Laura
*Laura Patefield, Certified level 2 CrossFit Trainer, Olympic Weightlifting Certified, Kettlebell Certified, CrossFit kids Certified.
Laura graduated from Cal State University of Long Beach with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics. This degree has become a great compliment to the CrossFit lifestyle due to the fact that exercise and nutrition are without a doubt permanently entertwined and must work together to achieve elite fitness. No magic pills here just good honest hard work!
Laura's Story
My passion for CrossFit started about three years ago thanks to my brother and fellow CrossFit trainer. I was blown away by the short intense workouts which as a mother fit well into my hectic schedule. So one fateful day my sister and I let Jeffry put us through a CrossFit WOD and I have never looked back to dumbbell bicep curls or power walking. Only after about 1 month of training I felt stronger and my body was noticably changing (for the better!). Even our younger sister has jumped on the CrossFit bandwagon and works as Certified CrossFit trainer in San Diego. Of course having 3 siblings that do CrossFit can lead to some serious competitiveness!
My dream was never to start my own business. I was content as a stay-at-home Mom but I was so taken by and believed whole heartedly in CrossFit and its methodology that I find myself over two years into our affiliation! For many CrossFit has aided them in exceling in their sport. CrossFit is my sport and I look forward to sharing my passion with you.
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Jeff
*Jeff Gorumba, Certified Level 2 CrossFit Trainer, CrossFit Running & Endurance Certified, Olympic Weightlifting Certified, CrossFit Nutritional Certification, CrossFit Gymnastics Certification, Movement and Mobility, and Dutch Lowry CrossFit WOD Programming Certification.
Jeff's coaching and instructor experience extends far beyond that of the CrossFit methodology serving 14 years in Special Operations for the U.S. Army. Then employed as the lead firearms and defensive tactics instructor, training protective agents for the Department of State as well as other government agencies. Jeff trained these agents in the techniques and tactics required to serve in some of the most hostile regions in the world.
In addition, Jeff graduated from the University of Washington's School of Medicine PA program one of the most prestigious PA programs in the country. This experience has correlated well with the CrossFit methodology through a solid understanding of Anatomy and Physiology, injury prevention, and recovery in regards to training and maximizing an athletes potential.
Jeff's Story
I'm 44 years old and have been doing CrossFit now exclusively since 2004. I was first introduced to CrossFit when we had a few visitors come to our jiu jitsu studio to check it out. I wasn't impressed with their technique but was beyond impressed with their ability to make up for the lack of technique through their strength and conditioning. When I enquired about what they do to achieve that level of fitness one replied "We CrossFit." My only reply was "What's that, I want some, and how do I get it?" From there I was introduced to Michael Street from CrossFit Eastside, http://www.crossfiteastside.com. I trained out of his garage and began my own journey to elite fitness, which continues to this day. In a short amount of time I began to reap the benefits of this program. I began to achieve a level of fitness I had never attained before despite training in gyms such as 24 hour fitness daily and literally for hours. As I grew in my training and understanding of CrossFit I knew that I would adopt this program as a lifestyle rather than a hobby.
As with most of us evolving into our middle aged years and beyond I was beginning to be plagued with acute and chronic injuries, as well as weight gain. As frustrating as this was I thought this was just the circle of life and I would just have to accept the fact that I was just getting older. I now enjoy training pain and injury free and went from 28% body fat to below 10%. Not that I don't still get injured on occasion because of the active lifestyle I lead but it doesn't happen in the gym. In fact, the CF program is so vast and varied that when I am injured I am back in the gym within days continuing my training. I am always able to work around any injuries I have suffered from outside activities.
Lastly, I have been a dedicated brazilian jiu jitsu guy since 1997. I love to compete in this arena win or lose. Before incorporating CrossFit as my strength and conditioning program I was just your "run of the mill" jits enthusiast, win some matches, lose some matches, maybe medal but probably not. I have competed in the Pan Ams as well as traveled to Brazil to compete in the World Championships both in 2007 and 2008 with all of my wins by submission in my weight division. The CrossFit program has given me an unrelenting ability to push throughout every match. Watching my opponents fatigue while I only got stronger, allowing me to push harder with each passing minute neutralizing my opponents technique while I was able to apply my own submission holds.
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Rick
*Rick Gonzalez
Certifications: Crossfit Level 1 Trainer, Olympic Lifting, Crossfit Kids, CrossFit Endurance, Pose Running, Gymnastics
Rick's Story
I have been doing Crossfit since the summer of 2005. As a Marine, while stationed overseas, I was searching the internet looking for a good "pull-up" program. Thankfully, I stumbled upon Crossfit and convinced my fellow Marines to try the challenge. After my first Crossfit workout, while lying in a pool of my own sweat, I quickly realized my old routine of "Run, Pull-Ups, Situps" (wash, rinse, repeat), left serious holes in my fitness. I immediately started incorporating Crossfit into my units Physical Training Program. While deployed, I had the experience of creating equipment, and incorporating sledgehammers, tires, and sandbags into my units physical training program. I owed it to Marines to become a better trainer, so I have surrounded myself around top level Crossfit trainers. I am currently working towards obtaining my Crossfit Level 2 Certification.
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Gabriel
*Gabriel Kessler
Certifications: CrossFit Level 1, Olympic Lifting, Gymnastics
I’ve been into fitness my whole life. I played soccer, baseball, and football from the time I was about six years old until about 6 years ago. I played on travel teams, high school teams and adult men’s leagues. A lifetime of sports has made me a very competitive person and somewhat of a perfectionist. I began weightlifting in high school. Like a lot of Crossfitters, I spent a lot of time stuck in my “routine” workout…back and biceps, chest and triceps…etc.. About a 2 years ago while doing my paramedic internship with a local fire dept, I was introduced to CROSSFIT. I still remember my first WOD…Filthy Fifties (thanks ESC 2B) I had never experienced anything like it before. I thought these guys were nuts. As I lay dying on the floor after a workout struggling to breath in a puddle of my own sweat, I thought to myself, “I don’t know what I just did…but I liked it”. After getting some of the techniques down I started incorporating some of the lifts and WODs into my workouts. It progressed to the point where all I was doing was watching videos off the site and going to the gym and crushing out WODs. Shortly after, I joined OCF. Once I started learning more about CROSSFIT it became part of my lifestyle and a passion of mine. I took the level 1 cert to increase my knowledge base and to better understand the fundamentals of the program. Everyday I strive to be a better coach and I push my athletes to be their absolute best. I am always searching for ways to be better for myself, for my athletes and for our box. Crossfit is my passion, my hobby, my job and my life. Lets get some.
Chris
*Chris Sheets
Certifications: CrossFit Level 1, Olympic Lifting, Gymnastics
Chris' Story
I grew up in Bend Oregon and fitness and sports filled my life. At the age of 10 I picked up a skateboard and at the age of 12 I started snowboarding. This started me on the path of fitness from then on. The rest of my high school years I played sports or snowboarded everyday. Then in my senior year I dropped everything to pursue my love of snowboarding. I wanted to be a Pro Snowboarder. I put everything in to it. I hit the gym daily snowboarded 200 days a season and did everything I could for the next 10 years to be the best snowboarder I could. It all paid off in 1998 when I placed 3rd in Halfpipe in the nation championships.
Fast forward 10 years later. I was out snowboarding with friends and had a big accident that blew out my knee. I completely tore my ACL, MCL along with damage to my meniscus and all the bones in my knee. After a year of surgery rehab and pretty much laying around and eating Pizza everyday, my close friend Cory Worf pushed me to find a Crossfit gym near me. He said it would help rehab my knee as well as get ride of the extra 40+ lbs I had packed on. I walked into Oceanside Crossfit on a January morning of 2010 and my life changed. I found a passion for this different way to exercise. I didnʼt spent 2+ hours in the gym with my ipod jogging on a treadmill like a hamster or standing in front of a mirror curling weights. I found a team/family that pushed me and cared about my progress. This different workout never got boring it always was different and changing. After a year I decided to join the ranks of our trainers and get my certification to help change others for the better like it did for me. Crossfit completely changed my life. It has of course made me more fit and healthy, but it has changed how I run my life. You are pushed so hard daily in the workouts that when you come across a difficult part of life you donʼt even think about it. Its never harder than the workout the night before (Fran, Damy, Murph, etc....). It gives you more drive and motivation to reach your goals and dream in life. I am a changed man because of Crossfit and now I can share it with others.
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Ann
*Ann Schmalstieg
Certifications: CrossFit Level 1, Olympic Lifting, Gymnastics
I grew up in Pittsburgh, PA playing soccer and swimming in high school, then joining the soccer team in undergrad. That came to an end when I discovered the girls on the team would cry when we lost, and knowing I was one of the less skillful members on the team made me the indirect reason for their tears. Straying away from team sports, yet still craving the competitive atmosphere, I picked up Tae Kwon Do and Judo, supplementing it with the general cardio/weight training. While this routine allowed gains in endurance and strength, I was continually frustrated by my inability to develop the explosive power or to tap into the high intensity mindset that played such a large role in TKD and Judo competition. This hole in my training was further highlighted when my older brother would be in town. He began Crossfitting quite a while before me, so anytime he was home he would welcome me to join him in a crazy "girls" WOD ("Linda" was my first - it was awesome, though a trainer at the 24 HR Fitness was very upset that we "were doing our Deadlifts wrong" - apparently Romanian Deadlifts are the only one's that exist to some people). I noticed that Crossfit's training methods not only addressed areas of my fitness which obviously needed improved upon, but also made the work out fun - in an "I can't believe I actually did that, I am so happy it's over" sort-of-way. Under the tutelage of my brother, I began to fully accept Crossfit as my fitness approach around 2007. With that, I not only saw results in my own performance, but also in those I was "training" in a local gym when I incorporated the workout philosophy into teaching adult swimming lessons, leading Water Aerobics (people never expect a high intensity Water Aerobics class), and general personal training. Introducing my boyfriend/later-to-become-husband to "the cult" when he was on leave from Okinawa, we continued to Crossfit when we moved to California (me to Laguna Beach for school, he to Camp Pendleton) in 2008.
Officially joining the Oceanside Crossfit family the summer of 2009, my co-athletes have seen me go through the best of times and the worst of times. Knowing that I always want to be a part of this amazing community, and wanting to help others as they grow in their Crossfit experience, are what inspired me to pursue certification. Graduating with my Masters of Fine Arts in 2011, I continue to focus on my art work while breaking up my studio time with my gym time in order to maintain a level of sanity. We'll see if it works.
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Kip
*Kip Morey:
Certifications: Crossfit Level 1, CrossFit Endurance, Olympic Lifting
Kip's Story
Kip was first exposed to Crossfit in 2006 while serving in the US military’s specialoperations medical community. Initially, he integrated bits and pieces derived from the Crossfit main site into his more “conventional” fitness regime. Within a few month he saw radical changes in all aspects of his fitness with the addition of only presses, cleans, and box jumps. These improvements lead to the steady integration of Crossfit methodology into his life until, in 2009, the coaches at Oceanside Crossfit helped him complete the transition from “cardio” and dumbbell curls to interval training and muscle-ups. He is currently exploring the roll of Crossfit programming in orthopedic rehabilitation and medical recovery, and the application of Crossfit strength and conditioning concepts to ultra-distance endurance athletics.
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Brittany
*Brittany Morey
Certifications: Level 1 CrossFit Trainer, CrossFit Endurance, Olympic Lifting
Brittany's Story
I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and although I had an active childhood I was never committed to one sport. Around the time I was ten I began practicing Kajukenbo, a blend of Kenpo Karate, Jujitsu, Judo, and Kung Fu. When I was 18 I left home to move onto campus at San Diego State University where I earned my B.A. in Psychology. It was while in college that I noticed I was starting to become what I call "soft" and "pudgy". I joined 24 Hour Fitness and became seriously committed to getting in better shape. This was to the point that the gym I worked out at offered me a position as a trainer if I earned a few "certifications". At that time I also started to get into running. My parents had run several marathons and half marathons by that point and encouraged me to join them on the Disneyland Half Marathon.
After having a blast on the half marathon course I set my sights on a full marathon. I ran the San Diego Rock n’ Roll full marathon in 2008. However, in midst of training for that marathon my fitness in the gym went way down. It wasn’t until after getting married that my husband introduced me to a few CrossFit movements (overhead presses and air squat). He had me watch a few videos from the main site and I swore up and down I would never be one of those insane chicks. Seriously, who wouldn’t that intimidate at least a little? In August 2009 I took the step and had my first CrossFit workout at OCF. I was hooked big time. It was scary and it can definitely make you stop to think, "Why am I doing this to myself?" and then you remember, "Because it’s awesome!!!" You will be pushed, you will be challenged, but you will do it all in great company and go home feeling good about yourself for it. You can kiss the days of dragging yourself unwillingly to the gym behind. Currently, I find myself once again at SDSU but this time working on my Masters in Public Health. Outside of school, I love being at the gym and helping others whether it’s giving pointers on form or providing encouragement. I don’t think anything can compare to the look people have on their faces when they reach a new goal or PR. I currently have my level one certification (no "__" this time) and have plans to get certified in CrossFit Endurance and Olympic lifting in the near future. I also plan to attend a Gymnastics certification within the next year.
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Danny
*Danny Wright
Certifications: CrossFit Level 1, OCF Snatch Master
