"Our members see themselves as part of CrossFit Geelong -- not just another gym."
1. Affiliate Name:
CrossFit Geelong
2. Affiliate Owner:
Corrine & Chris Chalmers
3. Affiliate Since:
2008
4. Location:
Geelong, Victoria, Australia
5. Square Feet:
10,000
6. Number of Members?
300+
7. Describe your affiliate in six or fewer words:
One big family.
8. How did you get your box started?
We had our own gym and ran large boot camps prior to affiliating. I first discovered CrossFit in 2004 and followed the CrossFit method, it was a natural progression for us to eventually go CrossFit all the way. We were in a smaller box for eight years and it took us awhile to find the right place that would also allow for our growth. We moved into our new place in 2011 after eighteen months of planning and renovating. We also have another 4,500 square feet that we can expand into when the time comes, although it would make a great coffee shop
9. Do your members compete in the CrossFit Open/Games or in local competitions?
Yes, we have a core bunch of members that will compete in anything. During the Open, we had a whole bunch of supporters come down to cheer on the competitors, which was awesome. There are always local throwdowns and CrossFit-style comps going that we get teams along to.
10. What do you and your members do together besides train?
Our members organize steak nights, pizza nights and other social get togethers. There are always local fun runs for us to turn up to together, as well.
11. Best lesson you’ve learned so far:
Do one thing, and do it well.
12. Advice you wish you had been given:
Do that one thing earlier.
13. What question you would love to ask other affiliate owners:
On a personal level, what satisfaction do they most get out of being an owner of a box?
14. Why do you do this?
It's a great life to surround ourselves with healthy like-minded people. We have a young family, as well, and it allows us to spend a lot of time with them. Also to be around people who just want to be here makes it so much easier. Our members see themselves as part of CrossFit Geelong -- not just another gym. You have to love CrossFit to be here, so it allows us to spend all our time on coaching rather trying to convince people exercise is good for them. They also treat it as their own box, which is a great feeling for us as owners to have such proud members.
15. Tell us something cool, unusual, or just slightly different about your affiliate.
We are about 70 percent female, which a lot of newcomers find interesting. When you think of the physical look of a CrossFit box, it can seem intimidating and look like a meathead market. The women love it and it shows people do CrossFit for what they get back, not for what it looks like.
16. Is there a story in your affiliate that needs to be told? Tell us!
Recently, a "What is CrossFit" poster we designed went viral over Facebook, we were then inundated with requests for it and any other posters/info we have. We set up a Facebook page called WOD Box Affiliate tools where Affiliates can access our posters and admin forms. The response has been amazing and receiving emails from all over the world has shown us how big and supportive the CF community really is.
Want your box to be featured on "Meet the Affiliate"? Send an e-mail with the subject line "Meet the Affiliate" to content@crossfit.com.
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