"Being at an affiliate and coaching others everyday has provided me with more love for CrossFit than ever before."
Ben Smith stood atop the podium at this year’s Mid Atlantic Regional after finishing first in five of six events. Widely known for being unaffiliated, stories of his home-training regimen have been heard throughout the CrossFit community, particularly of Smith lifting heavy weight in front of a refrigerator in his garage.
Now, Smith is taking a different path. He opened CrossFit Krypton on December 3, in his hometown of Chesapeake, Va. His hope is to spread the CrossFit methodology as widely as possible.
“I hope to be able to bring CrossFit to as many people as I can in our area, and help bring the benefits I have seen personally to as many others as possible. My goal for my affiliate is simply to help others reach their goals,” Smith says.
“If provided with the opportunity, I believe everyone should use what gifts and abilities they were given to help others,” he adds.
Though Smith is a Games-level competitor, the programming for his 3,000-square foot box will be individualized.
“I will be programming the workouts for CrossFit Krypton, and they will be predominantly my workouts that have benefited me in the past, or that I see would benefit the athletes in our gym,” Smith says. “Knowing that any workout can be tailored and scaled to any individual, programming tougher workouts will make sure that our members are constantly striving to push themselves a bit harder, and setting higher goals.”
Training at an affiliate is new and different for Smith and he is enjoying every bit of it.
“Being at an affiliate and coaching others everyday has provided me with more love for CrossFit than ever before. I am finding that the more I am around others who love CrossFit and what it stands for, the more motivated I am to coach, as well as train,” he says.
Looking ahead to the 2013 Reebok CrossFit Games, Smith says being around motivated CrossFitters has amped his training. He stands as an example for his members, as well.
“If our members see what is possible, then maybe they can reach a bit farther than they thought they could.”
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