Staff
Alec Hanson – Owner
Alec is the consummate competitor. He hates mediocrity in life and fitness and found CrossFit as an answer. A previous collegiate volleyball player for UC Berkeley, Alec has competed at some of the highest levels of sport performance, (just not the Olympics unless you count being a fan as a sport). Alec has attained his CrossFit Level 1 Certification and always looks forward to the next big push and personal record for himself and more importantly, the people who train with him. Alec is a positive encourager and motivator without accepting half-ass work performance. He believes in living life as it should be which includes not only superior work performance in the office and the home, but in the gym.
“The ability to live life to the fullest, to enjoy it in all it has to offer, begins with your own ability to move around in the physical world we find ourselves in. Your ability to dominate the physical world around you fulfills the basic purpose of man, without which the joys and colors of the world become dull and gray.”
Alec can be contacted at: alec@crossfitcostamesa.com and Facebook
More from Alec: The CrossFit Gamer (Blog) and Twitter
Favorite WOD: Fight Gone Bad
Playing on his iPod: Techno
Chris Worden – General Manager
Chris spent the better part of 2005-2008 looking at the CrossFit.com website, wishing he had a gym to call his own. It was only in 2009 that he found CrossFit Costa Mesa and the rest is history. He currently serves as the General Manager of CrossFit Costa Mesa and spends most of his time working with new clients. Since his introduction to the CrossFit methodology he has received a Level 1 CrossFit Certification with hopes of more certs in the months to come.
Chris’ desk is made of bumper plates.
Chris can be contacted at: chris@crossfitcostamesa.com and Facebook
Favorite WOD: Helen
Playing on his iPod: Atmosphere
Maximilian “Max” Mormont – Director of Training
Max played soccer, hockey, and football in high school and went on to play soccer at the collegiate level for Central Washington University. He started lifting weights at age fifteen. In college, his soccer coach introduced him to “body hardening,” which consisted of gymnastics and complexes mixed into high intensity circuits.
After rehabilitating a knee injury Max went through a brief period of bodybuilding, learning how to cut weight, add mass and look the part. After a few competitions he realized that this training method provided the aesthetics, but not the functions of athleticism so he began researching new training methods. From this experience he found his true passion for strength and conditioning.
Max trained out of Cal State Fullerton from 2002 to 2004, and worked as an assistant strength coach at University California of Irvine from 2005 to 2008 under Mike Nagler. He began incorporating kettlebells into his program in 2001 when he became Russian Kettlebell Certified. From here Max discovered Olympic weightlifting and received his USAW certification in 2002 under Mike Burgener. A great friend and his first oly lifting coach, Skipp Benzing, took Max on and helped him qualify for Nationals at his first competition. In 2003, he met Josh Everett, who introduced him to CrossFit.
Max holds a Level 3 CrossFit certification and has assisted at CrossFit Level 1, Olympic and Powerlifting certifications. He helped develop the CrossFit Football program and curriculum. He also holds NASM, Functional Movement Screening and Corrective Exercise Specialist certifications. Max is currently the athletic director for Community Roots Academy, where he is developing the physical education program for their students.
He qualified for the 2008 Olympic Trials for weightlifting, and is currently training to repeat this in 2012.
Max can be contacted at: max@crossfitcostamesa.com and Facebook
Favorite WOD: 3 Bars of Death
Playing on his iPod: Reggae
Kristan “K$” Bruce – Operations Manager
Kristan is not your typical CrossFitter. She is a mother of four who had limited gym experience until she found CrossFit. She is therefore living proof that anyone with a strong mind can not only do CrossFit, but greatly benefit from the program as well. CrossFit has pushed her well beyond her physical and mental limitations and has helped her drop 25 pounds in the process. She holds a California Teaching Credential and has been an elementary school teacher for 12 years. She recently received her Level 1 CrossFit Certification and is excited to lead the CrossFit Kids program here at CrossFit Costa Mesa. She has been married to her husband Scott for 8 years and they have four kids in the form of two sets of twins; Lexie, Matthew, Ryan and Jack.
Kristan can be contacted at: kristan@crossfitcostamesa.com and Facebook
Favorite WOD: Helen and Annie
Playing on her iPod: Billy Joel… and old school rap
Lindsay “Linds” Schuil – Onboarding Manager & Coach
Lindsay Schuil or “Linds” as she’s known in the gym has been working in the fitness industry for a number of years and has always loved being active (mostly running). She started CrossFitting in February of 2009, back when CrossFit Costa Mesa was nothing more than a gathering of like-minded people in a two car garage. Since then, CrossFit has changed her life in more ways than one. Linds is an ACE certified personal trainer and holds Level 1 CrossFit and Gym Jones Certifications. She loves encouraging others in the gym to push harder and reach for higher goals.
Lindsay can be contacted at: lindsay@crossfitcostamesa.com and Facebook
More from Lindsay: Oh Sweaty Life (Blog)
Favorite WOD: Helen
Playing on her iPod: Anything I can dance to!
Gillian “G” Formaneck – Coach
Gillian has been involved with CrossFit since 2006 and has her Level 1 Certification. She comes from a background in distance running, and is now a competitive Olympic Weightlifter. Gillian is a student working toward a kinesiology degree and aspires to become a college Strength & Conditioning Coach. She has competed in the CrossFit Games (2008) and two national Olympic Weightlifting meets, as well as a ten year career in running. She loves to coach and feels like CrossFit is a great tool to becoming a better all around athlete, no matter who you are.
Gillian can be contacted at: gillian@crossfitcostamesa.com
Favorite WOD: Helen
Playing on her iPod: Reggae, and definitely NOT dubstep!
Aaron “Double Barrel” Harrell – Coach
Aaron is our resident Gentle Giant. He came into CrossFit to fill the “competitive void” left in his soul after graduating from UC Irvine in 2008. During his collegiate career, he had the privilege to play for UC Irvine’s Men’s Volleyball program and finished school with a Degree in Biological Sciences. The need for competition runs deep, anything from soccer, thrusters, to Ping Pong becomes a source life giving sport for the lad. “Its not only the competition that I love, but the relationships forged in the common struggle of striving for something you want. CrossFit brings people together in a way much like the teams I have been a part of in the past.” He worked as a personal trainer at Equinox for nearly 4 years. During this time he participated in the CrossFit Regionals in April of 2009 and was hooked. “Having to balance your ability to function in each energy system at a high level and also have mental fortitude is pure genius.” He is new to the coaching realm but loves to help people break down and understand movement. He loves to make friends, so if you’re tall enough (he’s 6’ 4”) give him a high five.
Aaron can be contacted at: aaron@crossfitcostamesa.com
Favorite WOD: CrossFit Total
Playing on her iPod: Glitch Mob
Bobbie “Bobbert” Eftekhar – Coach
Bobbie is our resident lawyer gone rogue. She discovered a new passion for coaching and decided to return to school and pursue a second career. She is now working on a Masters in Kinesiology with a focus on Injury Studies and Sports Medicine at Cal State Long Beach. She also interns in the Strength and Conditioning department at UC Irvine where she handles the strength programming and coaching for the Cross Country team.
Bobbie has been a competitive athlete most of her life, playing tennis as a youth and turning to Muay Thai and Jiu Jitsu after College. Bobbie was first introduced to CrossFit in 2004 as a supplement to her training in Jiu Jitsu. She began her full time affair with CrossFit in March of 2009 when she discovered CrossFit Costa Mesa. Bobbie has seen significant improvements in her strength and conditioning since joining CrossFit Costa Mesa and now enjoys participating in local competitions whenever possible. She obtained her Cross Fit Level 1 certification in May 2011.
Bobbie can be contacted at: bobbie@crossfitcostamesa.com and Facebook
Favorite WOD: Annie
Playing on her iPod: Hip hop, pop and music that makes me want to dance
Dakota “Kotes” Conley – Coach
Dakota joined the CrossFit Costa Mesa family January 2011 while still attending Newport Harbor High School. He has always had a passion for swimming and running when he found CrossFit.
Dakota was a clean slate and developed his skills at CFCM, he has significantly increased his strength and capacity throughout his time here and is eager to pass his enthusiasm on to others. He became an intern/trainee here and is always eager to learn from, and support our diverse clients and coaches.
Dakota is a student at Orange Coast College working toward his degree and plans on majoring in Kinesiology. He enjoys competing at local events and is training to compete at a higher level soon.
Dakota has a CrossFit Level 1 Certification as well as completed the CrossFit Kettlebell and CrossFit Endurance Trainer Courses.
Dakota can be contacted at: dakota@crossfitcostamesa.com