CrossFit Verve—Getting Started

By Matt and Cherie Chan

January 07, 2010

After competing in the 2008 CrossFit Games, Matt and Cherie Chan decided to take the plunge and open an affiliate in northwest Denver, Colo.

Starting in the parks, they soon ran into the same problem many other outdoor affiliates ran into: winter. The Chans didn’t have the funds to move indoors, so they embraced the challenges of inclement weather and kept doing WODs outside, rain or shine. Interestingly enough, the members who took part in those epic outdoor battles are still with the Chans today and look back on the early days like grizzled war veterans.

Today, CrossFit Verve has moved indoors, and like many other affiliate owners, the Chans were inspired by Greg Glassman to pursue virtuosity in the training at their box. The couple used the Level 2 Certification experience to discover and correct flaws in their coaching, and they’ve made a commitment to excellence that’s characteristic of successful, thriving CrossFit affiliates.

4min 31sec

Additional reading: Diluting the Brand? by Alec Hanson, published Oct. 24, 2009.

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8 Comments on “CrossFit Verve—Getting Started”

wrote …

CrossFit Verve is top notch.

replied to comment from Pat Sherwood…

love me some Matt Chan..met Cherie on the sand bag sprint while waiting for my wife to run...top notch people!

kris kepler

wrote …

The Chans represent everything that is great about CrossFit. They are two of the nicest, most humble people I have met. They put excellence in training their athletes above anything else. As well as being remarkable trainers they are awesome athletes themselves. Hope to see you at Regionals Matt.

Zink

wrote …

I live in NW Denver and will be heading over to CF Verve soon! Matt was one of the instructors at my level 1 cert (Colorado State Patrol Academy facility 06-2009). He's a great guy (for a hose dragger (I'm a cop)) and an inspiration as an athlete. It'll be great to have access to a CrossFit beast in my own neighborhood!

wrote …

Matt and Cherie, I am so glad you all shared this with our community. While I was watching it, my wife made the comment that we are in the same place that you both were in. I needed to here this from someone as successful as you guys are to get my butt in gear to get an affiliate.

Thank you.

wrote …

CrossFit Verve is hands down the best thing that has ever happened to me and my wife Anna! It has changed our lives, bodies, attitudes, nutrition, well being...name it, the list goes on and on! It has all been inspired by these two that make us WANT to come back to the gym everyday. No matter what is going on in their lives, (and trust me, it can be a circus-You have no idea! HA!) they are still there at the gym pushing everyone to have better form, nutrition and desire to be "Stronger Than Yesterday"! Not only are their lives CrossFit...But they dedicate every chance they get to improving anyone's well being in the CrossFit community! The Chan's are THE SOLE REASON Crossfit Verve has succeded! Thank you for the unmatched energy, positive attitude, and work ethics that your gym puts out EVERYDAY! Congratulations on all your success! You deserve it!
A and A

wrote …

Matt and Cherie, very inspirational, thank you. Keep up the good work.

Zach Even - Esh wrote …

hells yea, and you BOTH LOOK LIKE bad asses!

very inspirational, i miss my days of training wrestling outdoors in the sh**ty weather, call me crazy, but man, there was such a real-ness to those days, w/nothing perfect and so many imperfections yet such beauty in the results!

stay awesome

--z--