About Us
CROSSFIT BALLINA
We have created a supportive environment that focuses on providing a long term, sustainable solution to health and fitness so that you can live a long and healthy life. As a new member you will be provided with a unique prescription for exercise and nutrition that is tailored to your goals.
Our aim is to offer this while at the same time making sure that your hour at CrossFit Ballina is one of the best hours of your day!
Meet the Coaches
Ehren (Ez) Vaughan
Qualifications:
- CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
- CrossFit Level 2 Trainer
- Certified CrossFit Level 3 Trainer
- CrossFit Anatomy Certificate
- CrossFit Lesson Planning Certificate
- CrossFit Weightlifting Certificate
- Australian Weightlifting Federation Level 1
- U.S.A. Weightlifting Sports Performance Coach
- Certificate 3 in Fitness
- Bachelor of Business: Accounting and Finance
- Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certified
- 15+ years coaching experience
- The Female Athlete Level 1
- Standard Mental Health First Aid
- CPR
I grew up in Rock Valley (just outside of Lismore) and from a young age began competing at a national and then international level at Tennis. This finally led me to the U.S.A. on an athletic scholarship to the John Newcombe Tennis Ranch in Texas and then to Boise State University in Idaho. Throughout these years I trained regularly with some of the worlds best strength and conditioning coaches and was always motivated to make it to the gym as a way of improving performance.
After finishing competitive tennis I began working as a CPA. For 6 years I placed my health on the back burner and prioritized my career. I struggled to find motivation to train and was unsure about why I was even bothering to go to the gym. It was at this time that I found CrossFit. CrossFit opened my eyes to a group of people who had different priorities. They valued health, fitness and family just as much or more than they valued financial success and climbing the corporate ladder. As someone who was always fit it was also an eye opening period where I realized just how hard the past 6 years had been on my body and how out of shape I had become. Every ‘tax season’ (which lasted for 3 ½ months) I worked upwards of 70 hours a week my eyesight would get worse and my body composition would change in an unhealthy direction. It was CrossFit that caused me to reevaluate my priorities and to make a drastic change in my life which ultimately led to Lindsay and I packing up all our belongings into 8 boxes and heading back to Australia to run CrossFit Ballina.
CrossFit Ballina is my home and the team/members are my family. These days I am extremely passionate about helping people through a holistic approach that takes into account training, nutrition, recovery and quality of life in general. I personalize my offerings to each individual and ensure that I am available to walk side by side with members as they face the countless obstacles and unique challenges that arise when attempting to make major lifestyle changes.
Lindsay (Linds) Vaughan
Qualifications:
- CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
- CrossFit Level 2 Trainer
- CrossFit Gymnastics Certificate
- CrossFit Masters Certificate
- CrossFit Programming Certificate
- Australian Weightlifting Federation Level 1
- Certificate 3 in Fitness
- Bachelor of Science: Biochemistry
- 15+ years coaching experience
- The Female Athlete Level 1
- Diastasis Done Differently
- Standard Mental Health First Aid
- CPR
I have been involved in sport my entire life and grew up competing in gymnastics. I received an athletic scholarship from Boise State University where I competed on the gymnastics team for 5 years. Gymnastics is very dear to my heart and when I retired from competing I found I just couldn’t give it up. So I began coaching. I love what sport teaches young people and I am so thankful for all the opportunities I have had due to gymnastics.
I originally began CrossFit as an athlete but soon realized I loved the methodology and training so much I wanted to share it with the world. I began coaching CrossFit in 2012 and have never looked back. I have a lot of energy and I love people. I use my energy to make my circle of influence the best place it can possibly be. I am always eager to learn and grow so I can continue to make the world around me a better place. I believe we can all make the world a better place by listening and working to understand the people around us. I believe exercise and movement can help us to build connected communities full of compassion and love for our fellow humans. And I want to share this belief and love with as many people as possible. I also love to give hugs! 🙂
I am going to give you a lot of attention because I like you so much. I know we just met but I still like you heaps. I’m always going to look for ways to help you learn and grow. If you are ever feeling sad, I am here for a hug and a conversation. If you have any interest in Harry Potter or other fantasy novels then we might become best friends :).
Derek (Deka) Smith
Qualifications:
- CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
- CrossFit Level 2 Trainer
- CrossFit Level 1 Weightlifting Certificate
- CrossFit Level 2 Weightlifting Certificate
- CrossFit Masters Certificate
- CrossFit Gymnastics Certificate
- CrossFit Scaling Certificate
- Judges Course Certificate
- Spot the Flaw (Common Movement Faults) Certificate
- Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certified
- Certificate 3 in Fitness
- Standard Mental Health First Aid
- Certificate 4 in Business
- Diploma Frontline Management
- Diploma of Project Management
- Zero Incident Process (ZIP) Safety Leadership L3 Coach
Training feels like it is in my blood/DNA, I’ve always been involved or participated in sport the majority of my life. I’ve always been physically active from childhood starting with playing Aussie Rules. At school I couldn’t wait for recess, lunch or the day to end so I could kick the ball around. I love the game and had the opportunity to play at a high level in my 20’s. I’ve had the opportunity to be both a player/coach for successful and not so successful teams. I also dabbled in soccer (back in high school), field hockey (after retiring from Aussie Rules) and golf, which I have recently returned to playing as often as I can.
In 2012 I had spent about 12 months doing nothing much at all and gained a few extra kilos. It was just before my 43rd birthday and I was sitting in a dentist’s waiting room and reading a magazine which had an add in it for a 4-day Commando Fit Boot Camp and I thought “I’m going to do this”. I did some more research on the camp and Steve Willis (aka The Commando) and saw his background and that he trained in CrossFit, which prompted some more research. CrossFit Gladstone (Queensland) had not long opened. I went along, attended a number of classes and was hooked. Each class felt like a game of footy for me, the class started and finished, everything that happened in between was different and you gave it your best. It’s now 2019 and I’m still involved.
Having taken up CrossFit at 43 and having had numerous footy injuries I can understand how challenging and difficult it can be for people. We all know that turning back the clock is never going to happen. We can however control what happens going forward. It’s not always easy; it can be done though. I want what is best for you as an athlete/member. By working together we can build on your strengths and improve your weaknesses. I had some real hard arse coaches growing up, they taught me application, discipline and practice is the key to succeeding. My challenge is identifying what style works best with you.
I’m known as a more technical based coach, which has been described as somewhat “militarian” even though I’ve never served in the armed forces; I was a Navy Cadet for 7 years though. So, don’t be tricked by my appearance, height, posture and tone of voice. I enjoy a good joke, banter, sarcasm and the odd practical joke. I can laugh at myself just as much as anyone else.
Alister (Aldo) DeBritt
Qualifications:
- CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
- CrossFit Lesson Planning Certificate
- Certificate 3 Fitness (Current)
- Standard Mental Health First Aid
- The Female Athlete Level 1
- Diastasis Done Differently
- Diploma of Business Studies
- CPR
Health, fitness and wellbeing have always been forefront in my life. Since starting team sports at age 4, I have been passionate about staying fit and healthy whist having fun doing so. I enjoy all types of outdoor activities, have played a range of different sports and will give anything active a go.
I have 15 years experience in the civil construction industry and was lucky enough to travel across the world working on various projects. In 2012, whilst traveling for work, I found a CrossFit box and started falling in love with the training methodology. I could see the benefit of the program and how it could help so many people of all backgrounds and abilities to become more formidable. I loved the feeling of overcoming a challenging WOD and felt my mind and body getting stronger each session.
This training experience cemented my desire to begin working in CrossFit so I could help as many people as possible achieve their goals and improve ones quality of life. I’m deeply passionate about what CrossFit offers and truly believe any person, at any fitness level can start.
I also believe the CrossFit community offers a safe space for people to better themselves. Weather it’s your first day in the gym or if you are an elite athlete, the community is welcoming to all. This is also a big reason why I was drawn to CrossFit as fitness training can be an intimidating and challenging hurdle to overcome. All of the CrossFit gyms I have walked into share this welcoming community feel.
I’m not coaching at CFB, you will most likely find me enjoying a coffee or walking my dog Albi. I’m always up for a chat or a day spent at the beach enjoying the sun, surf, and sand.
Kayley Martorana
Qualifications:
- Crossfit Level 1 Trainer
- CrossFit Kids Certificate
- CrossFit Kids/Teens Director
- Certificate 3 in Fitness (current)
- Certificate 4 in Fitness (current)
- Standard Mental Health First Aid
- CPR
Coming Soon.
Matt (Thor) Drew
Qualifications:
- CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
- Accredited Exercise Physiologist
- Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science
- ASCA Level 1 Strength and Conditioning Coach
- NASM Certified Personal Trainer
- The Female Athlete Level 1
- Standard Mental Health First Aid
- CPR
I first became interested in fitness when I arrived at high school. I decided that rugby union was going to be the sport for me and if I was too ever be any good, I’d need to get as fit and strong as possible. Little did I know that my passion for training, both myself and others, would far outlast my passion for running into other humans really hard.
This interest in training lead me to CrossFit. Originally I thought Crossfit was exclusively push-ups, pull-ups, air squats and running. So naturally, I didn’t want anything to do with it. Especially seeing as I was coming from a mostly powerlifting/bodybuilding style training background. But after joining in on a training session for a team that was competing at a local competition, I realized that wasn’t the case at all and that no other training regime was going to come close to making me feel as formidable a human being as Crossfit does.
As a person, I am passionate about helping people. As a coach, I am passionate about showing others how to move with confidence and surety so that they can enjoy the best quality of life available to them for as long as possible. In particular; building strength through a range of movements and modalities, as it is often overlooked, yet is essential for longevity and the living of a healthy life for a variety of reasons. I am equally passionate about human performance, and I find great enjoyment in witnessing people defy their every expectation in regard to what they can physically achieve.
I am friendly and helpful, even if I don’t necessarily look it :).
Kerene (Binks) Bienke
Qualifications:
- CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
- CrossFit Level 2 Trainer
- CrossFit Gymnastics Certificate
- Certificate 3 in Fitness
- Certificate 4 in Fitness
- Standard Mental Health First Aid
- CPR
I have always had a passion for sport and fitness, having been a surfer for over 20 years and many years playing competitive touch football. This passion grew even more after having my first child and feeling the need to get fit and healthy post pregnancy.
I became involved in CrossFit in 2013 when a good friend of mine swore that I would love that style of training. I loved doing things fast :). My love for being at a CrossFit gym and more importantly CrossFit Ballina grew stronger and stronger over the years and it was in 2017 I took my CrossFit Level 1 trainers course.
My passion as a coach is to make your hour at at gym the most enjoyable and rewarding hour of your whole day. My aim is to always put the member first and to create a fun, safe and 100% approachable environment. I am a little ball of energy that loves to communicate and have fun.
Behind the Scenes at the Gym
READY TO CHANGE YOUR BODY & LIFE?
Join CrossFit Ballina and learn from the North Coast’s most experienced team of fitness coaches and nutrition experts.