Who Are We?
Pagosa Springs, CO lies in the shadow of Wolf Creek Pass at 7,126 feet above sea level - high altitude training at its best. Hosting everything from skiing, snowboarding, trail running, mountain biking, and river rafting, to the world-renowned hot springs, Pagosa is a center for outdoor activities.
CrossFit Pagosa opened in 2011 and with over 30 classes each week, including weight training, endurance, and yoga, along with nutrition challenges and guidance, CrossFit Pagosa is dedicated to helping you reach your goals.
Join us and discover what CrossFit can do for you!
Trainers
Kari Cole
Co-Owner, CrossFit L2 Trainer, Nutrition Coach
I have always been in “ok” shape – not super athletic, but not a couch potato. Basketball was my sport of choice and I played it all the way through school, right here in Pagosa Springs! This has been my home since I started 3rd grade at Pagosa Springs Elementary school back in the 1900s. After high school I left for college, tried not to gain a lot of weight, but found little time for fitness. I later worked fitness into my life by joining various “globo” gyms throughout my twenties.
My first “aha” moment in fitness was when I took a Step Aerobics class led by a friend and fitness mentor. Her support and encouragement led me to become a Certified Personal Trainer in 2011. In 2012 I also started teaching classes in Step Aerobics, Zumba and Hip-Hop Cardio. In 2015 I received certification in Sports Nutrition.
The only thing missing was competition. The drive of competition - both with others and with myself - to reach new levels of fitness. The answer … CrossFit Pagosa’s Elements Class (now called Intro). I signed up for my first Elements Class in 2014 and got hooked! I continued teaching fitness classes, offering personal training and nutrition coaching, for a time. But it was clear my heart now belonged to CrossFit.
I became a Level 1 CrossFit Coach in 2018, received certification as a Nutrition Coach through the Working Against Gravity Affiliate Program in the Spring of 2019, and in Summer of 2023 I leveled up to an L2 CrossFit Trainer.
In 2021 I became a co-owner of CrossFit Pagosa and have been pouring my heart into it ever since. I love coaching athletes of all ages, shapes, sizes and backgrounds in the gym – seeing them reach new levels and beat personal records they never thought possible! I also love coaching athletes on the nutrition side of the equation … a missing link to many fitness routines. CrossFit Pagosa is a place of inspiration and support that I am honored to be a part of. I encourage anyone - no matter where they're at on their fitness journey - to see if CrossFit Pagosa might be the "fit" their looking for.
Sylvia Thompson
CrossFit L2 Trainer
Health and exercise came into my life later than some - when I was younger and lived in Belgium the closest to exercise I did was sprinting several times a day to catch my bus. From Belgium, I moved to Las Vegas before settling in Pagosa Springs with my husband. Life is about transformations and our capacity to renew ourselves seems infinite. All the urban cushy life went out of the window when I became a volunteer firefighter. Carrying heavy and bulky equipment, pulling hoses, ladder climbing, and doing overhead work turned into huffing and puffing at the fire scene in the beginning. Then Crossfit Pagosa entered my life and I never looked back. The varied functional movements performed at different intensities helped me to increase my endurance and strength. I want to share the possibility to change the dull predicament of growing old and the benefits of working out.
Justin Frie
CrossFit L1 Trainer
Physical work and activity have always been a part of my life. I believe we were created with an amazing body that is meant to be used to its full potential, and when we do it makes for a fuller and better life. I have always loved sports, epic adventure, and increasing my abilities. I was introduced to Crossfit by a friend in 2015 and was immediately addicted to the intensity, challenge, and community. Even after doing Crossfit for years I am constantly still being challenged and I’m surprised by how enjoyable and life-giving it still is. My desire to be a coach was born out of my appreciation for the coaches who have been a part of my journey and my desire to help others grow in theirs. Coaching Crossfit has increased my passion and appreciation for the training methodology and sport of Crossfit. I am constantly impressed by how Crossfit produces fitness and greater quality of life in everyday individuals, stay-at-home parents, CEO’s, and retirees. It is my constant privilege to be a part of this gym, its staff, and its community.
Matt Cole
CrossFit L2 Trainer
Fitness, and physical activity have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I was involved in athletics from a very early age, playing organized sports. In high school I focused on soccer, baseball, and wrestling.Early adulthood found me in the Army, and physical fitness and preparedness is paramount in that endeavor. After the army and upon moving to Pagosa I was a farrier, and being fit greatly improves effectiveness in this trade as well. I am currently a Ranch manager which has its own physical demands. I started my crossfit journey in November of 2016. I wanted to improve my quality of life, and tighten some things up! It was one of the best decisions I have made. Not only has it drastically improved my physical self, but brought me into a social community that is incredible! I took on coaching because I have always enjoyed helping people, and seeing them push themselves to levels they only imagined. I look forward to not only my fitness journey, but also everyone that walks through the doors of Crossfit Pagosa!
Sunni Blue
CrossFit L1 Trainer
I always loved the idea of being fit but it did not become a priority for me until 2022. For the 22 years prior to that, I had an incredibly physical job as the Assistant Director of Lift Maintenance and Operations, at Wolf Creek Ski Area. I worked long hours shoveling, hiking in the snow, carrying, climbing, and snowboarding with heavy things like chain hoists, and ski lift equipment. Lifting, lowering, pushing, and pulling heavy objects was just a part of my daily life. I loved the physicality of my job, so after retiring from my position, I knew I had to become more intentional with my fitness. I just was not sure how. Two of my sisters-in-law were CrossFit members and they encouraged me to try it. I eventually did and, after my first class, I knew CrossFit was for me!! The movements, the workout structures, and the incredible community got me hooked, and continued to leave me feeling stronger, inside, and out. Day after day, month after month, year after year, I recognized the positive changes in myself. Changes I never thought possible. It is this positivity and the possibility of positive change that inspired me to become a coach and share my passion for fitness with others. I believe that absolutely everyone has some sort of fitness goal, and we are all here to help you reach it.
Elisa Dolan
Yoga Instructor
I’m Elisa, the founder of LucidSol Studio, a yoga studio grounded in the principles of wellness and inclusion. Fifteen years into my yoga journey, I became a certified teacher in 2019. Currently, I am deepening my studies under Sarah Klein and K-lea Gifford at Anu Yoga and will complete my 500-hour certification by the spring of 2025. In addition to teaching yoga, I offer sound healing, meditation, Myofascial release, and breath work. I currently work at The Springs Resort, where I lead yoga and sound healing sessions, and I also teach private group classes at local Airbnbs, providing travelers with a unique wellness adventure off the beaten path. This spring, I’m excited to be leading workshops across the Four Corners region and teaching at Sangha Yoga Fest again! I’m deeply passionate about creating inclusive spaces for people to experience holistic wellness, no matter where they are in their journey.
