Sport Fair is a swim outfitting store located in Arlington, Virginia that was started in 1955 by "Rigger" Ramsey. We began as a store centered on many sports with swimming being one of them. In 1982, Gary Ramsey took over the business from his father and shifted the focus to be solely competitive swimming. Since then, Sport Fair has been supplying the Northern Virginia swimming community and providing great customer service along the way. We supply all levels of swimming from people learning to swim all the way to Olympic level athletes. We have grown a lot over the years, moving from one location to the next, and finally settling at our current location, 5010 Lee Highway in Arlington, in 2008.
Gary Ramsey, President/Head of Team Sales
Gary has been involved with Sport Fair since he was a young boy, being that his father began the company in 1955. Gary graduated from Yorktown High School and took over all company operations in the early 1980s. Once fully in charge, Gary immersed himself in the world of swimming. In addition to being the owner and president of the company, Gary is head of team sales, and works firsthand with most teams we do business with. Gary is extremely good at logistics and time management. He has second nature for being able to anticipate a team's needs, as well as deliver merchandise under the strictest of deadlines. As well as keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes, he also enjoys coming out onto the sales floor every now and then and helping out with the day-to-day customers. Gary is the glue that holds this store together, and he can be found here practically every hour of the day.
Susan Kasimer, Retail Manager
Susan learned to swim at the age of four and joined the Annandale Red Tide at the age of five. Over her school years she swam for many year-round teams such as Arlington Aquatic Club, the JCC Waves, and the Potomac Marlins. As a Sport Fair customer for most of her swimming life, she was thrilled when Gary asked her to work for him. Susan began working for Sport Fair in April of 1999, and immediately became dedicated to the retail environment, much like she was to her swimming career and teams. She was co-captain of the girls' swim team during her senior year at Falls Church High School, where she graduated in 2000. Susan was honored to be awarded the NVSL's MacDuff Scholarship that summer due to her level of involvement with Annandale. She began school at the University of Virginia that Fall, and while she loved college, a highlight of coming home for breaks was having a chance to work at the store. Her dedication to the sport continued in college where she swam with the Virginia Swimming Club all four years and was president during her second, third, and fourth years. Upon graduating with a BA in Psychology in 2004, Susan decided to take a few years off to work before attending graduate school. Her loyalty to Sport Fair grew stronger with each year she worked, and Susan decided it was no longer in her best interest to attend grad school and switch careers. She became Sport Fair's Retail Manager in 2006, along with attending her first of several Speedo Dealer Summits. Her main project in 2007 was enabling Sport Fair to move from a cramped 5121 Lee Highway to the spacious, relaxing environment of 5010 Lee Highway. When the new location opened on January 3rd, 2008, the need for a better retail experience was finally fulfilled. Every season she strives to bring Sport Fair's customers the best mix of retail products available on the market. In addition to her job, Susan still takes pride in her own swimming through the many open water swims she has completed - among them Escape from Alcatraz, fourteen Great Chesapeake Bay Swims, fourteen St. Croix Coral Reef Swims, and several marathon swims such as the Swim for the Potomac, Ocean Games and Swim Around Charleston. She looks forward to many more years ahead of swimming...and retailing!
Enser Cole, Finance Director
Enser grew up swimming in the DC metro area, beginning at the age of 6 for the Chesterbrook Tigersharks in the NVSL. During his time there, Chesterbrook catapulted from Division 3 to Division 1, thanks in part to Enser's superb swimming prowess. He also honed his technique and spirit while swimming for the Fish and Mclean High School, respectively. After years of NVSL domination, Enser joined the University of Mary Washington swim team in 2007. As an Eagle, Enser broke school and conference records, qualified for Nationals, and led the squad as a team captain his senior year. Born and raised in the NVSL, Enser continued to spread his passion for swimming as a coach for the Donaldson Run Thunderbolts (where he met with lovely wife, Molly) and the Shouse Village Sharks. He also served as head coach for Parkview High School. Enser now competes in triathlons and even completed Ironman Canada in 2014! Shortly thereafter, Enser joined the Sport Fair team, where he continues to instill a love of swimming throughout the community.
Hunter Howery, Head of E-commerce
Hunter Howery is a dedicated and accomplished individual whose journey in the world of swimming commenced at the age of 8. Beginning with the Southbridge Seal team, Hunter's passion for swimming quickly ignited, propelling him to refine his skills and drive into the team's history by shattering numerous records. Hunter wasn't confined to a single team, as his journey led him to Amberjax, where he achieved a remarkable milestone by setting records that stood as a testament to his dedication and talent. Hunter's educational pursuits were equally noteworthy, culminating in his graduation from Radford University in the year 2023. However, his connection to swimming didn't waver; rather, it evolved. The impact of Hunter's contributions didn't go unnoticed. His dedication and commitment to coaching earned him a prestigious coach award, a clear acknowledgment of the positive influence he had on young swimmers under his guidance. With a heart full of gratitude, Hunter remains resolute in his appreciation for the role swimming has played in shaping his life's journey. As Hunter Howery looks ahead to the future, he does so with enthusiasm and a willingness to embrace every opportunity and adventure that comes his way. Guided by the lessons learned in the water and the joy he derives from coaching, Hunter is quickly eager to continue making waves in both his personal and professional endeavors.
Karina Cureton (She/Her), Floor Manager
Karina officially joined Sport Fair as a Sales Associate in 2015. After an extended hiatus including a two-year residency in Vancouver, BC, Karina has returned post-pandemic as Floor Manager. Swimming history includes NVSL summer team Kent Gardens Dolphins (1997-2009), high school team Oakcrest (2007-2009), and club team FISH (2006-2009). Best events include 100 Breaststroke, 500 Freestyle, and 200 IM. Academic achievements include “BA Combined Honours in Arts” from Durham University, UK, specializing in Art History and Philosophy; “MA Art Theory” from University of the Arts London, UK; “MA Museum and Gallery Studies” from Kingston University London, UK; Two-Year Diploma in “Film and Fashion Makeup Artistry” from New Image College, Vancouver, BC.
Mellora King, Logistics Manager
Mellora joined the Sport Fair team in May of 2022, adding to a long list of experience in the sport. She grew up competing in both USA Swimming and the Delmarva Swim Association. While attending the University of Delaware, Mellora was the head boys coach at William Penn High School. Following college, she took a break from the sport to pursue a career in the non-profit sector, but her love of the sport won out, and she returned to swimming in 2013, and then coaching in 2016. She was an assistant coach at Prince William Swim Club (Amberjax) and the Southbridge Seals, until she began her full-time position with Sport Fair. Mellora looks forward to many more years in the sport.
Marissa Ramsey, Illustrator/Graphic Designer
Marissa is an illustrator and graphic designer, responsible for making many of the team logos and merchandise that you see throughout the year (including the updated Sport Fair logo!). She illustrates, collects ball jointed dolls, reads visual novels, and does photography in her spare time. Since her freshman year of high school Marissa has been studying Japanese and is conversational. Marissa has been working at Sport Fair for over ten years, growing many skillsets over several positions. Personable, witty, detail-oriented and innovative, Marissa can elevate the style of your team with a fresh look.
