Kat Curtain lift weights at the North Country Crossfit gym in Plattsburgh.
While the outside temperature was rising above 90 degrees, the inside of the North Country Crossfit (NCCF) gym had athletes pushing through the heat during their custom-designed workouts for their personal fitness goals.
Co-owner of the gym, Ben Freiberg, guided and pushed his students to tone key muscle groups using weights and other tools. The most important component to the workout, however, is the athlete, he said.
“In Crossfit your body is the most important machine and we just use the other equipment to challenge it,” said Freiberg.
Freiberg and his fiancé Meg Kriff opened the gym at 130 Arizona Avenue in January. Kriff said it is a business for improving your life.
The building was once the former simulator space for the Plattsburgh Air Force base. Kriff and Freiberg rejuvenated the building with new walls, paint and supportive flooring to create a Plattsburgh home for the Crossfit movement.
“There wasn’t a gym up here to work out at as far as Crossfit was concerned,” said Freiberg. The pair had worked for years in the Atlanta, GA, area as gym instructors and coaches for Crossfit before coming to Plattsburgh.
“We got to the point we were ready to push out with our own business and we were deciding on a place and Plattsburgh came to mind,” said Freiberg. “Meg grew up here and has family here so it was a good fit for us.”
The gym located near the airport may seem out of the way for some, but Freiberg said the openness and location allow for athletes to get out of the gym and run, workout in the sunshine to keep every workout different and exciting. The lack of neighbors also allows the music and the athletes to be as loud as they want without disturbing anyone.
“This place is great for us to bring the active lifestyle out in people and we are hoping to expand our gym here,” said Freiberg.
The workouts led at NCCF are personalized for athletes to achieve fitness and confidence in every day life.
“You only see the sport aspect of Crossfit on TV when there is a whole different side. We are more lifestyle, health and well-being so where it can come across as intense there is a starting point for everyone,” said Freiberg. “You don’t have to be in shape to come get in shape.”
The program is not only a workout class but Freiberg said it is a lifestyle and community and family oriented fitness program. The new business has relied on the fellowship of its members and its popularity has grown from there.
“We tend to attract the people who are looking to make a change whether they are just starting out or they are an experienced athlete and everything in between,” said Freiberg. “As people come and enjoy the program and like what happens they can decide to come back and then invite friends in and deliver that message. We’ve had a good response from the community.”
The gym hosts classes throughout the day, Monday through Friday and Saturday. For those new to Crossfit there are beginner’s boot camps during the weekend and a free, open workout on Saturday morning.
“We don’t want people to be intimidated to come in and check it out, people are welcome to come to our beginner’s courses and from there you elevate when you are ready,” said Freiberg.
The gym will also be trying to attract a younger crowd with a children’s class beginning in early July. Freiberg said the gym has patrons from age 13 to 65. The classes will be a Crossfit fitness program tailored to meet the needs of kids and their growing bodies, Freiberg said. It will mostly be body weight movements that teach the kids how to move better and remain healthy.
“As the kids get older and on into the teenage level we start introducing weights and other movements that will continue to help them grow and be healthy and strong. Classes are no more than an hour long. Younger kid’s classes will be a 30-minute session,” said Freiberg.
Membership is $130 a month or a single class is $15.
Classes are held Monday through Friday at 6 and 9 a.m., noon, 4:30, 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. and Saturday at 9 a.m. There is a free and open workout for anyone interested in starting Crossfit followed by a 10 a.m. members class.
For more information about becoming a member or dropping in to one of the classes at NCCF call Freiberg at (706) 464-2614 or Kriff at 570-6587. Questions can also be sent to northcountrycrossfit@gmail.com.