Coaches

Front Range CrossFit has been a CrossFit Affiliate since April, 2006.  We are the 55th CrossFit Affiliate.  (As of January, 2012 there are over 3,000 Affiliates.)  Many of the Coaches that you see listed here have been CrossFitting with us from the beginning. 

As of January 2012, they average over 4.6 years of CrossFit experience as athletes, and over 2.9 years of CrossFit experience as Coaches.  Many of them have specialty certifications in addition to the basic CrossFit HQ requirement that they attend a Level I Certification.  Each of them have gone through and passed the 76 hour, FRCF Coaching Development Program before they are allowed to coach unsupervised. 

The level of experience the FRCF Coaches have is critical to our success as an Affiliate.  In addition, FRCF adds additional Coaches to the larger workout sessions.  We keep the Coach-to-athlete ratio to one Coach for every ten athletes in a workout. I hope you will come in and experience the level of coaching that we provide. 

Skip Miller

CrossFit Trainer, Level I (July 2006)
CrossFit Trainer, Level II (November 2006)
CrossFit Trainer, Level III  (May 2007)
USAW Senior Coach (January, 2011)
FRCF Master Coach, (June 2008) 
CrossFit Barbell Cert  (May 2009) 
CrossFit Running Coach  (January 2008) 
CrossFit Nutrition Cert  (February 2009)
CrossFit Gymnastics Cert  (April 2009)
CrossFit Football Cert (August 2010)
USA Weightlifting Club Coach  (May 2006)
American Kettlebell Club Coach  (October 2007)

Skip is a three-time Ironman finisher, former collegiate swimmer and former Infantryman with the 10th Mountain Division.  He currently competes in Weightlifting, Girivoy Sport and the occasional running race.  Skip has been CrossFitting since 2003 and competed in the 2008 CrossFit Games as an individual.  Skip is the 2010, 105 kg, Master's Nationals Olympic Weightlifting silver medalist.

He has coached Volleyball, Swimming, Triathlon, Olympic Weightlifting and Girivoy Sport.  Skip has been Coaching athletes in a variety of capacities for over 19 years. 

All of the above is interesting information and I am happy to share with you my athletic history and qualifications.  But what I am most proud of, and the information that matters most to you as a prospective FRCF member, is what I have accomplished as a Strength and Conditioning Coach.  What I can do does not matter nearly as much as what my athletes can do.  So I would encourage you to click on the link below and it will take you to our Athletic Accomplishments page.  There you will see our gym records and other significant accomplishments achieved at FRCF.

FRCF Athletic Accomplishments 

"Deeds not words."

Jodi Miller

CrossFit Trainer, Level I (November 2006)
CrossFit Trainer, Level II  (May 2007)
USAW Senior Coach (January 2011)
FRCF Master Coach (February, 2009)
CrossFit Barbell Cert  (May 2009)
CrossFit Running Coach (September 2008)
CrossFit Nutrition Cert  (February 2009)
CrossFit Gymnastics Cert  (April 2009)
CrossFit Kids Cert (April 2010)
CrossFit Football Cert (Aug 2010)
USA Weightlifting Club Coach  (June 2007)
American Kettlebell Club Coach  (October 2007)

Jodi competes in Olympic Weightlifting and won the 2007 Colorado State title in her age and weight class.  In 2010, Jodi was the 58 kg, Master's Nationals Olympic Weightlifting Silver Medalist and was ranked first nationally in the 53 kg, masters 40-44. She qualified and competed in the American Open in Dec of 2010. Jodi was one of only 5 masters lifters to qualify and compete in this National-level open competition. Jodi has also competed in triathlon, open-water swimming, 1/2 marathons, and Kettlebell Sport. She enjoys hiking, ski mountaineering and has completed many century road bike rides. Jodi has been CrossFitting since 2005 and competed in the 2008 CrossFit Games as an individual. 

Jodi and her husband Skip opened Front Range CrossFit in August of 2006 to fulfill their passion for health and fitness.

In addition to Jodi's fitness background, she has her Masters in Education and 7-years experience teaching art at the public school and college level. Jodi then persued a career in graphic design and was a Marketing Director for 6 years before committing to FRCF full time in August of 2008.

Jodi brings her understanding of teamwork, motivation and the ability to teach complex movements with efficiency, to her coaching with remarkable results. Jodi is the head coach for the O-lift, Barbell, and Skills classes and does the nutrition counceling in addition to her daily coaching responsibilities.

Jodi will provide you the support, knowledge and technique to achieve your fitness potential.

"Every day is an opportunity."

    

Mike Pistono

FRCF Senior Coach

CrossFit Trainer, Level I (June, 2007)
FRCF Coaching Development Course (October, 2008)
CrossFit Barbell Cert (May, 2009)
CrossFit Gymnastics Cert (April, 2009)
CrossFit Running and Endurance Coach (September, 2008)
USA Weightlifting Level 1 Coach (September, 2010)

Mike has been training exclusively using the CrossFit methods with FRCF since 2006.  He has an extensive endurance racing background, completing several marathons and numerous half-marathons.  He was an outdoor educator with Project U.S.E. for three years in the nineties.  He is currently working as a Flight-Nurse for Air Life. 

Mike placed third at the 2008 Colorado CrossFit Games, and competed as an individual at the 2008 CrossFit Games in Aromas California.  Mike was part of the FRCF Affiliate team that placed 9th at the 2009 CrossFit Games.  Mike currently competes in CrossFit events, Olympic Weightlifting events, and in Kettlebell Sport.  He has placed as high as 5th place nationaly in the Tactical Strength Challenge.  Mike is the 2010, 77 kg, Master's Nationals Olympic Weightlifting Bronze Medalist.

  

Cori Gobell

FRCF Senior Coach

CrossFit Trainer, Level I (June, 2008)
FRCF Coaching Development Course (October, 2008)
CrossFit Barbell Cert (May, 2009)
CrossFit Gymnastics Cert (April, 2009)
USA Weightlifting Level 1 Coach (September, 2010)
Has taken and passed the USAW Senior Coaching Course (January, 2011)

Cori was a competitive gymnast from grade school through high school.  She was fortunate enough to earn a full ride gymnastics scholarship to a top 12 division I college.  Her gymnastics career ended after her freshman year due to injuries, which allowed her to come back to Colorado and finish her BS in Nursing at CU.  She was a swim coach for 4 years, coaching a junior swim team.  She is a state certified trainer in Basic Life Support - CPR, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, and the Trauma Nursing Core Course.  She is currently a Flight Nurse for Air Life.

Cori has been a CrossFitter since 2007.  She placed first at the 2008 Colorado CrossFit Games.  She also competed in the 2008 CrossFit Games in Aromas California, where she finished 16th.  In 2009, Cori placed 3rd at the Rocky Mountain Regional Games in 2009, but gave up her individual slot to compete on the FRCF Affiliate team.  That team placed 9th at the 2009 CrossFit Games. In 2011, Cori was on the FRCF Affiliate Cup Team that placed 2nd at the Reebok CrossFit Games.

What she enjoys most about CrossFit is seeing how much work she can actually make her body do, finding out just how hard she can push herself past what she thinks her limits are.  The most exciting aspect of coaching CrossFit is helping people achieve both athletic and personal milestones that they never thought were possible.  Cori loves that the lessons learned in the gym about perserverence, dedication and hard work totally translate into everyday life.

Rich Hoover

FRCF Senior Coach

CrossFit Trainer, Level I (October, 2007)
FRCF Coaching Development Course (October, 2008)
CrossFit Barbell Cert (May, 2009)
CrossFit Gymnastics Cert (April, 2009)
NSCA Tactical Strength and Conditioning Facilitator
ACE Peer Fitness Trainer

Rich has been a CrossFitter since 2007, when he lost the lottery and was drafted to be a Training Lieutenant at the the Rocky Mountain Fire Academy.  He was one of the officers responsible for bringing CrossFit to the Fire Academy.  Rich was a full time Instructor there for 18 months and was responsible for the implimentation and daily execution of CrossFit training for the recruits. He was CrossFit certified in October, 2007. 

Rich placed 4th at the 2008 Colorado CrossFit Games. He went on to compete as an individual at the 2008 CrossFit Games in Aromas California.  Rich is currently training for the upcoming TSC.  Rich has been a full-time FireFighter for the City and County of Denver since 1999 and was promoted to Lieutenant in 2005.

 

Bradley Miller

FRCF Senior Coach

CrossFit Trainer, Level I (June, 2008)
FRCF Coaching Development Course (October, 2008)
CrossFit Football Cert. (Aug, 2010)
USA Weightlifting Level 1 Coach (September, 2010)
Has taken and passed the USAW Senior Coaching Course (January, 2011)

Brad, otherwise known as Jumbo Sexy, has been CrossFitting on and off since 2006.  He is a former Tennis Pro, who coached tennis for the first 3 years out of college.  During college he was ranked nationally in the top twenty, while also playing on the college's basketball team in the winter season. 

Brad started CrossFitting in 2006, and became a full time CrossFitter in the fall of 2007, when he moved to Denver and trained full time at FRCF for 6 months.  When I say trained full time for the winter of 2007, I mean that all winter all he did was CrossFit 6 days a week, eat, sleep and play XBox. 

He became CrossFit certified in May of 2008.  Brad placed 5th at the 2008 Colorado CrossFit Games.  He also competed as an individual at the 2008 CrossFit Games in Aromas California.  Brad competes at all of the national kettlebell challenges, always placing in the top 10.  Brad has the third highest Secret Service Snatch Test ever recorded.   Brad has been Coaching full-time for FRCF since November of 2008.

  

Roberto Martinez

FRCF Senior Coach

CrossFit Trainer, Level 1 (May, 2010)
FRCF Coaching Development Course (June, 2010)
USA Weightlifting Level 1 Coach (September, 2010)

I grew up playing soccer, as most kids do in Mexico. However, I was lucky enough to live close by the only ice rink built at the time in Mexico City, and had the opportunity to play ice hockey.

I was part of the Gold Medal team in the 1991 National Championship, and soon after I became certified as a Level 1 International Ice Hockey Federation Coach. That year I was named an assistant coach for the U15 Mexican National team that was invited to compete in the Asian Championships in Jilin, China.

Years later, as a father of a young Jr. Pioneers hockey player, I became certified as a Level 1 and Level 2 coach with USA Hockey.

I love hockey, but now I’ve found my new passion. I can honestly say that as soon as I finished my first WOD on March 28, 2008, I knew I would be addicted to CrossFit.  CrossFit has changed my life and now is doing wonders for my two children, both members of FRCF.

This year I became certified  as a CrossFit Trainer, and was given the chance to join the great team of red shirts (coaching staff) at FRCF. 

It has been an honor!

       

Sandie Hoover

FRCF Coach

CrossFit Trainer, Level I (January, 2009)
CrossFit Barbell Cert (May, 2009)
CrossFit Gymnastics Cert (April, 2009)
FRCF Coaching Development Course (June, 2009)

Sandie has been a CrossFitter since 2007.  She was CrossFit certified in January, 2009.  She placed 3^rd in the 2007 TSC, and competed as an individual in the 2008 CrossFit Games in Aromas California. 

Sandie grew up on a farm and ranch in eastern Colorado.  She has many stories about working the fields and driving cattle across the plains with her 3 beautiful sisters, all wearing shorts, boots, and a sports bra (yes, her Dad hated the attire).  She enjoys riding ATVs, hiking, traveling, and eating desserts.  She has been known to eat more than Jumbo Sexy. 

Sandie has been in the training and coaching field for more than 5 years.  She has a Bachelor's degree in Biology and Chemistry, certificate of Organizational Development, and is getting her Masters of Science in Organizational Leadership.  Sandie currently leads the training function for an international, multi-million dollar company.  Her passion for training and development professionally and personally add to her passion for coaching CrossFit.  She finds the most enjoyment in CrossFit by witnessing athletes not only push themselves harder than they think is possible, but also recognizing the physical and mental achievements that are gained.  Sandie brings her understanding of effective training and coaching techniques, personal motivation, and teamwork to the FRCF Coaching team. 

 

Sean Roeper

FRCF Coach

  

CrossFit Trainer, Level I (May, 2009)

FRCF Coaching Development Course (June, 2009)
USA Weightlifting Level 1 Coach (September, 2010)

 

 Sean has been a CrossFitter since October 2007. He was CrossFit certified in May of 2009, and has contributed to the Front Range CrossFit community ever since. He has been a full-time Firefighter since 2001 and instructs locally at the Rocky Mountain Fire Academy as well nationally at the Fire Department Instructors Conference. He enjoys the challenges that Crossfit puts on individuals. Helping the CrossFit athlete overcome obstacles is a favorite endeavor. Sean also enjoys numerous outdoor activities and spending time with his family.

 

Jeremy Christofferson

FRCF Coach

CrossFit Trainer, Level I (August, 2009)
FRCF Coaching Development Course (October, 2009)
USA Weightlifting Level 1 Coach (September, 2010)
Has taken and passed the USAW Senior Coaching Course (January, 2011)

Jeremy has been CrossFitting at FRCF since July 2008.  Prior to CrossFit, his strength and conditioning background came from training for football.  He started for 3 yrs as an offensive lineman and a co-captain for his collegiate football team.

He enjoys the physical and mental challenges CrossFit provides that can translate into everyday life.  Jeremy competes in many of the local and regional competitions.  He placed 18th at the 2009 Rocky Mountain Regional Games.  He was also part of the FRCF Affiliate team that placed 9th at the 2009 CrossFit Games. Jeremy placed 4th at the 2010 North Central Regional Games, earning an individual competitor slot for the 2010 CrossFit World Championships, where he placed 33rd.  In 2011, Jeremy was part of the FRCF Affiliate Cup Team that placed 2nd at the Reebok CrossFit Games. 

One regret he has is not finding CrossFit sooner in life.  CrossFit will help achieve a level of strength, endurance, and fortitude that is essential in any athletic competition or challenge.  Each day at Front Range CrossFit provides an opportunity to improve in each of these. 

Kurt Backes

FRCF Coach

  

CrossFit Trainer, Level I (May, 2009)
FRCF Coaching Development Course (June, 2009)

  

Kurt has been a CrossFitter since June 2008. He was CrossFit certified in May of 2009, and competed in the 2009 Colorado Open as well as the 2009 Rocky Mountian Regional CrossFit Games. 

  

Kurt grew up in a family that focused on the outdoors and fitness.  He spent the summers in the mountains - hiking, backpacking, mountain biking and fly fishing.  He played football and basketball from kindergarten through High School, although football was his passion.  He was fortunate enough in football to only lose a total of 10 games (3 in high school).  He has become addicted to the drive that CrossFit athletes have to re-define themselves, improve and push their own limits. 

  

Kurt’s full time career is in Sales Management within the professional services field.  He has trained, mentored and coached teams of sales people in the fundamentals and processes involved in excelling in the sales profession.  He also started and chairs an annual charity event that raises funds for the American Transplant Association. 

  

Kurt loves to spend time outside of CrossFit and work with his wife and two young kids, hopefully enjoying the outdoors together.

  

Pete Mentz

FRCF Gymnastic Coach

I found my new home at FRCF in April of 2009. Between the competitive environment and the dozens of sets of still rings, it was love at first sight. As any FRCF'er would tell you, with each passing day I grow more and more appreciative that I am able to train at a gym that has Skip and Jodi Miller at the helm.

I grew up in a household where we spent more time swinging on the high bar than playing ball.  Spent much more time with dad doing dips between chairs than sitting in chairs playing board games.  I received formal gymnastic training from Joe Greco, and later the infamous pair of Mr. Andrew Felice and Abraham "Gabe" Gabriel. Mr. Felice accumulated an overall gymnastic team record at Henninger High School of 212-12 with over 100 consecutive CNYCL victories.

Spent several years coaching under George Sabatka at the longstanding Westside Gymnastic School in CNY.  It would be difficult to count the numerous gymnastic scholarships Mr. Sabatka help students to earn. I'm certain it is well over 100.

Along with a deep respect for my former dedicated coaches, I have found that I have a sincere obligation to pass on what other have taught me.  I can usually be found in the gym, after a wod, willing to help those who show an interest in developing their gymnastic skills.

 

Big Jon Kissick

FRCF Rowing Coach

Jon is a two time collegiate national champion in Rowing and a five-year member of the US National Rowing Team.  Jon has two Pan Am Games gold medals, a bronze and a 5^th place finish at the World Rowing Championships, and a Gold Medal from the Goodwill Games.  Jon began his rowing carreer in college and ended it coaching for the University of California at Berkeley.

Prior to and after his rowing career Jon has been actively involved in outdoor activities and travels such as white water kayaking, cross country & backcountry skiing, hiking, mountainering and surfing.

Jon found Crossfit in January of 2008 as an efficient way to stay in shape for weekend activities.  Jon has come to value the comradery and support that is such a striking aspect of training at FRCF.

  

Erin Lamb-Smith "Lambo"

FRCF Coach

  

CrossFit Trainer, Level 1 (July, 2009)

FRCF Coaching Development Course (October, 2009)

  

Erin “Lambo” Lamb-Smith, a former nationally ranked martial artist, is a career Firefighter/Paramedic with the Tri-Lakes Fire Protection District.  After CrossFitting on and off since 2006, she began CrossFitting full-time in September of 2008.  She has completed numerous 5Ks, duathlons, triathlons, and half marathons.  Lambo completed her CrossFit Level I cert in July of 2009 and her FRCF Coaching Course in October of 2009.

  

In 2009 Lambo began competing and finished 10th place in the Colorado Open and 32nd in the Rocky Mountain Regional CrossFit Games.  She competes in various smaller events and is training for the 2010 CrossFit games.  Lambo placed 9th at the 2010 North Central Regional CrossFit Games.  She was on the FRCF Team that competed in the Affiliate Cup Team at the 2010 CrossFit World Championships. That team earned a 10th place finish.

  

While Lambo was a firefighter on the Western Slope she was an assistant instructor in the fire academy, before becoming the lead instructor.  Lambo is also an avid Olympic lifter, and will be obtaining a USAW Level 1 Coaching certificate in 2010.

 

 

Kerri Wenke

FRCF Coach

  

CrossFit Barbell Cert. (May 2009) 

CrossFit Level 1 Cert. (Nov 2009)
FRCF Coaching Development Course (January, 2010)

CrossFit Football Cert. (Aug 2010)

  

Kerri started CrossFitting in 2007 while trying to get in shape for a triathlon.  Originally her plan was to CrossFit for 3 months, but has been hooked ever since. She continued doing CrossFit to get into better shape for recreational softball and weekend activities. Little did she know, CrossFit would become her weekend activity. One thing that she enjoys about CrossFit is the empowerment it gives no matter your fitness level.   She loves the difference that it has made in her life, but also watching it make a difference in other’s lives as well.

 

Kerri competed in the 2008 Colorado CrossFit Games, placing 5^th. She also competed at the 2008 CrossFit games in Aromas, where she placed 33rd.  At the 2009 CrossFit Games she competed as part of the Brother's CrossFit team which placed 36th.  Kerri has competed in multiple Olympic lifting competitions as well as a few kettlebell sports competitions. She also enjoys competing at local CrossFit events.

  

Kerri currently works as a Registered Nurse in the Emergency Department. She also has a daughter that can be found at the gym lifting her PVC and yelling words of “encouragement” to her mother. Kerri recently totalled enough to qualify for the USAW American Open and  is currently training for that competition in December.

  

   

John Matthews

FRCF Coach

Papa John's college football career at SMU ended early due to injuries. He firmly believes that he would have suffered fewer injuries resulting in a longer football career had he known about CrossFit back then.  John joined FRCF in 2009 after moving to Denver from Telluride.  He had been doing the daily CrossFit workouts on his own in Telluride since, at the time, there was no CrossFit Affiliates there. 

In Telluride, in addition to his real estate development career, John was a ski instructor, a member of the San Miguel County Search and Rescue Team, an EMT with the Telluride Fire Protection District and an avid rock and mountain climber.  John has climbed mountains in Alaska, South America, Nepal and Tibet and has lead expeditions in the Himalayas where the team has donated gear and funds to the Himalayan Rescue Association. 

One of the things that John enjoys most about CrossFit is that it challenges conventional wisdom with respect to what is physically possible and he sees CrossFit as a tremendous asset to any athletic endeavor, not to mention general physical fitness. 

Dan Andrews

FRCF Coach

Dan dedicated himself to volunteer mountain search and rescue throughout his high school and college years. He joined the Denver Police Department in 1996 where he currently works as a field training officer and holds the rank of Corporal.

Dan found CrossFit in 2005 and hasn't been able to go to bed without knowing the next day's workout ever since.  Dan followed the CrossFit.com site before joining FRCF in the summer of 2009.  He has competed in the Colorado Police & Fire Games where he won gold in the team Toughest Competitor Alive event.   He has completed numerous marathons including the Bataan Death March and the Pike's Peak. Dan has also competed in several Olympic Weightlifting events including the 2011 CO State meet where he won silver in the 77kg class.

Dan is passionate about helping all those in the FRCF family achieve maximum wellness and their highest level of fitness.