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, USA Weightlifting Club Coach, CrossFit Kettlebell Trainer, CrossFit Olympic Weightlifting Certified, CrossFit Barbell Certified, and CrossFit Nutrition Certified.
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. After graduating from college and beginning medical school, she began looking for new athletic challenges. 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. She will often be found walking on her hands around the gym, doing burpees in bars, and talking about CrossFit to literally anyone who will listen. 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.
Allison teaches our Endurance WODs and is available for both private endurance coaching and private and small group gymnastics coaching sessions.
RYAN BROWN
Ryan Brown is currently pursuing his Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science at Appalachian State University. He is CrossFit Level 1 Certified and has 3 years of experience working with the CrossFit Methodology.
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.
ASHLEY DENTON
Ashley received her Bachelors of Business Administration and Marketing from Southeastern Oklahoma State University and is currently pursuing a Masters of Sports Science in Sports Fitness and Sport Studies. She is a Level I CrossFit Trainer and CrossFit Movement and Mobility certified.
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 been actively training Muay Thai for over a year. 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.”
COURTNEY FAISON
Courtney is a native of North Carolina and a stuntwoman/fight choreographer for film and television. She is a Master of Chinese Goju Karate, in which she holds a 3rd Degree Black Belt, and holds a 3rd Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Aikijitsu. She was named the Martial Arts Hall of Fame Outstanding Instructor in 1998 and Woman of the Year in 2005. Courtney is a CrossFit Level I trainer and CrossFit Olympic Weightlifting Certified. She has been a coach/trainer for both fitness and martial arts over the course of ten years in New York, Los Angeles and Miami. Courtney was inducted into the Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 2005.
Courtney is available for private and small group martial arts and self-defense sessions.
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.
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 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 and 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. 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.
