Troy “KT” Straith

Owner & Head Coach

Evolution BC opened in 2001, offering Martial Arts, Self Defence and Fitness. In 2006, while training to become Canada’s only Krav Maga Alliance Black Belt, Troy started CrossFit to take his fitness to a higher level. He got hooked on the reality and functionality of the training and soon after opened CrossFit BC in Vancouver and West Vancouver.

Every day, Troy looks forward to inspiring his athletes to achieve their goals of better health and fitness. He believes in leading by example, and posts his score for the daily Wod by 8am most days. Troy is proud of the community that CrossFit BC has become, where athletes from all over, come to get the very best in CrossFit training.

Troy has competed in many local and international CrossFit competitions including the 2011, 2012, 2013 & 2015 CrossFit Games.

Certs

• CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
• CrossFit Mobility Trainer
• NCCP Level 1 Olympic Weightlifting Coach
• CrossFit Level 1 Olympic Weightlifting Coach
• Certified Black Belt Krav Maga Instructor

Achievements:

• Competitor – CrossFit Games 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015
• Competitor – Canadian Affiliate League 2014, 2015, 2016
• Competitor – CrossFit BC Summer Challenge 2014, 2015, 2016
• Competitor – 2011 BC Masters Olympic Weightlifting – 1st place
• Krav Maga Black Belt Instructor
• 4th Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do
• Member of the Krav Maga Alliance Training Team

Sophie “Doph” Straith

General Manager

Sophie started her Martial Arts training at Evolution BC when it opened in 2001. After many years of training hard and apprenticing as an instructor, she achieved the rank of 3rd Degree Black Belt.
When Evolution opened CrossFit BC in 2007, Sophie started her CrossFit training. Seeing PR’s is nothing new to Soph, as she trains most mornings at the 7am class.

She has been working with the company since 2004 and is the General  Manager.

Sophie is the one to talk to on just about anything you need to know at the Evolution BC Training Centres.

Certs

• CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
• CrossFit Mobility Trainer
• CrossFit Anatomy
• PN Level 1 Certified

Achievements:

• Competitor – 2014/2015 CrossFit BC Summer Challenge
• Competitor – Canadian Affiliate League 2015 Fall Season
• Competitor – Canadian Affiliate League 2016 Summer Season
• Competitor – 2018 CrossFit BC Winter Challenge
• 3rd Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do

Amy “Jimmy Choo” Pieschel

Client Services

Amy has been training at CrossFit BC since 2012 and began working with us in 2015. Finding a fitness lifestyle a little later in life, she gets inspiration from all the amazing people she trains with and still loves a good PR. 

You can find Amy at the front desk in Yaletown, where she is happy to greet everyone with a smile. Contributing towards a fun and supportive atmosphere is what gets her up for the 7am class and makes her enjoy the evening until closing time.

Certs

• Crossfit Level 1 Trainer

Jason “Jayboy” Gach

Coach

Jason was an early advocate of Crossfit and started back in late 2004.
Previous to starting Crossfit, Jason played 13 years of competitive hockey growing up along with many other sports.
After university he spent years trying to find a fitness program that he could stick with: running, weightlifting, swimming, triathalons, etc. Once he found Crossfit there was no going back and almost 10 years later he’s still going strong having never missed a week since he began.
Jason, is a competitive athlete that has been coaching at CrossFit BC for 4 years.
Running a fun class is one of Jason’s top priorities along with providing good, detailed coaching in an inclusive, supportive environment.

Jason is a valued member of the CrossFit BC programming team.

Certs

• Crossfit Level 1 Trainer
• CrossFit Mobility Trainer

Achievements:

• 2010 Crossfit Games Regionals – Individual competitor
• 2011 Crossfit Games Regionals – CrossFit BC Team member

Lance “Specimen” Connelly

Coach

Lance has been training at Evolution BC since 2006 and Crossfitting since 2008. He began his coaching career in 2010 and currently programs the CFBC strength classes. He is a multi disciplined personal trainer and the lead Self Defence instructor at Krav Maga BC. Lance finds great satisfaction helping Evolution BC’s athletes realize their potential and achieve their goals.

Certs

• • Crossfit Level 1 Trainer
  • CrossFit Mobility Trainer

Achievements:

• • • Competitor – 2010 CrossFit Sectionals
    • Crossfit BC Team member – 2013 Canada West Regionals

Dan “JD” Webster

Coach

Dan has been a personal trainer for over 14 years and began Crossfitting in July of 2009.

He is the captain of the programming team at CrossFit BC.

As a happily married father of 2, this 42 year old is enjoying being in the best shape of his life. He is a friendly, passionate coach who enjoys taking the extra time and effort to help his athletes.
Through constant research, he is always looking for new, cutting edge information and techniques to achieve the best results in the least amount of time.

Certs

• Crossfit Level 1 Trainer
• CrossFit Mobility Trainer
• BCRPA Registered Personal Trainer
• Kettlebell RKC

Achievements

• 2012 Gorilla Games – 4th in Masters division

Sarah “SaraSally” Haggerstone

Coach

Sally is CF-L1 trainer whose interest in the sport started when she watched a competition in 2010.  A year into her training – during which she volunteered at local competitions and the Crossfit Games Regionals – she saw huge improvements in strength, stamina, endurance, coordination, accuracy, speed, and power, and decided to become a coach.

Sally has been coaching since 2012 and loves working with athletes to improve their technique and efficiency with an eye to detail.

She currently competes in Crossfit and trains as an Olympic weightlifter trying to qualify as a National level athlete. Her athletic background includes Ultimate Frisbee at the Provincial and University levels, Ashtanga Yoga, and Varsity Crew (rowing) at the University of Victoria.

Certs

• CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
• CrossFit Level 2 Trainer
• NCCP Level 1 Olympic Weightlifting
• Class 5 Olympic lifting Judge

Achievements

• Canada West Regionals team competitor – Crossfit BC Team 2013
• Stones & Strength Strongman competition – 1^st in 2015
• Olympic Lifting Gold medals: Seafest 2013, BC Provincial Championships 2014, Ogopogo Open 2015

Chris “Silent Sam” Chatzoglou

Coach

Certs

• CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
• CrossFit Mobility Trainer

Certs

• CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
• CrossFit Endurance
• CrossFit Olympic Lifting
• Mobility WOD

Mahyar “Mayhem” Ghorbanzadeh

Coach

Mahyar started kickboxing when he was around 13 years old and earned his black belt after three and half years. Looking for a bit of a change, Mahyar was pulled in weight training by one of his friends in 2011.

After a year or so, he took some Personal Training courses and received his BCRPA Certificate. Come September 2013, Mahyar attended his first CrossFit class and immediately got hooked. He enjoys CrossFit because there’s always something you can improve on and he loves the community aspect of it. He enjoys helping his fellow athletes improve in any way he can because it’s so exciting and rewarding for them to look back and see how far they’ve come.

Certs

• CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
• BCRPA Fitness Leader
• PN Level 1 Certified

Rob “Puddles” Goodfellow

Coach

Certs

• Crossfit Level 1 Trainer

Gabriel “Billboard” Bijok – Gold

Coach

Certs

• Crossfit Level 1 Trainer

Mike “Oly” Cartwright

Olympic Weightlifting Coach

Mike has won over 16 Regional titles and 17 National titles in the UK, World Master titles and set National and World Records. He has won the BC Masters 4 times and holds records in two weight divisions.

Mike is the Vice President of the BC Weightlifting Association

Mike is the head coach of the CrossFit BC Barbell Club and Capilano Weightlifting Club

• 2014 BC Masters Champion.
• 2014 BC Masters Championship Best Lifter
• 2014 BC Masters Records 94kg class
• 2014 Sea Fest Gold Metal
• 2014 Sea Fest Team Coach
• 2014 BC Provincial Championship Qualifier
• 2014 BC Masters Records 85kg class