Sam started with us November 2018 and has become an amazing staple to the 5:30am class as well as a example of what following our nutrition advice and being consistent week in and week out. If you see Sam make sure you give him a Hi Five and be inspired!
What do you do for a job?
I’m a Field Service Engineer for DMG MORI based out of the Los Angeles office. They are one of the largest 5-axis CNC machine tool manufacturers in the world. CNC machine tools are used to make most of the items in our everyday lives, from the barbells we use at BSCF to the powertrain components in the cars we drive. I install, calibrate, program and service these machines at different customers in the Southern California area. I’ve been in the industry since I was 18 years old and enjoy very much. Here is a link from DMG MORI’s YouTube page if you’re bored. https://youtu.be/Vsg6dP6Sz-c
Tell us something people might not know about you?
My twin daughters Parker and Sierra were born on Leap day in 2016. Also, I’m an Eagle Scout.
What brought you to CrossFit in the first place?
I was 34 years old and as out of shape as I’d ever been. So I decided it was time to go back to join a gym to start the same 3-6 month cycle again. (I’d always been an off and on member at the huge gyms where everyone is wearing headphones, carrying plastic gallon water jugs, checking Instagram on the weight bench, and skipping leg day.) I rolled up to gym of choice to go sign my contract. “Things would be different this time!” I told myself, but the front desk was closed on Sunday. This was a blessing in disguise. I did a quick Google maps search of gyms in Ventura and Beachside CrossFit popped up. I read some of reviews and they were all positive. I’d never done CrossFit before but I had some past friends and extended family that had and they all spoke very highly of it. I contacted Nate using the BSCF website to schedule my no sweat interview. After meeting with Nate and Henry and talking about what I was looking to achieve in regards to my fitness goals I took the plunge and signed up for the foundations program. One of the best decisions I’ve ever made!
What was your first impression? How has that changed?
My first impression was “Wow, all of these people are hardcore, why are they upside down doing a push up?” “Why is there loud music?” I was super intimidated and could barely snatch a PVC pipe correctly. (I had no clue that the snatch and clean weightlifting movements were even a thing before I started.) Nate and Kristin patiently coached me during the foundations program motivating me the whole time. After the first session I went home and could barely move within a few hours I was so sore. I came back two days later (still sore) for the next session and never looked back. I guess my impression hasn’t changed too much. The intimidation factor faded pretty quickly. Everyone at BSCF is always friendly and supportive. I still think everyone here at BSCF is hardcore, you have to be in order to show up and challenge yourself physically and to want to make yourself better than you were yesterday. CrossFit isn’t easy, but anything worth doing never is. That is extremely motivating to me to be surrounded by other people with that same mindset. Working out is fun now, not just a box to check like doing the dishes or taking out the trash. And I love the loud music, especially when it’s “Sam’s Jams” (request it at your next WOD.)
What was your first “bright spot”?
There’s been several at BSCF. I wasn’t able to do half the movements that are regularly programmed in the WODs when I started, so when I finally became strong enough to start doing most of them as prescribed I felt a sense of accomplishment. I did kipping pull ups for the first time during the CrossFit Open 20.5 Scaled WOD. I was pretty surprised when I was able to link most of them together. (Shout out to Mike Dorsi for inspiring me on that one) Also I’d say when I completed the annual “Murph” WOD in 2019. I’d never done anything like that before.
What are you working on now?
Double Unders, I can link maybe two in a row together before I whip my shins with the rope or get surprised that I did them then can’t seem to continue going. I’m working on Handstand push-ups as well.
What’s your favorite Beachside CrossFit memory?
Too many to list them all. Anytime I’m there with the 5:30AM crew is always a great start to my day. The Christmas party is always fun to get together with the whole BSCF community and have a booze drink or three. Also, anytime we do a WOD with clean or snatch weightlifting movements is awesome.
