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Affiliate Ownership, Risk-Taking, and Resilience With Myles Lewis (EP. 006)

Myles Lewis is a father, husband, longtime CrossFit affiliate owner, coach, and member of CrossFit’s Seminar Staff. Since opening CrossFit Avalanche in 2008, he’s navigated the challenges of running a business in a competitive, high-cost environment while staying true to the fundamentals of CrossFit.

In this episode, Myles joins Denise Thomas to discuss his journey — from professional snowboarding to discovering CrossFit and becoming a coach. He shares lessons learned over 16 years of affiliate ownership, including how he adapted his business during the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of taking risks, and why simplicity and consistency are key to building a strong community.

Topics Included:

  • Myles’ passion for snowboarding and how it shaped his mindset
  • The story behind opening CrossFit Avalanche in 2008
  • Navigating affiliate ownership during the COVID-19 pandemic
  • How Myles brought some perspective to CrossFit’s executive team

Resources Mentioned:

Community Highlight:

This week, we’re highlighting Ashley Cullen, the owner of Big Gratitude CrossFit in Richmond, Virginia. A mother of six and wife to a military veteran, Ashley founded her affiliate in July 2024 with a mission rooted in service. Not only does she run a thriving CrossFit gym, but 100% of its profits go directly to support a nonprofit she created for disadvantaged youth and military veterans.

Want to follow Ashley’s journey? Check out @biggratitudecrossfit to see how she’s using CrossFit to make a meaningful impact in her community → https://www.instagram.com/biggratitudecrossfit

Know someone you think deserves to be highlighted? Nominate them here → https://crossfit.surveysparrow.com/s/CrossFit-Community-Stories/tt-PrkSJ

Share Your Thoughts:

Let us know what you think about the podcast and how we can improve here → https://crossfit.surveysparrow.com/s/The-CrossFit-Podcast—Feedback-Survey/tt-lf9Gf?ep=006

The CrossFit Podcast Trailer

Welcome to the CrossFit Podcast, hosted by CrossFit Seminar Staff veteran Denise Thomas.

Each episode features a conversation with a leader or legend within the CrossFit community sharing their experiences as practitioners of the CrossFit methodology, and first-hand witnesses to the power of CrossFit to create health and change lives in lasting and profound ways.

We’ll also sit down with guests from outside the community whose work in the academic or clinical space adds a valuable perspective to our discussions and collective understanding.

Along the way, we’ll unpack core elements of CrossFit’s identity that set us apart in our industry.

The CrossFit Podcast offers you the opportunity to listen to conversations between subject matter experts, long-standing affiliate owners, coaches and athletes, and pioneers in the charitable space. We’ll cover a variety of topics, including:

  • Lifestyle intervention and chronic disease
  • Accountability and agency
  • The role of the CrossFit coach
  • Mental health and CrossFit
  • The value of doing hard things
  • Paying it forward and the spirit of service

Subscribe to gain regular insights from the most thoughtful and experienced voices on health and fitness in the CrossFit community and beyond.

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