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In the 'get to know our athletes' series our Crossmaxx® athletes and ambassadors tell you all about how they got into crossfit, what their goals are and they share tips and tricks! In this blog Crossmaxx® athlete Bastiaan answers our questions.
How did you come into contact with crossfit and what made you decide to start?
"My wife is from Belfast, Ireland. A friend of ours, Andy Gausden, is the owner of Crossfit Northern Ireland. He always asked us when we were over in Belfast to come and train. In the summer of 2011 we did our first training. It was the Hero wod Jack, a 20 min AMRAP of 10 push press, 10 box jumps and 10 kettlebell swings. Both of us were devastated after the training and we were both immediately sold. That week we did a few more workouts and then we got home we went straight to work in a normal gym. We followed the program of Crossfit Northern Ireland. At that time there weren't many crossfit boxes in the Netherlands. Finally we found in Wijhe, half an hour away, a place where we Under the guidance of Karen Tovmasjan we were able to lift weights and we traveled to Driebergen, about 45 minutes away, to do some 'real crossfit' at FSF, it was all well worth it!
How did you get to know Lifemaxx / Crossmaxx®?
Training went really well and I quickly qualified for competitions. This tasted like more and it all became more serious. Crossmaxx® was already the largest brand for crossfit products in the Netherlands at the time, so I decided to take the plunge and asked if they would sponsor me.
What is your ultimate fitness dream / goal?
In 2016 I won the French Throwdown and this year I wanted to go back to perform there again. Hopefully this will happen this year and otherwise next year. I'm not looking too far ahead at the moment because it's just hard to plan things at this time.
What is your favorite exercise and your least favorite exercise and why?
My favorite exercise is the snatch. The movement suits me and I have been successful with it many times during competitions. I find Thrusters tough and they always test my limits.
Do you have any tips / tricks for athletes?
Train hard and smart. Follow a balanced training program and make sure you have the right people around you that can push you, but you can also have fun with."
Would you like to know more about Bastiaan? Then follow him on Instagram.
