LIke Father, Like Son

March 28, 2013

Lisa Zane

"Overall, it's a really cool experience being an age where I can work out with my dad. It gives me extra motivation to compete harder because I want to outwork him."


Photos by: Jennifer Nichol

Scott Thornton spent 17 seasons playing in the NHL before opening his box, CrossFit Indestri, in Collingwood, Ontario.

Nash Thornton, his 16-year-old son, plays hockey and volleyball, and also does CrossFit. They are competing in the Open together.

“Overall, it's a really cool experience being an age where I can work out with my dad,” Nash says. “It gives me extra motivation to compete harder because I want to outwork him.”

For the elder Thornton, watching his son compete has been “a blast” even though Nash has taken a few funny shots at him to get him off his game.

“We did 13.1 together and he was joking about my rings being lower than his for the burpees to get a dig in before the clock started — pretty funny,” Scott says.

During that workout, their father-son synchronization was uncanny. Indestri member, Jennifer Nichol, managed to snap a photo of the duo during the exact same instant of their snatches.

“I only looked over at Nash a couple times — I was in my own world of hurt,” Scott says, adding that the photo op was totally unplanned. “Jen did a great job of capturing the moment. I love the pic. It’s good to see him using good form.”

Nash says the picture was taken in the heat of the moment and he just didn’t want to fall behind.

“I was trying to keep the pace,” he says.

It was in that heat of the moment that he was able to PR on his snatch, managing 11 reps at 135 lb.

“His snatch was 125 lb. before,” Scott says. “He got better as the workout went on and his confidence got going.”

Although they are both competing, it’s been difficult to coordinate their workouts because of Nash’s playoff hockey schedule. His Midget A team recently won the Ontario Championships.

When they haven’t been able to compete in the same heat, they have had fun supporting each other.

“I enjoy coaching and cheering when Nash is doing his (workout),” Scott says.

Nash finds it particularly motivating to have his dad be the one he hears encouragement from while he’s working hard.

The father and son also try to get in the same headspace strategy-wise.

“We discuss the movements and warm up together,” Scott says. “We watch others do it first and try to learn from them. All strategy goes out the door when the clock starts, though — survival kicks in.”

For Nash, every workout has been amazing because he had no expectations going into the competition. His favorite part of it all has been being able to look at the Leaderboard to see where he stacks up with others around the world.

“It’s quite humbling, actually,” he says.

For Scott, it’s all about community.

“Watching my members getting excited, setting new PRs in front of an audience and having fun,” he says. “It’s great to watch.”