Erik combines years of dedicated training and racing with an extensive educational background rooted in sports medicine and exercise physiology. In addition to his Master's degree in Sports and Exercise Science, Erik is also an NCCP educated coach, has a Ph.D in physiology and has spent several years teaching kinesiology courses to undergraduate students. He also brings the experience of having competed as a professional triathlete at the highest level: he won the Double Ironman World Championships, the World Endurance Triathlon Championships (twice) over the triple Ironman distance, Ultraman Hawaii, Ultraman Europe and the infamous Decatriathlon, a race requiring athletes to swim 38km, bike 1800km and run 422km. Before becoming a professional triathlete Erik raced 100km races, winning the National Championships and placing 3rd in the 1992 World Championships in 6h 33m 03s. Today, he still races, regularly placing on podiums, competing at World Championship level and occasionally winning races outright, despite being in his early 50's. He has coached athletes to Kona, to XTerra World Championships, Ultraman, Race Across Germany, Comrades Marathon, Boston, and dozens of other high-profile races around the world.