Introducing the Beach Cities Fitness team

Head Coach, Owner

Equipped with a bachelors in Exercise Science, I set out on a quest to discover what fitness really meant and how I could deliver it to others and keep it fun at the same time. In 2007, I was introduced to CrossFit by a mentor of mine and was blown away at what I learned. I spent the next couple of years training clients on an individual level. Not long after, I jumped on board the group fitness train. Since then, I have traveled the world and lived abroad, gaining my CrossFit certification as a Level 3 coach and even participating in the Latin American regionals and CrossFit Games in 2012. Since 2013, I’ve been calling SoCal home with my superstar wife, Tarrah (mom, nurse, AND coach), and our three bundles of energy: Branson (6 yrs), Nolen (4 yrs), and Keanna (1.5 yrs). In 2014 we opened Beach Cities Fitness (CrossFit Dana Point) and fulfilled our common goal: To build a space to teach CrossFit fundamentals, create an environment of community networking, and practice healthy living and wellness through mind, body & spirit.

QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelors in Exercise Science from Sacred Heart University; 2006
Pain-Free Performance Specialist Certified (PPSC) Certified CrossFit Level 3 Trainer (CF-L3)
CrossFit Gymnastics Certified Trainer CrossFit Scaling Course CrossFit Judges Course (2015, ’16, ’17, ’18, ’19, ’20, ’21, ’22)
Attended Ben Bergeron’s Affiliate Excellence Seminar 2018
FormerLead Coach and Co-Programmer at Dynamis CrossFit, Carlsbad, CA
Former Head Coach/Programmer at CrossFit Muscle Beach, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
Former Coach at 7 Mile Strength and Fitness (CrossFit 7 Mile), Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
Resistance Training Seminar with Charles Poliquin Freestyle Connection Seminar with Carl Paoli
Vanquish Performance Enhancement Olympic Lifting Seminar
Strength and Conditioning Clinic with Jason Gusic (Westside Barbell)
Personal Trainer/Coach, 15 years of various fitness industry experience.
CPR Certified

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Former Division 1 collegiate football player: Four time letter winner and 2 year starter on Sacred Heart University’s Division 1 FCS football team
2012 CrossFit Games Competitor, Team CrossFit 7 Mile 2012 Latin American Regional Champions CrossFit Games, Team CrossFit 7 Mile
Completed the 2010 Alcatraz Challenge Aquathlon (1.5 mi swim/7 mi run)
Completed over 10 Sprint/Olympic Triathlons
Current Lululemon brand ambassador.

Coach, Owner

I was born and raised here in Southern California. I am the oldest of three with two brothers and love traveling and finding adventures where ever I go. I played a few sports growing up including softball, soccer, surfing and cross country/track and field. I played at Dana Hills high school and was lucky enough to be awarded a scholarship to run Cross Country at Pepperdine University. I would have to say it influenced my health and fitness journey tremendously!

After I graduated from Pepperdine, I had a myriad of different jobs. I would call this my “growing period.” I learned a lot about myself, what I wanted to do, and even met my one and only husband and best friend, Zak. We had a bunch of adventures together including living in the Cayman Islands for 2 1/2 years! We even adopted our furry pup, Tugger from Cayman.

You know what they say, first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the gym! We opened CrossFit Dana Point in 2014. Inspired by Zak and his ability to follow his dreams, I went back to school to pursue Nursing. I became a registered Nurse in 2017. And somewhere in there we had our first baby boy – Branson. Next came our fearless Nolen, then the lovely Keanna. As our family grew, so did our gym community. And I couldn’t be more thankful and proud of what we built.

I have been happy to play more of a role at Beach Cities Fitness as both a coach and personal trainer. I believe in continuing to learn and grow into my better self and promise to do the same for my patients and members.

QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelors Degree in Business Administration – Pepperdine University; 2007
Registered Nurse;  2017
CrossFit Level 2 Certified (CF-L2)
CrossFit Level 1 (CF-L1)
Certified Pain-Free Performance Specialist Certified (PPSC)
Basic Life Support, CPR
Advanced Cardiac Life Support

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Pepperdine Womens Cross Country Scholarship Recipient 2003-2007
Pepperdine Womens Cross Country Team Captain 2006, 2007
Pepperdine Surf Team 2007

Coach

I am a proud USC Trojan alumna (Fight On!) with a degree in Neuroscience and a Doctor of Philosophy in Cognitive Sciences from University of California, Irvine (zot zot). I found CrossFit in 2017 as I started training for a career in public service and discovered more than just a fitness routine; I found a family. Beach Cities Fitness is a community of like-minded individuals who are all invested in each other’s journeys and progress towards completing their goals. As a CrossFit coach, my priority is to ensure my athletes have a safe and enjoyable experience while pushing their limits. I believe it is important to know the goals of my athletes and what drives them to keep coming back for more. I have competed in several local group competitions and encourage all members to experience the CrossFit community both within BCF and with other local gyms. Together, we will work towards your goals and have a great time along the way!

QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor’s Degree in Neurosciences – University of Southern California; 2013
Master’s Degree in Cognitive Neurosciences – University of California, Irvine; 2017
Doctor of Philosophy in Cognitive Neuroscience – University of California, Irvine; 2019
CrossFit Level 2 Certified; July 2021
CrossFit Level 1 Certified; January 2019
Pain-Free Performance Specialist Certified (PPSC) California Certified Emergency Medical Technician
CPR Certified.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
2022 CrossFit Open Quarterfinalist
2021 CrossFit Open Quarterfinalist

Coach
I was born in Virginia Beach, VA, moved to Baltimore as a baby, and moved out to sunny SoCal in 1992. I grew up on the softball field. Moving to California meant we could play year round! During my 14 years of fast-pitch softball I traveled to many states, internationally, and hosted tournaments where we played teams from all over the world. After a couple injuries and some time off, it was time to find new ways to exercise. Around 2010, I starting working out with a trainer who did CrossFit style workouts at her home gym. This allowed me to learn a lot of the movements and terminology before I ever stepped foot into a CrossFit gym. Eager to learn new things and push myself harder, a mutual friend brought me to Beach Cities Fitness (at the time we were named CrossFit Dana Point) for a Saturday partner WOD in 2016. I’ve been a member ever since. After 3.5 years at BCF, coaching just happened organically for me. When I’m not sweating alongside all the athletes at BCF, you can probably find me either on the golf course or the softball field. I play slow pitch softball two nights a week, and I picked up golf about a few years ago. I’m looking forward to growing and pushing myself both as an athlete and a coach – how about you?!

QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor of Arts in Economics; 2008 California State University, Fullerton
Dean’s List
Classes in General and Sports Nutrition, Kinesiology, and Yoga
CrossFit Level 1 Certification
CPR Certified
Private Softball Trainer/Coach.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Winner of a dance-off with a stranger in Vegas to “Thriller”
Shot a 85 in golf (I’ve only been playing a few years!).

Gym Manager, Coach

Being born and raised in Southern California I have had a love for sports since high school! I played a variety of sports until college where I found one I loved enough to stick with. I rowed at Orange Coast College for three years and started learning about fitness for the first time. Soon after, I was introduced to CrossFit and found a sense of community in fitness. Believe it or not, I started working as an Admin Assistant at Beach Cities Fitness before I actually starting working out there (and can’t dream of stopping now)! Zak took me under his wing and has taught me so much about CrossFit and how we can use it to help people. I love having the opportunity to learn from a coaching and athlete standpoint. As a coach I am strong on the fundamentals and love to teach someone to do something they have never done before!

QUALIFICATIONS:
Certified CrossFit Level 1 Trainer (CF-L1)
Pain-Free Performance Specialist Certified (PPSC).

ACCOMPLISMENTS:
Skied a double black diamond on fourth day ever skiing
Chipped my tooth with a barbell

Coach
Dale found CrossFit in February 2011 at CrossFit Huntington Beach.  He was 41 years old, twenty-five pounds overweight, had a high-stress career in finance, a horrible diet and was only 1 year removed from a 27-year cigarette addiction. He was definitely not the image one would conjure when they thought of “CrossFitter.” Think round, red guy waiting for a heart attack. How he changed from that guy to the guy you now see in the gym is nothing short of a miracle (And he owes it all to CrossFit & his lovely wife)!Dale is married to his beautiful wife, Kiki, and has 2 amazing daughters, Cami and Lindsay. He enjoys snow skiing, hiking, obstacle course races, adventure races, and golfing…oh and he’s the singer and lead guitarist of a local rock band…and of course he loves doing all things CrossFit.

QUALIFICATIONS:
CERTIFIED CrossFit Level 3 Trainer 2018
B.S. Biological Sciences, UC Irvine 1995
Adult & Infant CPR/AED & First Aid 2020
CrossFit Olympic Lifting Certificate 2013
CrossFit Gymnastics Certificate 2013
CrossFit Goal Setting Trainer 2013
CrossFit Judge Certificate 2022
CrossFit Level 2 Trainer 2013
CrossFit Level 1 Trainer 2011

Coach

CrossFit was a natural progression for me from competitive organized sports. I grew up playing baseball since I was 5 years old and played till I was 17. I started playing basketball when I was 11 years old and continued till college. After multiple ankle injuries and no growth spurts in sight, I realized my competitive basketball days ahead would only reside in adult intramural leagues and only if I found a way to keep myself healthy and on the court. Recreationally I enjoy tennis, pickleball, volleyball, table-tennis, wakeboarding, snowboarding, and surfing.

I was introduced to CrossFit back in 2008 when a coworker invited me to a workout in a covered parking garage right here on PCH. It was a basic 3 rounder for time that leveled my understanding of PACE. Little did I know but that coworker had planted a seed in my head that would grow. I called him up a year or two later to ask about the training to find out he had opened a gym in San Juan Capistrano. After a week trial I said, “Sign me up!”, I was hooked. He suggested that I check out several other gyms in the community and then come back to him.

I tell this story because it reminds me what the community is about and that my friend’s goal was not to take my money but to make sure I would find a place that was right for me. As I searched, I learned the culture that surrounded CrossFit was uniquely supportive and welcoming. That is how I ended up at Active Performance and where I eventually became a coach. 

Over the years I have dropped into Beach Cities Fitness for a few workouts and really enjoyed the atmosphere. My wife and I started a family a few years ago and moved back to Dana Point to raise our children here. Born and raised here, we truly love South County. When I am not in the lab working on the microscope, you will often find me at the park, beach, or the gym.

I met Zak at Shipwrecks park with our kids and naturally you see someone wearing “the gear” and you know the conversation that happens next. Now a family of five (Keira, Logan, and Hunter), I am excited to join a gym close to home. I look forward to the opportunity to meet everyone and to having an impact on your efforts to obtain a higher level of fitness and health.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Crossfit Level 2 Trainer (CF-L2)
Crossfit Level 1 Trainer (CF-L1)
Crossfit Active Performance Coach (6 years)
Crossfit Judges Course (multiple years)
Crossfit Scaling Course
CPR certified
Bachelor of Science – Cell Biology (CSUF)
Certified Clinical Cytogenetics Scientist, CG (ASCP)CM

ACCOMPLISMENTS:

Been married to my beautiful Wife Danielle for 8 years
Have 3 healthy children: Keira (6), Logan (3), and Hunter (14 months)
Hiked Half Dome – Yosemite (twice)
Hiked Angels Landing & The Narrows – Zion
Ragnar Relay Race – SoCal (twice)
Ragnar Relay Race – Napa Valley
Turkey Trot participant (5K & 10K)
Race for the Cure participant (5K)
Basketball and Track & Field Scholar Athlete/Letterman
Novice Juggler (I know one trick)

Coach

I was introduced to CrossFit in 2018 when I was 15 years old. I am so grateful to have found CrossFit at such a young age. While I have always stayed active between surfing, swimming, running, dance, roller derby, and martial arts, nothing has compared to my love for CrossFit. CrossFit brings out my very competitive side which pushes me to work harder everyday. After attending Beach Cities Fitness for a couple years Coach Zak and Tarrah encouraged me to get certified and now here I am! Coaching is the absolute best job ever, helping members accomplish their goals and crush workouts is so fun to experience with them. Being a very enthusiastic athlete myself has tremendously helped my coaching by relating to the athlete and wanting to see them thrive. Outside of the gym I spend my time working for Orange County Lifeguards, or adventuring somewhere with my puppies!

QUALIFICATIONS:

Certified CrossFit Level 1 Trainer (CF-L1)
1st Degree Blackbelt TaeKwonDo,
BLS & CPR Certified American Heart Association

Coach

He went to the 2014 CrossFit Games Masters division and placed 19th in the world