"The kids find great pride in the number of burpees they can do."
CrossFit is about family. CrossFit Calgary has a long history of strong families.
In spring 2008, Calgary started to build its family by starting a program for the children of its members. Three adult members — Chantal Theberge, the CrossFit Kids program director at Calgary, and Laura and Gord MacDonald — started to develop a program. A year later, they added programs for pre-schoolers and teens, as well as a fourth coach. Currently, they offer four kids classes, three teen classes and a 10-week pre-school program.
Theberge says the kids involved in the programs are also involved in other sports. “We have a mix of specialized sports kids — hockey, soccer, dance and gym, as well as those whose main sport is CrossFit. The kids in specialized sports sometimes reduce the number of classes when their sports heat up and then increase again in the offseason.”
While many are driven to improve in their sport of choice, Theberge notes CrossFit has become a passion for many kids. “The kids find great pride in the number of burpees they can do,” she says.
Theberge has been involved in the program since it began. She was driven to offer more opportunities for her own family members. “I love CrossFit and I wanted to do this with my children,” she says.
Owner Brett Marshall feels the same. “Brett (works out) with his wife Rhiannon and his two children join in our pre-school class,” Theberge says.
The trainers and owners aren’t the only ones bringing their family to CrossFit Kids in Calgary. Erin Lane, a gymnast, is in the kids program, while her older brother, Justin, a hockey player, attends the teen classes. He also takes his dad and mom on during weekend workouts and volunteers with the pre-school program.
CrossFit Calgary also allows parents to participate in their pre-school program. Kids, as young as 2 years old, can jump, play, sing and dance in a parented class.
While every country on the continent trends toward childhood obesity, CrossFit Calgary seeks to reverse the trend by building its future family.
