This space - small, and less than ideal - was what made our members get to know each other, work out in control, with good technique, challenged our coaches' creativity and brought us all together."
CrossFit North Vancouver and Rocky Point CrossFit have both experienced growth and change over the past five years.
Rocky Point CrossFit
In 2008, Michael Fandrey of Maple Ridge, British Columbia, started Rocky Point CrossFit in his garage. In 2009, with the help of Tom Smith, Fandrey moved into a 3,000-square-foot facility in Coquitlam, B.C., 20 kilometers from his garage. They had 12 members.
“Today, the membership stands around 250 people with classes running all day, including foundations classes, private training, CrossFit Games programming, Tough Mudder camps and (soon), CrossFit Kids,” Errol Clark, coach at Rocky Point, says.
Rocky Point CrossFit draws on communities from Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, New Westminster, Burnaby and Surrey.
“We knew we were doing something right because these members were driving past numerous globo gyms to get here,” Clark says. “So we tried to start a box in Pitt Meadows.”
Two attempts to open a second location have fallen through. CrossFit Hangar 18 would have been located at Pitt Meadows Regional Airport.
“The affiliation was applied for, equipment ordered, the paint thrown on the walls and two or three inspectors thought it was a great idea. The fire inspector did not,” Clark says.
In September 2012, Fandrey, Smith and Clark returned to Maple Ridge. They found a facility in a light industrial park where they would share space with a dance studio, a gym club and a martial arts dojo. They planned to open CrossFit Pitt Meadows there.
Then, a new space opened up, ideal for Rocky Point CrossFit.
“It was exactly where we’ve been trying to open since day one, and it was 7,100 square feet,” Clark says.
They put CrossFit Pitt Meadows on hold, and cancelled the lease for Rocky Point CrossFit. Unfortunately, the new location was sold to someone else.
Rocky Point CrossFit is back to square one, trying to secure space.
“It's been a very difficult decision not to open,” Clark explains. “We feel we've let a lot of people down (who) were excited to join the new gym, but we feel it was the right decision, and in the long run, we’ll be better suited to help more people under one large roof.”
CrossFit North Vancouver
The Vancouver real estate market has been more favorable to CrossFit North Vancouver. At the start of 2013, Dave Kitchen moved his box into a larger, 3,000-square-foot facility, from his 900-square-foot building.
“This is a big jump, but it was necessary to take our community, athletes and business to the next level,” Kitchen says. “We now provide a space and equipment that is on par with the type of community and athletes we have.”
The old location was not ideal.
“Ceilings were low, doors were small, parking lot was slanted, space was small, it was in the back and the basement — we never saw anyone walk in,” Kitchen says.
The old facility was located in a small strip mall, which meant CFNV was paying retail rates.
“Things are much better now that we are in a light industrial zoning. The price per square foot is approximately half of what it used to be," Kitchen says.
Now, they have 30-foot ceilings and a 26-foot Rogue rig, in a clean, open, versatile space.
Like Rocky Point, CFNV experienced challenges finding space in the Vancouver area.
“The market here is pretty competitive and it was a little challenging to find a place. I had my first offer fall through on another space and it was very disappointing,” Kitchen says. “A week later, I saw the location we are in, a month later it was a done deal and we have never looked back,” Kitchen says.
Once the space was obtained, renovations began.
“The transition month where we were renovating the new space and still running a full slate of classes at the old space was challenging. Lucky for me, I have 11 awesome coaches who are competent on the training floor and also willing to pull together and go above and beyond in times like this.”
With a dedicated group of athletes, moving for time wasn’t an issue.
“Moving day was a breeze. Forty members showed up, we packed the old gym into a truck — including the flooring — in about an hour. It was then a seven-minute drive and a 30-minute unload,” Kitchen says.
Despite the challenges of growth and change, Kitchen does not have any negative feelings about the old space.
“This space — small, and less than ideal — was what made our members get to know each other, work out in control, with good technique, challenged our coaches’ creativity and brought us all together,” he explains. “This small space made us all better in so many ways. Our community, coaching staff and mission statement all come from this original location.”
