Coaches: Get To Know Us
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-February-Crossfit Cert-Santa Cruz
2005-August-Crossfit Cert-Brand X
2006-February-Crossfit Cert-San Diego
2006-May-Crossfit Cert-Santa Cruz
2006-Training Seminar-San Diego
2006-October-Olympic Lifting Seminar-San Diego
2007-Crossfit Level 2 Cert- Puyallup, WA
2007- Basic Barbell Strength- San Diego
2007- Olympic Lifting Workshop at Crossfit Eastside (Seattle)
2007- Crossfit Cert- Head Trainer- Portland
2007- Basic Barbell Strength- Redmond, WA
2008- Level 2 Certification-Santa Cruz
2008- Crossfit Level 1 Gymnastics- San Diego
2008- Crossfit Olympic Lifting Workshop- Victoria Island
2009- Crossfit Football Certified- May
2009- Crossfit Movement and Mobility Certification- Sept
2009- Internship with Crossfit Headquarters- December
2010-Internship with CFHQ- February
jenika@crossfitwestside.comMaya Taguchi
Maya has been practicing kendo, the art of the sword, since the age of three and has competed in numerous national and international tournaments. A three-time national champion and an active kendo instructor, she has always appreciated the importance of cross functional training as a supplement to her martial arts training.
Maya first fell in love with Crossfit while training under the guidance of Jenika for the 2006 World Kendo Championship. The intensity of the workouts, the philosophy of continuous improvement and the camaraderie of the Crossfit community were all factors that made Crossfit so appealing. Over the last year, she has been training with Crossfit Westside to prepare for the 2009 World Kendo Championships, which are to be held in Brazil. In addition to her kendo goals, Maya hopes to participate in the Crossfit Games in the near future.
Coaching Certifications:Kendo BC Coach
Crossfit Level 1 Certification – November 2009
In Training:
Megan Wiebe:
Megan accidentally discovered Crossfit while looking for a bootcamp back in April 2008. She quickly developed a passion for all things Crossfit related, but particularly enjoys strength training. She started Olympic weightlifting in September 2009 and has participated in several competitions with the SEMI Weightlifting Club. Megan completed her Level 1 Crossfit certification in San Diego in October 2009.
Megan has shifted her lifelong interest in nutrition and health toward a Paleolithic diet and lifestyle. In 2010 she attended Robb Wolf’s Paleolithic Solution seminar as well as Charles Poliquin’s BioSignature Method course. Check out her 30 day Paleo Challenge under: Megan’s Menu
Coaching Certifications:
Crossfit Level 1 Certification: November 2009
BioSignature Certified: May 2010
Asja Major
When Asja was introduced to CrossFit nearly three years ago, she never expected that she would come to eat, sleep, and breathe the program. But soon after joining CrossFit Westside, Asja developed a passion (some may call it an obsession) for athletic training that she had never experienced before. She now often finds herself starting her sentences with, “The great thing about CrossFit is…” and ending with something different every time. Asja’s dedication to the program has been in many ways, life altering, which is why she is excited to join CrossFit Westside as a coach. Asja loves the idea of being able to support all level of athlete, from the beginner to the elite, in exceeding their fitness goals, and in the process, building inner strength and confidence.
Coaching Certifications:
Crossfit Level 1 Certification March 2010
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:
Crossfit Level 1 Certification May 2010
Donal O’Reilly
In 2007, after years of climbing, skiing, martial arts and coaching several disciplines, Donal had reached a plateau in his workouts. Exercises had become routine and uninspiring. Donal discovered Crossfit in 2007, from friends in the military community. In 2008 Donal joined CFWS. In the fall of 2009 Donal competed in his first Crossfit competition, which lead to competing at the 2010 BC sectionals. Goals for the coming year include breaking 1000 in CF Total, and prepping for the 2011 sectionals.
Coaching Certifications:
Crossfit Level 1 Certification May 2010
Tanya Erb
Tanya was first introduced to CrossFit just over a year ago and, thanks to CFWS, her relationship with the program grows stronger with each passing WOD. Tanya loves playing outdoors and has had a long-term interest in hiking, climbing and snowboarding. But over the past year and a a half–as her initial flirtation with CrossFit has blossomed into a full-blown love affair–Tanya is spending less time in the mountains with a rope or a board, and most days of the week in the gym with a kettlebell, medicine ball or barbell. Yet, when she does reconnect with her old loves in the mountains, she finds herself hiking farther, climbing harder and riding stronger, all thanks to her beloved CrossFit.
Tanya loves the fact that CrossFit is scalable to all fitness levels, never stops being a challenge and really delivers results. The dedicated and top-notch coaching, and the fun-loving and exceptionally motivated community of athletes, all make CFWS a team that Tanya feels super fortunate to be a part of. As part of the team, she thoroughly enjoys her role helping out in the CFWS Office.