Firefighter Kyle Jacobsen became a certified trainer to help emergency responders and police officers stay in shape. But his experience is crossing over to the community at large.
Jacobsen teamed up with Dean Kruse to open Cascade CrossFit in Preston, bringing a new style of working out to the Valley.
Both men are trainers with CrossFit, a strength and conditioning program for many police academies and tactical operations.
Workouts at the Preston gym tend to be short but intense, getting CrossFit gym-goers in and out in under an hour, but feeling like they’ve been working out far longer.
“People like it because it’s super quick and really intense,” Jacobsen said. “It’s pushing yourself for 10 to 20 minutes, and you’re done.”
Opening last winter in a 3,000 square foot space, one of the biggest around, Jacobsen and Kruse have made a following of 50 members that’s still growing.
When one thinks of a gym, images of treadmills, stationary bicycles and weight machines may pop into your heads.
At Cascade Crossfit, the only actual machines in the gym are rowers, Jacobsen said. “We definitely have equipment, but no isolation machines, we don’t believe in that.”
Equipment includes the medicine balls, kettle bells, dumb bells, olympic lifting bars jump ropes, rings and more.
Exercises consist of weights, air squats, planks, over head lunges and box jumps, to name a few.
“Anybody can go to this gym,” Jacobsen said. “We’ve got people who haven’t worked out in 20 years. Every workout is scaled to everyone’s needs.”
Cascade CrossFit focuses on group fitness, with the availability of a trainer for clientele at all times.
Whether it’s a full class or one person, workouts are run through in person. Jacobsen stressed accountability, encouragement and a little bit of competition.
“We would like to create a successful gym in the Valley that’s CrossFit style,” he said. “We’re looking to get as many people in the community fit.”
Cascade CrossFit will hold an open house, 5 to 8 p.m., Friday, July 16, to give visitors a look at what they can get out of a CrossFit workout.
