Meet the Coaches
Crossfit Westside is committed to offering you the best coaching and training in Vancouver. We will always offer a fun, positive, and safe environment that allows all our athletes to learn and grow in the Crossfit Philosophy.
Jenika Gordon
Jenika is the Owner/Operator of Crossfit Westside. She has been teaching Crossfit for 5 years now and is very passionate about Coaching. Her love for sports and Crossfit has enabled her to become a Level 2 Crossfit Coach. She is also certified in Olympic Lifting and Powerlifting. She loves mountain biking, rugby, any water sports, and has completed the Squamish Triathlon, Boston Marathon, and countless running races.Currently she is playing with the Burnaby Lake Rugby Club and trains with Semi Weightlifting Club.
Seminars and Certifications:
2005: Crossfit Certification-Santa Cruz
2005: BCRPA Fitness Theory, Weightlifting, Personal Training Certified
2005: Crossfit Certification-Brand X San Diego
2006: Crossfit Certification-San Diego
2006: Crossfit Certification-Santa Cruz
2006: Crossfit Training Seminar-San Diego
2006: Crossfit Olympic Lifting Certification-San Diego
2007: Crossfit Level 2 Certification- Puyallup, WA
2007: Crossfit Basic Barbell Strength- San Diego
2007: Olympic Lifting Workshop with Mike Burgner
2007: Crossfit Certification- Head Trainer- Portland
2007: Crossfit Basic Barbell Strength- Redmond, WA
2008: Crossfit Level 2 Certified-Santa Cruz
2008: Crossfit Level 1 Gymnastics- San Diego
2008: Crossfit Olympic Lifting Certification- Victoria Island
2009: Crossfit Football Certified
2009: Crossfit Movement and Mobility Certification
2009: Internship with Crossfit Headquarters
2010: Internship with CFHQ
2010: OPT Exercise Physiology: Assessment
2010: OPT Exercise Physiology: Program Design
2011: OPT Business Systems
2011: NCCP Level 1 Coaching Certification
Heather Barthau
Heather started doing Crossfit in 2008 and hasn’t looked backed since. Heather’s favorite thing about Crossfit is how it is constantly varied and always challenging. When Heather moved to Vancouver she came across Crossfit Westside. She loved the community and coaching so much that she decided to to become a Crossfit Coach. She has recently been certified in Crossfit and attained her BCRPA Personal Training Certificate.
Coaching Certifications:
2010: BCRPA Fitness Theory Certified
2010: BCPRA Weight Training Certified
2011: BCRPA Personal Training Certified
2011: Crossfit Level 1 Certified
2011: Crossfit Olympic Lifting Certified
2011: Manager at Crossfit Westside
2011: Crossfit Coaches Prep Course Certified
2011: NCCP Level 1 Coaching Certification
Morgan Carlson
Traditionally, Morgan has preferred activity to exercise, favouring hiking, biking, and climbing over going to the gym, where he was never quite able to sustain his motivation. But after hearing a lot about CrossFit, Morgan started training at CFWS in the Fall of 2008 and was completely hooked after the first workout, even though it literally knocked him flat! Now, while he still loves his outdoor activities, Morgan has also found much to love about CrossFit: the constant variation keeps the workouts interesting, and the infinite scalability keeps them challenging; the friendly competition inspires him to find new levels of intensity, while the camaraderie in the gym keeps the training fun; and being able to track the progress provides an incredible sense of accomplishment. Above all, Morgan loves CrossFit for the way it has him feeling increasingly able, both physically and psychologically. It is this that inspires Morgan most as a coach: helping people expand their own sense of what they are capable of.
Coaching Certifications:
2010: Crossfit Level 1 Certified
2010: Crossfit Movement and Mobility Certified
2010: Coaches Prep Course Certified
2011: Lead Trainer at Crossfit Westside
2011: Crossfit Endurance Certified
2011: NCCP Level 1 Coaching Certification
2011: ISSA Personal Training Certified
Taunya Loeppky
Taunya had not heard of Crossfit until she became a certified ISSA trainer in the spring of 2008. At the time it seemed somewhat intimidating and perhaps a little too intense to get involved in. But by April of the following year, her curiosity had gotten the best of her and she went on to take her Crossfit Level 1 certification. As she has continued to take these certifications, she has become more hooked on the Crossfit lifestyle.
Taunya is passionate about Crossfit because it challenges her everyday. There is always something different to focus on, a record to beat, a new skill to learn. Crossfit is humbling yet so rewarding.
Coaching Certifications:
2008: ISSA Certified Fitness Trainer
2008: Kettlebell Trainer Specialist Level 1 and Level 2
2009: Crossfit Level 1 Certification – Huntington Beach
2009: Pre and Postnatal Fitness Specialist Certification
2010: Crossfit Endurance Certification
2010: Crossfit Level 1 Certification – Vancouver
2011: Crossfit Olympic-Lifting Certification
2011: NCCP Level 1 Coaching Certification
2011: Crossfit Coaches Prep Course Certified
Ema Markovska
A proud mom, an avid biker and a former capoeirista, Ema is a passionate CrossFitter.
The organic approach to fitness, the exceptional coaches and enthusiastic community at CrossFit Westside inspired Ema to become a confident and knowledgeable athlete and coach. Ema loves the scalable aspect of CrossFit that offers people from different walks of life experience great success in both physical and mental preparedness. Ema enjoys her daily experiences in learning and teaching proper form and body awareness, true effort and elite fitness. Also, CrossFit helps Ema keep up with her petite gymnast at home performing pull ups, pike holds and splits.
Coaching Certifications:
2009 CrossFit Level 1 Certified
2009: BCRPA Certified Personal Trainer
2009: Pre and Postnatal Specialist
2010: Crossfit Gymnastic Certified
2011: Crossfit Kids Certified
2011: NCCP Level 1 Coaching Certification
JP Levesque
I have always had a passion for sports. As a kid I played baseball, as a teenager I loved skateboarding and snowboarding. As an adult I needed to find something that would get me strong and keep me fit without getting myself hurt. I went to several commercial gyms but without the necessary direction or knowledge it was never enough to keep me interested or see results. I first tried Crossfit in 2007 after seeing it online. All it took was one class and I was hooked. I became a crossfit coach in 2009 while I was studying for my AA Degree in Human performance at LWTC in Kirkland WA . The reason I am so drawn to crossfit is it keeps me wanting more, it drives me to want to be a better coach and athlete every time I step into the gym.
Coaching Certifications:
2009: Crossfit Level 1 Certified
2009: Human Performance at LWTC
2008-2011: Crossfit Coach in Seattle until moved to Vancouver
Geoffrey Yee
Geoffrey is a member of Semi-Weightliftiing Club. He has been competing since 2007 and assists in coaching the Olympic WeightLifting Classes at Westside. He has valuable knowledge from his own training and 5 years experience in Weightlifting.
Athletic Achievements:
Gold 105kg category at 2010 Junior Canadians
Bronze 105kg category at 2010 Western Canadian seniors
Bronze 105kg category at 2010 Senior Canadians
Silver 105 category at 2011 Western Canadian seniors
Bronze 105 category 2011 Senior Canadians
Won best male lifter BC Senior championships 2011
Hold 105 kg BC Junior record in Clean n Jerk, and Total
Hold 105+ kg BC Junior record in Clean n Jerk
Holds sub-Junior BC Powerlifting in 100kg and 110kg categories 2008
Coaching Achievements:
NCCP level 1 Coaching Certification
Coached at:
Crossfit 1st Annual Olympic Weightlifting Competition 2011
39th Annual Seafest 2011
A an R Memorial 2012
What is Crossfit Westside?
Crossfit Westside in downtown Vancouver offers Group Classes and Private Training using the Crossfit Strength and Conditioning philosophy. We take functional movements such as the the squat, push up, pullup, deadlift, clean n jerk, running, rowing, skipping, and jumping, mix them up, and execute them in short intense workouts. Each workout has a different combination of exercises with varied repetitions, rounds, and time. To learn more about what we do at Crossfit Westside contact us at info@crossfitwestside.com
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