From Garage Gyms to High-Tech Facilities: The Evolution of CrossFit

Former CrossFit London owner Dave Henry remembers 2007. He used Facebook to personally invite random college students to his gym at his parents’ garage and would collect $10 cash from each of them. And then he’d shove the money into a pencil case.

When I joined Henry’s gym as a college student in 2009 — then a 900-square-foot facility filled with a homemade rig, sandbags, boxes, and two beat-up old rowing machines — I didn’t have a credit card yet. Each month, he would chase me down for a check that he’d take to the bank to deposit manually.

Commitment to the Methodology

Ehren and Lindsay Vaughan became affiliate owners in 2013 when they purchased CrossFit Ballina in New South Wales, Australia. Ehren insists their values and beliefs in the CrossFit methodology “have remained consistent over the last 10 years.”

The same is true of their dedication to the CrossFit founder Greg Glassman’s concept of pursuing excellence, Ehren said. “We worked to become very clear on our values and then make business decisions that supported those values,” he said. “Where we are today is a culmination of thousands of small business adjustments over 11 years. Every time we make a business decision, we [consider] that change side by side with our values.”

Constantly Pursuing Improvement

The gym owners we spoke with opened their doors in the hope of a lifelong improvement of fitness, both for their members and themselves. While this is still true today, Justin VanBeek — the 12-year owner of CrossFit Hydro in Omaha, NE — said things look a bit different than they did a decade ago.

VanBeek started CrossFit at 29 years old, and his gym’s atmosphere and programming reflected that, he explained. Twelve years later, while he is still competitive and striving to improve, he has to be smarter about how he does it. “It has become more of a battle with my former self, rather than just trying to beat someone on the leaderboard,” VanBeek said.

Embracing the Rat Race

For Marco Tan, the owner of CrossFit Overdrive in Richmond, B.C., running a gym has always required hard work, no matter how many time-saving technological tools exist for owners today. “You have to keep working hard and adapting to changes, never letting your foot off the gas pedal,” Tan said.

The Community

Finally, when you talk to any longtime gym owner about why they’re still doing it today, the answer is always the same: The people and the community. Tromello, who opened his gym when his son was six months old and his wife was pregnant with his second child, explained the power of his community this way.

“The Precision community has helped raise my children. Their hard work, dedication, and love have shown my kids the definition of work ethic,” Tromello said. “My daughter has watched strong women all her life that have empowered her to be strong.”

Conclusion

In conclusion, the evolution of CrossFit has come a long way since its humble beginnings in a garage. From small, informal gyms to high-tech facilities, the industry has transformed significantly over the past decade and a half. Despite the changes, one thing remains constant: the commitment to the methodology, pursuit of improvement, and focus on community.

FAQs

Q: How has the CrossFit industry changed over the past decade and a half?
A: The industry has evolved significantly, with gyms growing in size, sophistication, and technology.

Q: What are some key differences between today’s CrossFit gyms and those from the early days?
A: Today’s gyms are larger, better-equipped, and more competitive, with a greater focus on marketing, social media, and coaching expertise.

Q: What sets successful CrossFit gyms apart from others?
A: Successful gyms focus on community, commitment to the methodology, and a relentless pursuit of improvement, as well as having a clear understanding of their values and target demographic.

Q: What advice would you give to new gym owners starting out in the CrossFit industry?
A: Be prepared to work hard, adapt to changes, and focus on building a strong community and commitment to the methodology.