old. We do swim lessons for babies and for children. We have five group exercise studios. There is a workstation. People come and spend the entire day here. They hang out with their friends. Then, a four minute drive away, you’ve got a full on Country Club in the middle of Manhattan Beach with 15 tennis courts. pickleball courts, dining, an outdoor pool. And it’s just very family-oriented.”
What the clubs have in common is that you can walk into any of them in a weary mood and walk out feeling revived. Everything is top of the line, from the soaps to the coffee to the trainers, yoga teachers, and workout equipment. The ultimate testament to what Bay Clubs offer is that once someone becomes a member, they remain a member. The Redondo club, which has gone through several previous iterations, has become a community unto itself.
“We’ve got members here who’ve been here for almost 40 years, and they’re still here, and they’re still happy to be here,” Batista said. “They just keep coming back. You see the same members every single day. And some of my housekeepers have also been here 30 years. It’s just an incredible thing. I hope it means we are doing a good job.”
Bay Club
2250 Park Pl.
El Segundo
(310) 643-6878
819 N. Harbor Dr.
Redondo Beach
(310) 376-9443
2250 Park Pl.
El Segundo
(310) 643-6878
1330 Parkview Ave.
Manhattan Beach
(310) 546-5656
Lisa Hirsh-Solomon and her team at The Studio (MDR). Photo courtesy of The Studio (MDR)
Pilates
The Studio (MDR)
Lisa Hirsch-Solomon reached the top of a world in which, historically, few women ascend. She was a music industry executive for Virgin Records, Sirius Satellite Radio, Universal Records, and JB Talent, and while she never lost her love for it, Hirsh-Solomon found something she loved even more –the Lagree Method, a total body workout that shares some of the principles of Pilates but adds bodybuilding training techniques and intense cardio exercises to create what has frequently been called a revolutionary fitness program. Hirsch-Solomon had always been deeply into fitness, but when she found the Lagree Method, she found her calling. She opened The Studio (MDR) in Marina Del Rey in 2011, and it was so popular, it expanded to become a small, boutique chain –two locations in Culver City, one in Playa Vista, and finally, on Rosecrans in Manhattan Beach. Each location features state-of-the-art Megaformers, the amped-up reformers specific to the Lagree Method, which allow both a wider range of motion and exercises. But the real formula for success, Hirsh-Solomon said, is about a lot more than the machines.
“We believe our atmosphere is what truly sets us apart,” she said. “Our studios offer a unique experience for every individual, whether they’re a beginner or an expert. Our workouts are powerful yet low-impact, providing a transformational experience without the pounding of traditional workouts. From day one, our goal has been to create a peaceful haven where people can make positive changes in their lives comfortably. We keep our class sizes small to ensure clients receive personalized attention in a group setting.”
Hirsh-Solomon also emphasized a commitment to customer service and to employ the very best instructors. The ultimate commitment at Studio (MDR), she said, is to positively change lives.
“The stories of transformation we hear are endless – from weight loss to improved mental health, from cancer patients finding safety in our studios to pregnant women staying healthy and active,” she said. “Athletes also find our workouts beneficial for core intensity and full-body conditioning. Most importantly, our studios are inclusive and welcoming to everyone under fantastic hot pink ceilings!”
1590 Rosecrans Ave. Ste. J
Manhattan Beach
(310) 593-4323
Yoga Studio
CorePower Yoga
CorePower Yoga is the biggest corporate yoga chain in the world, with 224 locations in the United States, including studios in Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, and Manhattan Beach. The company was started by Colorado mountain climber Trevor Trice, who discovered yoga when recovering from a climbing accident and developed an approach that stressed mainstream accessibility. His aim was to make CorePower “the Starbucks of Yoga,” and though he passed away in 2016, the trajectory of the company continues upward. CorePower offers a range of classes, from restorative to traditional flow to heated to superheated, in state-of-the-art facilities with impeccable vibes and experienced instructors. “It’s this juxtaposition of a really unique, kickass physical workout and the mindfulness of yoga – intensity with intention,” the company’s former marketing chief Tess Roering told ColoradoBiz magazine. “It’s easy to say, ‘Oh, that’s a chain and that’s bad.’ I think once people get into this brand, they have consistent experiences, and yet there’s also a local community feel in each studio.”
CorePower Yoga
1559 Pacific Coast Hwy.
Hermosa Beach
(866) 441-9642
corepoweryoga.com/yoga-studios/ca/los-angeles/hermosa-beach
Surf shop
Skateboard shop
ET Surf
Matt Warshaw, the dean of surf historians and a one-time ET Surf shop rat, has said that his former employer does something very few surf shops manage to, and does it extremely well: treat customers and employees with respect. With almost five decades of history in the South Bay, ET Surf is a long-tenured business in an industry pushed and pulled by short-term trends. (Remember neon wetsuits?) Founder Eddie Talbot opened the shop with shaper Pat Ryan amid the chaos wrought in the board building industry by the rise of the short board, but has managed to weather every trend by sticking to its roots. When ET celebrated its 45th Anniversary in 2017, local legends like Chris Frohoff and Derek Levy were quick to weigh in and call the Aviation Boulevard shop their go-to choice for equipment.
The shop relies on a stable of long-tenured employees. Manager Dan Connell is a former Big Wave challenge winner. In the four-wheel department, long-tenured skate manager Kevin “Worm” Anderson boast decades of stories and scars. Walk in, and you’ll see gear and clothing spread out before you; dozens of decks line the back wall, and cashiers stay disciplined by wrapping grip tape when they aren’t helping a customer. Upstairs, a vast assortment of boards await the curious customer, from high-performance blades to forgiving mid-lengths. It can be dizzying to the newcomer, but take heart: some of the best surfers and skaters in the area are there to be your guide.
E.T. Surf
904 Aviation Blvd.
Hermosa Beach
(310) 379-7660
Dive N’ Surf general manager Chris Kelly (left) with crew Chris Michael Beverly, Celeste Magyar, Leila Butler, and Brooke AdamsGrenier. Photo by Chelsea Sektnan
Dive Shop
Dive N’ Surf
Dive N’ Surf goes a step beyond offering gear that helps people connect with the ocean, store manager Chris Kelly said.
Along with dive gear, it offers dive lessons, dive trips, supports a dive team, and hosts dive events, including underwater cleanups in King Harbor, and an annual underwater Easter Egg Hunt, which will be held this year on March 26, at Veteran’s Park.
In addition to selling surfboards, it supports the South Bay Boardriders Club, which hosts contests for surfers of all ages.
The shop also supports ocean mentoring programs for kids and adults, such Ocean Fever, founded by local swim coach Romina Caristo. And it supports veterans through Wounded Heroes of America, funded by local Realtor Mike Talleda.
“We live next to the best source of fun and health in Los Angeles. We want people to be able to enjoy it,” Kelly said.
Shortly before the pandemic, Dive N’ Surf built a new indoor pool to teach scuba diving. Since then scuba has seen a spurt in popularity. Kelly attributes the growth not just to people emerging from the pandemic, but to diving growing exposure through films and commercials. Film productions regularly call him to book time in their training pool.
New dive gear is making diving easier, he said. Streamlined regulators, and BCDs (Buoyancy Compensator Devices) make you feel more like a fish, and less like a whale, Kelly said.
Another cool product, he said, is the new Garmin dive watch.
“It not only tells you the pressure in your tank, and your heart rate. It tells you how many yards to the next hole on the golf course. It’s an all-in-one adventure watch,” Kellys said.
Dive N’ Surf
504 N Broadway
Redondo Beach
(310) 372-8423