Dan Neesom earned a degree in economics at the University of Guelph but found building muscle much more rewarding than building wealth.
“I was doing supply-chain logistic type stuff related to my degree and I just didn’t like sitting down all day,” said Neesom. “Coaching people through movements and seeing them learn a skill for the first time or get stronger and lose weight, that’s way more satisfying and interesting.”
He was born in Elliot Lake and moved with his family to Peterborough when he was one year old.
“I came to Guelph for school at U of G and loved it here,” he said. “I really haven’t been home since then.”
He completed his co-op work terms in the city and after graduation landed a full-time job here.
“I worked part-time at another crossfit gym and I wasn’t overly excited with my office job,” he said. “I really enjoyed training more so I took the chance to pursue it fulltime and luckily things have worked out so far.”
His girlfriend and business partner Amber Garrett is a competitive weightlifter with a degree in human kinetics. She has competed on the CrossFit Guelph Team in the Canada East Regionals.
“She does the programming and is also a full-time engineer so, she is busy,” said Neesom. “She takes care of me.”
They officially launched CrossFit 1827 on Aug. 12 but were already pumped up with community spirit.
“We chose 1827 because that is the year Guelph was founded,” said Neesom
“Before we were even open people were taking vacation days to come out and paint and help get the gym set up. They are happy now that it is open and often come for twice as long as they need to just because the community is so great here.”
