Coaches
DAVE RUBIN, Owner
Dave received his Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Physiology from The George Washington University. He is a CrossFit Level I Trainer, National Strength and Conditioning Association Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, and USA Weightlifting Club Coach. He holds CrossFit Kettlebell, Olympic Weightlifting, Barbell, Gymnastics, Rowing, Mobility, Goal Setting, and Nutrition Certifications. He is also a USA Weightlifting Local Referee.
Dave competed on a nationally-ranked co-ed cheerleading squad during college, but has since traded partner stunts and pyramids for cleans, snatches, and pullups….lots and lots of pullups. After nearly 20 years of weight training, CrossFit has showed him what fitness is really all about.
After spending nearly 15 years in the traditional commercial fitness industry in major markets like New York and Washington, DC, 11 of those with the biggest “big box” gym there is, Dave is excited to share his passion for CrossFit and the real fitness it brings to anyone who wants to listen.
ALLISON BETOF
Allison received her Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Cornell University and is currently pursuing her MD and PhD at Duke University. As an undergraduate, she wrote her honors thesis on the relationship between sport-specific training, balance, and muscle control in athletes. Her PhD research focuses on the effects of exercise on cancer growth and progression.
Allison began gymnastics at age 3, and competed as a Junior Olympic Level 10 and NCAA Division I gymnast. She completed her first marathon (the Nike Women’s Marathon in San Francisco) in October 2008. She has since completed two full marathons and two half marathons. She found CrossFit in March 2009 while training for her first triathlon, after realizing that endurance training had significantly diminished her strength.
After showing up at CrossFit Durham and quickly knocking out some pullups, Allison earned the nickname “KipMaster B”. She drank the CrossFit Kool-Aid on Day 1 and never looked back. After more than 10 years of coaching experience in gymnastics, she is now a Level I CrossFit Trainer and CrossFit Running and Endurance Certified. She is excited about bringing her knowledge of gymnastics movements and love of CrossFit to the awesome community at CrossFit Durham.
RYAN BROWN
Ryan Brown is a graduate of Appalachian State University with a BS in Exercise Physiology. He is CrossFit Level 1 Certified, a USA Weightlifting Sports Performance Level 1 Coach, and holds the CrossFit Goal Setting Certification.
Ryan played ice hockey for 6 years during his youth and has dabbled in Parkour and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He has spent periods of his training specializing in a variety of areas including Road Racing, Parkour, Gymnastics and pure barbell strength.
Ryan was raised in Raleigh but now spends the majority of the year living in Boone, NC, enjoying many of the outdoor activities the area has to offer. He can also be seen performing stand-up comedy at open mics across the Triangle and in Boone.
ANNA CARTER
Anna holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (2007) and a Bachelor of Arts in History (2003) from UNC Chapel Hill. She is CrossFit Level 1 Certified and also holds CrossFit Kettlebell and CrossFit Movement and Mobility Certifications.
She has been involved in sports and fitness since childhood, dabbling in everything from softball and basketball early on to karate and kickboxing in more recent years. A friend introduced Anna to CrossFit in 2009 and it was love at first kettlebell swing. She had been looking for something new, something challenging, something to break her out of the “Globo” gym rut she had been in for so long.
CrossFit has helped Anna not only increase her level of strength and fitness, but also her overall health through proper nutrition and rest and recovery regimens. Helping others achieve these same results, while still improving her own skills is one of Anna’s main goals now.
ASHLEY DENTON
Ashley received her Bachelors of Business Administration and Marketing from Southeastern Oklahoma State University. She is a Level I CrossFit Trainer, CrossFit Movement and Mobility certified, and has attended the CrossFit Coaches Prep Course.
Ashley played basketball and ran track in high school, was the captain of a nationally-ranked NCA all-girls cheerleading squad in college, and has over a year of training in Muay Thai under her belt. She was introduced to CrossFit in May 2008 and quickly drank the “kool-aid”. She has been promoting CrossFit to her family, friends, and random strangers ever since.
Ashley loves seeing the physical and mental transformation people go through after they start CrossFit. She says, “We often sell ourselves short and convince ourselves that we’re not capable of things. CrossFit changes that….we’re not designed to be fragile beings.”
EMILY EGGE
Emily is our very own “in-house” rowing Coach, committed to eradicating the “ugly erging syndrome” so pervasive in gyms and fitness centers across the country through patience, understanding and a few thousand pause drills.
Emily began her competitive rowing career in high school where she was a National Champion and member of the Junior National Team. She went on to compete at the University of Virginia where she was a ACC and 2-Time NCAA Champion. She has served as the Novice Coach and Recruiting Coordinator for 8 years at Duke, Georgetown and University of Louisville.
Emily is now an occasional endurance athlete, spending most of her time running, on the bike, swinging the kettlebell or attempting to find flexibility & zen on the yoga mat.
COURTNEY FAISON
Courtney is a native of North Carolina and a stuntwoman for film and television. She is a master of Chinese Goju Karate and holds black belts in Tae Kwon Do, Wing Chun Kung Fu and Aikijitsu. Courtney is a CrossFit Level I trainer and CrossFit Olympic Weightlifting Certified. She has been a coach/trainer for both fitness and martial arts for more than 10 yeears in New York, Los Angeles and Miami. Courtney was inducted into the Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 2005.
SARAH GLASS
Sarah received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Penn State University, followed by her Ph.D in Human Molecular Genetics from Ohio State University. She is a Level 1 CrossFit Trainer, as well as a USA Weightlifting Local Referee, and holds the CrossFit Goal Setting Certification. Sarah currently enjoys her full time career as a geneticist at a local pharmaceutical company.
Sarah rowed on the Penn State Club Crew Team and after college spent much time doing the standard gym lifting and marathon training programs. After finishing two marathons and multiple half-marathons, Sarah was introduce to CrossFit through her husband. Sarah completed a Bootcamp at the original CrossFit Durham facility, and was immediately sold on CrossFit as an exciting and challenging fitness program that was perfect for an individual with time constraints around balancing lofty fitness goals with a demanding day job. The strength and conditioning gains she experienced far exceeded those from any previous training efforts.
After about a year of intense CrossFit training, Sarah contributed to the 3rd place Affiliate Team finish in the 2010 CrossFit Games Dirty South Region, which led to competing at the 2010 CrossFit Games in Carson, CA. This eye-opening and exhilarating experience allowed Sarah to appreciate the intensity and athletic prowess of the top CrossFit Games competitors. Subsequently, she realized that her love of CrossFit was best expressed through helping others experience similar success, and earned her Level I CrossFit Certification in May 2011.
DR. STEWART PETERS, D.C.
Stew received his Bachelor’s of Science degree from James Madison University in Health Science specifically Rehabilitation Biomechanics and Occupational Therapy. He attended Palmer College of Chiropractic for graduate school & is now a Chiropractic Physician and is licensed to practice Physical Therapy in North Carolina. Stew is a CrossFit Level I trainer and has been coaching Kettlebell classes in Chapel Hill for the past year.
Stew served as a U.S. Marine for 8 years where he had his first experience with functional fitness. He competed in and won the 220lb weight class in the Annual Marine Corp Camp Lejeune Power Lifting competition in 1996. Stew uses his Marine and educational experiences, including CrossFit, to hone his own skills in weightlifting, gymnastics, and monostructural exercise as well as coach others with their skills. Stew also has his first degree black belt in Kempo Karate under Professor Martin Buell with Universal Kempo-Karate Schools Hawaii.
PAUL POTORTI
Paul earned his Masters in Communication Studies from West Virginia University. He is CrossFit Level 1 Certified and holds CrossFit Rowing, Gymnastics, Mobility, Kettlebell and Endurance Certifications as well. Paul is the Director of Training & Professional Development at Campbell Alliance.
Paul discovered his passion for, running later in life, initially running as a means to lose weight. He was bitten by the racing bug after placing in his age group in the first race that he ran (the Komen Race for the Cure). Paul has been the overall winner in race distances including 5K, 10K, 10 mile, Half Marathon, Marathon (Umstead and Twisted Ankle) and Ultra (Triple Lakes Trail Race). Paul has also placed in “Adventure” Ultras, including the Mt. Mitchell Challenge, Uwharrie Mountain Run, and the Rattlesnake Trail Race.
Paul was introduced to CrossFit in 2009, and joined CrossFit Durham in 2010. Paul provides direction and support to his trainees, and brings passion, enthusiasm, and a sense of humor to his training. Paul is available for private and small group endurance coaching.
DOUG WESSLING
Doug earned his Bachelors of Exercise Sports Science from the University of North Carolina. He is CrossFit Level I Certified and hold a CrossFit Kettlebell Certification.
Doug ran competitive Track and Cross Country for UNC specializing in the 800 meter event, and severely missed the camaraderie and benefits from training in a group environment. After searching for the right type of workouts for nearly 10 years, he finally found CrossFit and was hooked immediately. Even after 18 months, Doug is still constantly surprised by the challenges that CrossFit workouts bring to even seasoned fitness veterans, and loves the fact that the workouts can still produce sore muscles, no matter your fitness level.
JACK WIGGEN
Jack received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from East Carolina University and a Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is currently a partner at Wiggen Law Group PLLC located in Downtown Durham. He is a CrossFit Level I trainer and has been a regular CrossFitter since August of 2008. Jack also holds USA Weightlifting’s Level 1 Sports Performance Coach Certification.
Jack started competitive swimming at a young age and competed as an NCAA Division I swimmer at East Carolina University. Since starting CrossFit over two years ago, Jack has found that he’s stronger and in better cardiovascular shape than when he was swimming four to five hours a day. He has been large part of the CrossFit Durham community and is excited to help others achieve CrossFit success.
BEATRICE YAXLEY
Beatrice received her Bachelors of Science in Aerospace Studies from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. She is a CrossFit Level I Trainer, holds the CrossFit Kettlebell Certification and is certified in Core Myofascial Massage.
Beatrice ran track and cross country, swam freestyle and breast stroke, and was a football, soccer, and weightlifting trainer. She was introduced to CrossFit in April 2009, a few months after running her first marathon. She has participated in many weight training programs over the years but CrossFit has provided her with the most significant gains she has seen, including taking over a minute off her her mile time.
Beatrice loves helping people reach physical goals they did not think possible.
RICHARD YAXLEY
Richard Yaxley, Ph.D. was born in Gainesville, Florida. He received his Doctorate from Florida State University in Cognitive Psychology and is a CrossFit Level I trainer. He is also a USA Weightlifting Level 1 Sports Performance Coach. While attending graduate school, he was an active member, rider, and racer on the FSU Cycling Team (cross country and road).
Rich started CrossFit while a postdoc at Duke University. Initially, he was hesitant about the usefulness of CrossFit’s short workouts after years of endurance workouts of 50+ miles. However, the efficacy of the intense and diverse workouts was eye-opening.
Rich believes CrossFit training can be performed by anyone to achieve a high level of fitness and improve their performance in any activity.
