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:

Certificate 3 in Fitness
Bachelor of Business: Accounting and Finance
CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
CrossFit Level 2 Trainer
CrossFit Weightlifting Certificate
Australian Weightlifting Federation Level 1
U.S.A. Weightlifting Sports Performance Coach
Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certified
Standard Mental Health First Aid
10+ years coaching experience
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 as much as possible 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:

Certificate 3 in Fitness
Bachelor of Science: Biochemistry
CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
CrossFit Level 2 Trainer
CrossFit Gymnastics Certificate
CrossFit Masters Certificate
Australian Weightlifting Federation Level 1
Standard Mental Health First Aid
10+ years coaching experience
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, Star Wars or Surfing then we are going to be best friends :).

Derek (Deka) Smith

Qualifications:

Certificate 3 in Fitness
CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
CrossFit Level 2 Trainer
CrossFit Level 1 Weightlifting Certificate
CrossFit Level 2 Weightlifting Certificate
CrossFit Masters Certificate
CrossFit Gymnastics Certificate
Judges Course Certificate
CrossFit Scaling Certificate
Spot the Floor (Common Movement Faults) Certificate
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.

Sarah (Sar) Amery

Qualifications:

I originally became involved in fitness as a way to help lose weight for my wedding but quickly realised that there were so many more benefits than just losing weight. I found my moods improved and my energy levels went through the roof. It was the pursuit of these health benefits that eventually lead me to CrossFit.

CrossFit became a regular part of my daily lifestyle when I was off work with our first son. I began attending the 9:30 am classes with him and I was instantly hooked. I had found a workout program that was one I knew I would want to continue for many years.

As the director of the CrossFit Ballina kids program my true passion for coaching revolves around the younger members of our gym. Having 2 small kids myself helps fuel my passion. I want to be able to provide them, and many other kids in Ballina, with a safe place to form healthy habits that will hopefully stick with them for life.

Hopefully I don’t scare you off because I am friendly and loud :). I am also a competitive strongwoman that can also sew and bake.

Matt (Hufflepuff) Hueppauff

Qualifications:

Certificate 3 in Fitness
Certificate 4 in Fitness
Crossfit Level 1 Trainer
Australian Weightlifting Federation Level 1
Surf Coach Level 1
Senior First Aid
Standard Mental Health First Aid
Mental Health First Aid Certificate
CPR

I have been involved in sport and fitness since I can remember, I was one of those kids with endless energy. As I grew older sport before and after school and on weekends was pretty much mandatory. I never settled on any one sport long always diving in 100% before wanting to learn something new or tackle the next challenge.

By my mid 20’s I had played AFL, soccer, tennis, and union, competed at a national level competitions for surf life saving as well as long distance running, open water swims, triathlons, athletics, bodybuilding, surfing and cross country mountain biking.

Wanting to try CrossFit (but very mistakenly thought it was a sure fire path to injury) I finally committed after being recommended to a great gym by a trusted coach. I immediately regretted the last 4 years of misplaced beliefs and realized that performing constantly varied, high intensity, functional movements was something I would do for the rest of my life.

The feeling of empowerment through physical exercise is something to treasure and providing opportunity’s for members to experience this is a huge part of why I coach. This impact is not contained by the four walls of the gym and the long reaching positivity can change lives for the better.

Matt (Thor) Drew

Qualifications:

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:

Certificate 3 in Fitness
Certificate 4 in Fitness
CrossFit Level 1 trainer
CrossFit Gymnastics Certificate
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.