Surfing champion Mick Fanning launches FS8 fitness training studio network

Surfing hero Mick Fanning has today launched FS8, described by its owners as a “revolutionary new fitness movement”, at its first location adjacent to the Manly Wharf in the Sydney beachside suburb.

With a location offering a combination of Pilates, yoga and toning exercises, the opening of the first FS8 studio marks what the group says will be a roll out of more than 50 facilities across Australia this year.

As the brand’s ambassador, Fanning, the former three-time world surfing champion, will be opening his own studio in Byron Bay in the coming months.

Introducing FS8, a new venture from F45, Fanning explained “yoga, Pilates and tone is something I’ve used throughout my career. It was something that really helped with strengthening my core and also lengthening muscles while strengthening them.

“People forget you’ve got to stretch, everyone just goes to the gym and lifts weights most of the time, but I find Pilates, yoga and tone are ways to not only work out but for me having scoliosis I just feel straighter after it, which is perfect.”

On its website FS8 said that ‘F’ stands for functional; ‘S’ for style “remixing Pilates yoga and tone in a way that has never been done before”, with ‘8’ representing the eight 8 “key modalities that form the core of FS8”.

Billed as a trailblazer in the "wellness space”, FS8 draws from a library of 2,800 exercises that create a varied full-body workout in a results-based and community-oriented program.

The circuit-based program, undertaken in a 45-minute time frame and the new brand name, FS8, has similarities with F45 but Fanning emphasises that it is more low impact, using stretch and tone movements with rather than using heavy weights and explosive movement.

With FS8 equipment incluing reformer machines and Pilates rings on the circuit along with low weights and bands, Fanning adds “it’s not like going and jumping on a treadmill. It’s more about low impact movement and training.

“For me, it’s about getting strength and length and then also toning up the body.”

Following its Manly launch, FS8 studios are set to open in Port Melbourne, South Yarra, Noosa, and Newstead in Victoria; at Chatswood and the Sydney CBD in NSW and Willetton in Western Australia.

Images show the FS8 concept, with brand ambassador Mick Fanning pictured at the Manly FS8 studio. Credit: FS8.