Tell us about yourself:
My name is Casey Schapper. I’m a husband to my wife, Jill, and a dog dad to Garvey — a hairy, smiley 7-year-old golden retriever named after Steve Garvey, the legendary Dodgers first baseman, since I’m a huge Dodgers fan. I’ve lived in the Ventura area for the past 7 years, ever since Jill and I moved in together after meeting at UCSB — where I played baseball for the Gauchos and graduated with a degree in Philosophy. I’m originally from the Lake Tahoe area (Truckee). After UCSB, I spent time as associate pitching coach for Westmont College while going back to school for a Computer Science degree from Oregon State.
What do you do for a job?
I’m a Program Manager for Retail at Deckers Brands, headquartered in Goleta, CA. Deckers owns brands like UGG, HOKA, and Teva. I oversee all the retail technology solutions and projects that impact our brick-and-mortar stores globally, managing the priorities and strategic initiatives that drive our retail operations forward.
Tell us something people might not know about you:
I love being out on a boat — it’s one of my happy places. I grew up spending summers on Lake Tahoe, and that love of the water has stuck with me ever since. I’m about to start learning how to sail, and my long-term plan is to get my captain’s license so that in retirement, I can take out charters for fishing and exploring. My other happy place is Dodger Stadium — Blue Heaven on Earth.
What brought you to CrossFit in the first place?
Honestly, I felt like I was on an island trying to find a fitness community after I moved down to the Ventura area. I was so used to having the resources that came with being part of the athletic program at UCSB, and I struggled with 24 Hour Fitness and working out alone at home — I had zero motivation. I needed to get back into shape for my wedding and was looking for something to get me excited about training again. I mentioned this to a high school friend who does CrossFit up in the Portland area, and he described all the things I’d been missing most about that athletic community. So I looked up CrossFit gyms in the Ventura area and decided to give it a try. I remember my first class — the push and the camaraderie hit immediately, and I felt like I was part of a community again. That was almost 4 years ago, and I couldn’t be happier.
What was your first impression? How has that changed?
Honestly, I didn’t come into CrossFit with any real expectations. If anything, I thought it would be like any other gym class — I’d never really paid attention to CrossFit before trying it out. That impression has changed a ton. Everyone at the gym is working toward a goal that’s specific to them, but everyone shows up dedicated to chasing that goal every single day. That drive and determination, mixed with the joking around and fun, is what keeps me coming back. Regardless of each person’s individual goals, it shows up as a shared toughness and no-quit mindset across the gym. I know this firsthand — there have been plenty of workouts where I wanted to quit, and I know I’m not the only one. Everyone pushes through and celebrates each other for it. The community is what keeps me coming back, and some of my closest friends have come out of it.
What was your first “Bright Spot?”
Honestly, this one’s easy: my first bar muscle-up was by far my brightest spot. I never did any gymnastics movements in my athletic career, and I was terrible at pull-ups — honestly, I still kind of am. But I’ll always remember the day I got my first bar muscle-up.
What are you working on now?
Right now I’m taking an approach I haven’t really paid much attention to before — dialing in my nutrition. Over the last 3 months, I’ve been working with a nutritionist, focusing on getting the right amount of protein every day. That’s my main focus and goal each day: unlocking how I feel in everyday life and in my workouts by paying close attention to what I put in my body. The results over these 3 months have been eye-opening, so I’d say I’m working on a more well-rounded approach to healthy living — not just showing up to train each day.
What’s your favorite BeachSide CrossFit memory?
My favorite memories are events like the CrossFit Open and hero workouts, like Murph. They’re hard, but everyone shows up excited, and the celebration afterward is always a blast to be part of. Everyone’s in it together, and that’s the best part of those workouts.
