Coaches

Daniel J

Daniel J

Daniel J is one of the 4 owners of CrossFit West, and has been in the fitness industry for over 10 years. He is in charge of the programming for the CrossFit classes, CrossFit Kids, and Barbell classes. He has many certifications from CrossFit Level 2, CrossFit Weightlifing, CrossFit Kids, NASM, and his Sports and Performance USAW. He continues to learn in regards to health and fitness, staying current with evidence based research and currently teaches a Healthy Habits class at San Francisco State University. Daniel understands the importance of fitness with all demographics, and his goal is to expose as many individuals as he can using a facility that is filled with a positive community and passionate coaches.

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CrossFit Level 2 Trainer

CrossFit Kids

USAW Sports & Performance Coach

CrossFit Weightlifting

Nico

Nico

Nico Cianciarulo is one of the 4 owners of Crossfit West! He is a Level 2 CrossFit Trainer. Nico is known for his ability to motivate through his humor and ability to help athletes of all levels find and further develop their potential. Nico’s fun, outgoing, and positive coaching style will leave you inspired to learn more about health and wellness through CrossFit.

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CrossFit Level 2 Trainer

Kat

Ashlee

Ashlee Toland started CrossFit in 2010, while playing Division 1 college soccer for the University of North Carolina Greensboro. After competing in college sports she found that CrossFit satisfied her desire to compete. A few years following college, she had her daughter and dedicated more time to becoming stronger and more fit. She began coaching in CrossFit in 2016 in hopes to share her passion for the sport with others. She found a love for CrossFit gymnastics when she first started CrossFit in 2010. After obtaining her L-1, she decided to pursue more education and skills in gymnastics. In addition to coaching CrossFit classes, she currently coaches the Gymnastics class at CrossFit West. 

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CrossFit Level 1
CrossFit Gymnastics
CPT
 
Brittany

Britt

Brittany Birchall has been an athlete her entire life. Starting with soccer at the early age of five, she developed a love for sports that led her on a lifelong athletic journey to try every sport that came her way. With a strong work ethic, a love for athletics and outdoor adventure, Britt knew that something was lacking in her training and athletic experience. She found CrossFit in the summer of 2009 at Orange Coast CrossFit in Southern California. Soon after, she began training under the instruction of CrossFit legend , Ski and Snowboard Hall of Famer, and Olympian Eva Twardokens. Birchall states, “CrossFit gave me that competitive edge and intensity that I have always desired as an athlete.”

Britt’s continued desire to seek out the best in the business makes her a well-rounded and experienced CrossFit coach. She has trained under one of the original CrossFit “Nasty Girls” and CrossFit Games athlete, Annie Sakamoto, former 3 time USA Olympic Weightlifting Team Coach Jim Schmitz, World Class powerlifting and strength coach, Louie Simmons, owner of Westside Barbell, and Taylor Galadyk former CrossFit Games, Grid athlete and United States Marine which have allowed her to develop her coaching skills and expertise in the sport of CrossFit for both mental and physical preparedness. Brittany believes that CrossFit gives people a second chance at health and fitness and allows people to break mental and physical barriers, while increasing one’s over all ability to not only advance at their given sport, but at the game of life.
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CrossFit Level 2 Trainer

CrossFit Football

Trigger Point Performance Therapy

CrossFit Gymnastics

CrossFit Goal Setting

NFHS Concussion in Sports

M.A. Educational Leadership

Kat

Dave

In 2009 Dave Berry found CrossFit in San Luis Obispo.  Though first a skeptic of the methodology, the focus on movement mechanics and increasing work capacity resonated with his studies in mechanical engineering and won him over.  He’s gained exposure through different coaches, gyms, and competition settings, but still finds the basic tenants of mechanics, consistency, and then intensity to be the most valuable lesson learned through CF, and aims to spread that philosophy in his classes.
 
CrossFit Level 3 Coach
CrossFit SME Courses: Endurance, Goals, Gymnastics
Catalyst Athletics Advanced Weightlifting Seminar
Mobility WOD Level 2
Power Athlete Seminar

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Heather

Heather Tyler has lived in Santa Cruz her entire life. She has been heavily involved in the community for majority of her life from working on the ambulance to helping start the grass roots, non profit Santa Cruz Derby Girls. Her friend Annie Sakamoto took her to her first CrossFit class in 2004, and Heather has been hooked ever since. She agrees it was evident after so many years in the CrossFit community for her to take her Level-1 certification course. Heather enjoys helping people better themselves. She has had such a wonderful personal experience with CrossFit, becoming more fit, reaching new goals and making such great lifelong friendships that she looks forward to passing that experience of community and camaraderie onto others in the diversity of our gym. 

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CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
Over 35 years of team sports and semi professional leagues
EMT and paramedic certified
American Heart Association CPR and BLS instructor
Founding member and 5 year all star player for the Santa Cruz Derby Girls
Founding member and coach of Santa Cruz Derby Groms youth league
NorCal masters athlete 2019

Kat

Megan

Megan has been in the fitness industry for more than 16 years and is incredibly passionate about helping others and creating a fun and supportive atmosphere for everyone.

She began dabbling in CrossFit in 2009 by watching videos on CrossFit.com and attempting to do the workouts at the local 24 Hour Fitness but was determined not to drink the kool-aid until a friend finally convinced her to take a class at her first CrossFit box in 2010.

She was hooked right away when her first coach, Pat Barber, aka “Manimal,” of CrossFit Santa Cruz made her feel like she was already a part of the community. She knew right away that this was where she wanted to be—never mind that the workouts were insane and she loved it!

Her goal for athletes is to create a supportive, fun, educational environment and for everyone to feel challenged and successful. We are a community of people that are passionate about living a healthy life and helping others do the same.

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CrossFit Level 1 and 2 Trainer

CrossFit Kids Trainer

CrossFit Weightlifting 

CrossFit Mobility

200-Hour Registered Yoga Teacher

BS Kinesiology—emphasis in Exercise and Fitness Specialist 

MS Exercise Science—emphasis in Sports Psychology

Keely

Coach Keely started her fitness journey in 2010 with CrossFit West and has evolved from first time crossfitter to one of our experienced coaches. She loves to teach new athletes the fundamentals of lifting and loves helping all athletes reach their specific fitness goals!

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CrossFit Level 1 Trainer

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Kristen

Kristen Hutson found her love for fitness in 2009, as a 15 year old,  at CrossFit Santa Cruz. Her career started when she transitioned to assistant coaching the Teens Class at CrossFit Santa Cruz when she turned 18. She officially started her coaching career at CrossFit Ready 2013. She has coached at 3 large training facilities around the county: CrossFit Watsonville, CrossFit Ready, & now finds her home at CrossFit West.

She continues learning through up to date evidenced-based medical journals, articles, and podcasts. Her key focuses are safety, fun, and empowerment. Her goal is to see each individual proud of themselves- helping them achieve more than what they thought was possible. She brings individualization to each class: adjusting cues, communication style & energy to fit each clients needs & goals as individuals. 

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CrossFit Level 1

Tami

Bio soon to come!

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Sam Hutson

Sam

Bio soon to come!

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Sam Hutson

Veronica

Veronica is a Santa Cruz local who found CrossFit a year and a half after having her now five year old daughter. Shortly after that she started working at Cabrillo College where she obtained her personal training certificate and began leading classes to the kinesiology students on campus. During that time she fell in love with CrossFit and added an L-1 certificate to her belt. She aspires to help make people the best versions of themselves inside and outside of the gym which she believes happens in the mind first, the kitchen second, and inside the gym itself last. She will complete her bachelors degree at UCSC this year (2019) in sociology and plans to receive her masters in psychology with an emphasis in health afterwards. Aside from all that you can find her behind a camera photographing a wedding, hiking outdoors or baking something off Pinterest that turns out nothing like the picture that the author posted. 

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CrossFit Level 1