“Stigs” has had a lifelong passion for fitness. He grew up playing a number of sports and competed at the varsity level in football and wrestling. As captain of his high school wrestling team, Erik led the team to a division championship. He’s dabbled in multiple martial arts disciplines including Wing Chun Kung Fu, Muai Thai, Judo, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Krav Maga, and Law Officers Combat Kinetics Unarmed Panoply (LOCKUP®).

While in college, he continued strength training but his routine left him wanting more. He was introduced to the CrossFit main site and for the next couple of years he cherry picked WODs that he was able to complete in the school gym. After graduating college, he grew bored with his typical gym routine and frustrated with his lack of progress. Stigs found a local affiliate in his hometown of West Hartford, CT, went in for his first official WOD, and never looked back. He moved to the Philadelphia area in early 2010 and has been a member of Fearless Athletics ever since.

An engineer by training (and therefore a nerd at heart), Stigs is fascinated by the science behind CrossFit and exercise in general. He seeks to understand why we do what we do and how to do it better. He enjoys sharing this with other members, and enjoys helping them find, exceed, and redefine their own physical limitations.

Editor’s Note: While he may look chronically angry, Stigs would like to assure current and future members that this is just the way he was born, so please do not be afraid to approach him.