Tremendous Support: Kurt Garceau

May 13, 2013

Keka Schermerhorn

With the help of his family, Kurt climbed from 64th in '12 to 9th in '13.

“After last year's disappointing outcome in the Open, Kurt made it clear to me that he was determined to make it to Regionals in 2013. From that day on, Kurt has been focused and determined to improve all the weaknesses that he has as an athlete,” Kurt's cousin, Warren, says.

Photos by: Warren Garceau

After missing qualification for the 2012 North East Regional by just four spots, Kurt Garceau became determined to qualify in 2013.

“After last year’s disappointing outcome in the Open, Kurt made it clear to me that he was determined to make it to Regionals in 2013,” Kurt’s cousin, Warren Garceau, says. “From that day on, Kurt has been focused and determined to improve all the weaknesses that he has as an athlete.”

The focus and determination have paid off so far. Not only did Kurt qualify for the 2013 North East Regional, but he also climbed 55 spots on the Leaderboard, to finish the 2013 Open in ninth place in the North East.

His family has been behind him since the beginning. He co-owns CrossFit North Haven with Warren and he learned about CrossFit through another cousin, Christine Ferrie.

“I was a personal trainer prior to CrossFit and thought that I knew everything about working out. Boy was I wrong!” Kurt says. “My cousin Warren and I started CrossFit and saw an amazing community forming around the box. Our passion for the sport soon led to opening our own box. The decision was a very scary one, but we had tremendous support from our family. Working with Warren everyday has been a blessing. We have a lot of fun day in and day out and we also have another 16 members of our extended family working out at our box.”

Two of those members are Kurt's aunts — Marlene Garceau, fourth-place finisher in the Women's Masters 60+ Division at the 2012 Reebok CrossFit Games, and Marie Garceau. This year, both received invitations to compete in their respective Masters Divisions at the 2013 Reebok CrossFit Games.

“Both of our aunts have inspired not only us but everyone at our box,” Kurt says. “They are some of the hardest working members of our box and more like celebrities. To watch them compete against 20-year-olds and still come out on top is just amazing. Age does not play a role in heart and determination. Those are two factors that both Marlene and Marie possess and they are setting an excellent example for the rest of us.”  

A former high school football, hockey and lacrosse player, Kurt went on to play Division 1 Lacrosse at West Point.

“Sports have always been a huge part of my life,” he says. “The competitive atmosphere drives me to constantly work harder and smarter.”

Muscle-ups were an issue for Kurt last year, one that he made sure to work on consistently throughout the year, and although his score for 13.3 was the lowest of his Open season, he still managed to get seven more muscle-ups than he did in 12.4 during the 2012 Open.

Kurt has also concentrated on the Olympic lifts, training the clean and jerk and the snatch twice a week, focusing on volume and also preparing for longer endurance workouts.

“I trained for longer (workouts) to help build the endurance aspect of my game and I believe that helped me out,” he says. “I do most of my training with Warren. He helps me to push and keeps me sane through all the training.”

There is also a healthy dose of competition between the cousins.

“Kurt and I grew up together and we were basically attached at the hip,” Warren says. “Ever since we can remember, we've been involved with various sports teams and are the most competitive with each other. Kurt has his strengths and weaknesses, as do I, and we continually find ourselves battling in the box to beat each other at anything we can. It really doesn't matter what it is, we find a way to make it a competition.”

While he is confident in the training Kurt has put in over the last year, Warren believes Kurt's mental game may be his greatest strength.

“Kurt continually amazes me as an athlete,” Warren says. “When he puts his mind to something, he never stops. I literally have seen him push so hard in a WOD that after I thought I was going to have to call in the paramedics — thankfully he recovers well. He really has the mental strength and determination to push his body to levels that set him apart from the rest.” 

Kurt is grateful for the opportunity to compete at Regionals and excited for what comes next.

“I am extremely blessed to have made it this far and I can’t wait to see what the Regionals bring,” he says. “Regardless of placement at Regionals, I will come out a winner, being that my wife is due to have our baby girl a short time after. She has been very supportive of me and I am extremely thankful for that.”