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With confidence and vigor, Ellie Gardill commands a spin class in her brand new space, the Sound Side Studio in Duck located above Beach Treasures in Wee Winks Square.

While nine of her friends and family members find their rhythm, Gardill uses her voice and personality to lead the way.

“Up, down, up, down,” Gardill instructs from her own spin bike facing the group head on.

Everyone is pedaling hard to keep up with the brisk pace of upbeat remix music and her loud, clear commands.

“Up, down, up, down,” Gardill belts out.

After a while, they close out the session and move on to another exercise format – Pilates. She also offers yoga and boxing with weights called BXR.

The group fills the well-lighted, carpeted space and hits their yoga mats after stowing the spin bikes in the adjacent storage room.

Gardill acknowledges that the rectangular space is a bit on the small side but said she hopes to add square footage in the future where the storage area is located now.

Given the new venture just got underway this fall, she’s thrilled to have 20 to 30 regular customers already. During the season, the 23-year-old plans to use social media, flyers and her Duck business contacts to get the word out.

In addition to Gardill and her infectious positive vibes, another outstanding aspect of this second-floor studio is the location’s view.

Four large windows and a half glass door frame the vista of Currituck Sound, a wide expanse of water due west. In addition, the stairs leading to the studio are adjacent to the Duck Boardwalk, she noted.

So when this stellar opportunity knocked, Gardill answered.

“I had always said, ‘One day, I want to open a fitness studio or gym,'” she said. “I just didn’t think it would be now.

“My parents figured it out and said, ‘Make it yours,” Gardill said. “It’s always been a dream of mine to open a gym.”

And why wait? Her parents, Greg and D.A., said “Go for it!”

Ellie agreed.

“There’s no better time than the present – let’s do it!” she said.

During the recent class, her brother Nick and sister Carly were on hand. Back in the fall, all three of them plus their brother Danny completed the 2024 summer season working for Mirek Dabrowski and his Duck Surf Rescue team. They cover 10 miles of beaches from Kitty Hawk Pier north to the Currituck County line.

In fact, all nine of the athletes in this fitness session worked for Duck Surf Rescue last summer when Ellie served as the captain, second in command to Dabrowski.

“I love it,” she said. “I still help with springtime training, recruitment and social media, it’s hard to fully step away.”

She thanked Dabrowski for serving as a great mentor and friend for the past seven years. “Mirek has done a lot for me and my family,” Ellie said.

But now that her East Carolina University (ECU) college days are behind her, the pursuit of this niche market venture at Sound Side Studio makes so much sense.

It allows her to pursue her love of teaching group fitness classes and personal training.

With numerous training certifications and two years leading group exercises at the East Carolina Campus Recreation and Wellness Center, the 2023 ECU graduate is well equipped for the challenge.

In fact, she’s been preparing all her life. During her junior and senior years at First Flight High School in Kill Devil Hills, she took classes in athletic training. Once her Nighthawks swim team and lacrosse careers concluded upon graduation, Ellie knew she wanted to stay fit, but how?

“I wanted to find a way to enjoy exercise, just not in a game,” she said. “I learned to love group fitness – it’s almost like a dance party!”

So what exactly is BXR?

“This is your new favorite workout,” Ellie said. “BXR is a 45-minute group fitness class that combines kickboxing techniques and rhythm-based movements to create a powerful movement experience where you are in the center of the ring.

“This high-energy class is designed for people of all fitness levels ready to sweat, smile and celebrate the power they embody,” she explains on her website soundsidestudioobx.com.

Ellie majored in health fitness in the Health and Human Performance Department. She’s currently pursuing her master’s degree online in public health. Ellie also had a mentor at ECU. She credits Kate Freed as another important figure in her life.

Freed has also launched her own fitness business, MVMNT – a growth-centered community where fitness and nutrition coaching meets continuing education.

In addition to health, fitness and serving the public as surf rescue lifeguards, Ellie and her family have had positive impacts on the First Flight lacrosse program.

Ellie joined the First Flight girls’ team as a junior in 2017 and played for two years. Nick, who left for an Army enlistment earlier this month, was a standout for the Nighthawks’ men’s team.

Carly currently plays for Bridgewater (Va.) College and her younger brother Danny will begin his junior year on the Nighthawks team next month where dad Greg has been a volunteer coach for several years.

And don’t forget mom D.A. – she runs the “P.A.” or public address system and scoreboard from the press box for home ’Hawks matches. Her day job is also located in Duck and the Gardill family resides in Southern Shores.

Sound Side Studio’s address is 1216 Duck Road.

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