Tell us about yourself:
Hi, my name is Dallas Ipach. I’m originally from the 805. I grew up and went to school in Ojai, then moved to Ventura after college. My wife, Nichole, and I have been married since 2005, and we have twin boys, Charlie and Owen, who—between their sports seasons—are also members at Beachside and participate in the teens program. Outside of CrossFit, I really enjoy surfing, fishing, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.
Shout out to all my 5:30 a.m. Beachside homies—you are all absolute savages. Huge thanks to Coach Kai, Coach Jess, Coach Kalan and Coach Nate for keeping me accountable, pushing me when I need it, and always showing up with constant support and encouragement.
What do you do for a job?
I work in education for the Ventura County Office of Education at a continuation school that serves Ventura County’s at-promise youth. It’s honestly not something I’d even call a “job.” It’s fun, it’s meaningful, I work with an amazing staff of folks, and I genuinely love what I do. Most days I can’t believe they pay me actual, real money to work with the students and be part of their growth each year.
Tell us something people might not know about you:
Something people might not know about me is that I willingly wake up at an hour most people consider illegal just to sweat, lift heavy things, and get yelled at during a 5:30 a.m. CrossFit class—and I actually enjoy it!
What brought you to CrossFit in the first place?
In 2011, my sons were born, and I spent a good portion of a year and a half running and rowing. When I was home, I’d either load the boys into the double BOB stroller and go for long runs, or—if they were napping—I’d bring the baby monitor into the garage, put on some music and hop on the rower. The cardio was solid, but by 2013, I wanted something more. After doing a little research, I called Beachside and ended up talking to Coach Nate for about half an hour. I went in, signed up for what they used to call “Elements,” and I’ve been at Beachside ever since—minus a brief break during the Thomas Fire and then the COVID era… but that’s a whole other story.
What was your first impression? How has that changed?
My first impression was a mix of intimidation and excitement. The workouts were challenging, the learning curve was steep, and I definitely felt weak and slow at the start. Despite that, I really enjoyed the classes and the Beachside environment. My impression quickly shifted once I embraced the mindset that I was there to improve myself, focus on my fitness, and keep putting in the work.
What was your first “Bright Spot?”
There are honestly too many to list. I feel fortunate to have stayed healthy and fit enough to continue reaching new milestones and experiencing those bright spots along the way. If you stick with CrossFit long enough, trust the process, and listen to the incredible coaches, bright spots are inevitable.
What are you working on now?
I am working on everything—maximizing and refining my lifts, dialing in my nutrition, improving my cardio, more toes to bar, better FRAN time, mobility, staying consistent, and strengthening my mindset. Every piece matters, and they all build on one another. CrossFit isn’t something you ever “finish” or fully conquer; it’s a craft that requires patience, humility, and constant effort. I don’t know if any of us mortals ever truly master it, but that’s part of what keeps it engaging. There’s always something to learn, something to improve, and another level to chase, which is what makes the process so rewarding.
What’s your favorite BeachSide CrossFit memory?
I can’t name just one favorite Beachside memory—there are way too many. Crushing it daily with the 5:30 am homies, first partner WOD with my son, Battle of the Boxes, the Beachside Beatdown, annual beach WOD, all the Opens, Christmas parties, Beachside surf and snowboard trips, to now being able to watch my sons ride the pain train daily, it’s all been a great time. What really makes Beachside special, though, is the community and coaches. It’s an amazingly awesome, unparalleled group of humans from all walks of life and backgrounds. There’s truly no other gym community like it. I’m grateful for the lifelong friendships I’ve made through Beachside, and I can’t wait to keep smashing goals and making more memories.
