Nick Pankiw

I have inconsistently partaken in various fitness classes over the years but I think the primary factor for Crossfit itself was to improve my general fitness with a focused approach and now that I have been doing it consistently for 7-8 months the realization that I can see tangible growth with my results and also intangible growth with regards to my general well-being has kept me coming back. I should also credit Meghan Roberts, a fellow member of CFC and star of my softball team, for bugging me to come to the workouts until I finally showed up.

I’m a total sports nerd-I love traveling to watch my teams play (Raptors, Toronto FC, Blue Jays, Jets)…I’ve been to 24 NHL arenas, 10 NBA arenas, 11 MLB parks and 13 MLS stadiums…I also enjoy playing softball and ball hockey (and whatever sport that still has a league for me to try to play in), spin classes, amateurish guitar playing, movies/pop culture, craft beer (my main vice) and aquariums/zoos/wildlife conservation.

I could probably write a paragraph but to summarize: A supportive community of coaches and fellow athletes that push you to work hard and keep getting better.

Favourite superhero: It probably used to be Batman since being a billionaire, loner, crime fighter was something to aspire to but since that dream has mostly been crushed now it is certainly Thor from Avenger: End Game; a motivator for all of us who enjoy the occasional beer and pizza while watching TV and playing video games.

Favourite band/musician: Although I don’t listen to them often when working out, it would be The Tragically Hip…realistic and sobering takes on Canada and Gord Downie on the Man Machine Poem Tour was inspiring.

Celebrity-with the Raptors playing in the NBA finals as I type this it would be Kawhi Leonard right now.

So far it would have to be setting a real solid mark on my 1 rep back squat. Put me close to some athletes who are quite exceptional. Generally speaking I think maintaining a consistent attendance of 3-4 classes a week for an extended period of time has been an accomplishment as well. Has definitely paid off.

Jason: The anecdotes vary from either cringeworthy to world class with little middle ground. His energy throughout the classes are contagious and I think that helped push me to some excellent results. I still can’t tell if the threats of an extra 400 burpees for missing something is serious so I haven’t tempted fate.

Lindsey: Excellent demonstrator of the movements and you can tell she has done significant amount of legitimate competitions as her pacing tips have proven very helpful. It should also be noted that her motivation gave me a little extra to go for my PB on my back squat which is one of my prouder moments at CFC.

Lisa: Knew her from a previous gym I worked out at, highly enjoyed her workouts and her presence was a primary reason I ended up zeroing in on CFC. I always enjoy working attempting to keep up with her in the workouts as well when she is not coaching.

Michelle: I haven’t partaken in many of her classes due to my schedule but she is the one that focused me on really watching the form on my snatches. I often watch parts of the on ramps after my workouts and I think its a testament to her that relatively new people consistently show up.

Sara: Her personality is contagious and always can brighten a day when arriving for a workout. The classes in April were excellent, it was a challenging but interesting change to do a metcon first followed by some sort of lift/strength movement.

Shane: I haven’t attended as many barbell classes I probably should have due to scheduling, but he is a pleasure to workout out with and the tips on various lifts have proven invaluable in helping continually get better.

Steph: Another bright personality that always does an excellent job of motivating. When she is programming, I often dread the workouts (in a good way), but they always turn out to be excellent and are finished with a great sense of accomplishment. She was also the coach at my first workout back in November 2018-if she didn’t put on a good class it would be doubtful I would have stuck with it.

Taylor: It is always extremely motivating to see Taylor working out prior to a 600 PM session. Keeps the classes loose yet focused at the same time. I was floored when I heard his fitness story leading up to where he is now; it has certainly been an inspiration to keep showing even when you don’t entirely want to.

Tyler: The Thursday evening classes are always a great way to lead into the weekend. His patience in pointing out form improvements has definitely helped me get better. Has focus on flexibility and mobility has caused me to pay more attention to those two areas and that has certainly helped with my overall fitness level.

Overall, the mindset and attitudes of the coaches are contagious and the atmosphere they create is a massive contributor to getting motivated to attend regularly. All of us who go to CFC are very fortunate to have the group they do coaching.

Nothing immediate aside from continuing with incremental improvement across the board…longer term I would love to run a full marathon after having completed several halves and would like to give a real shot at some of the open workouts next year.

Never had the pleasure of coaching Nick, but have recently worked out alongside him during the 6pm’s. The guy is a grinder, and is very measured in his approach when it comes to metcons. Nick respects his fitness, and checks any form of ego at the door. Nick’s another example of a very coachable athlete, which seems to be following the athlete of the month trend this year. – Coach Shane