MEMBER SPOTLIGHT!!! Meet JASON, NICK, and ALEKSANDRA!

MIDCITY MEMBER JASON RAGOLIA!!!

How did you hear about CrossFit and what was your first experience/WOD?
I am  friends with a‎ guy in the military and he encouraged me to try crossfit out.  I had been running, but no strength training.  And as I was approaching my 40's, I started to worry about losing testosterone and muscle.  No one wants help getting off the toilet.

So I found this guy named Brandon (with another affiliate at the time) and I met him in a downtown office, not really a gym.  My first WOD was 10 wall balls, 20 sit ups and a 200m run‎, 3 rounds. I was sore for a week but loved it.  And Brandon had really nice handwriting so I could read the WOD I needed to do.

When did you first come to CrossFit NOLA?
November 2010. I think. It's when ever we move to the "new" uptown gym.

ow many days do you CrossFit? What classes do you normally take (times and specialties)?
3 days- Tuesd‎ay, Thursday, evenings, and Saturday. Just the WOD please.

What motivates you/keeps you coming back to CrossFit NOLA?
Constant variety.  And thinking, "hey, that doesn't look too bad". ‎ A PR or a good time I didn't expect.  But really it's the coaches - but not Brandon or Liz.

Favorite thing about New Orleans?
Music, all weekend festivals, and the food.

What  accomplishment are you the most proud of (outside and inside of the gym)? 
Wife and daughter. And my dog! Building muscles that I didn't know were there and the ability to keep my shirt on for a WOD.

After a hard workout, what is your favorite meal?
A giant glass of water and pizza.

What are some of your interests outside of CrossFit?
Drinking outside, any festival, bumming around the Quarter.

What do you do for a living?
I help design and build T walls, surge‎ barriers, and pump stations to save our asses from water.

What is one goal that you are currently working on?
Double unders.  F'ing double unders‎.

​Would you rather have fish gills or bird wings?
How big of a fish can I be...am I a big bird or a small bird...am I a fresh water fish or a saltwater fish...if I have bird wings can I fly cause chickens have wings and they can't fly...this question is too hard!



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DOWNTOWN MEMBER NICK THAYER!!

How did you hear about CrossFit and what was your first experience/WOD?
My girlfriend introduced me to crossfit, I was working out at a "globo gym" doing chest, bi's, and tri's three or four times a week. Always working on glamour muscles. My first WOD included thrusters and burpees, which made me collapse on the floor after about four reps at 95lbs. From that day on I was hooked. 

When did you first come to CrossFit NOLA?
May(ish) 2014 

How many days do you CrossFit? What classes do you normally take (times and specialties)?
I'm a 5pm or 5:30am kind of guy.  And every Saturday at 10. 

What motivates you/keeps you coming back to CrossFit NOLA?
I love the programming and the coaches, although I complain about them both all the time.  

Favorite thing about New Orleans?
Food and booze. Obvi

What  accomplishment are you the most proud of (outside and inside of the gym)?  
I'm very proud of being able to do handstand walks and muscle ups. Both took me a long time to get.  

After a hard workout, what is your favorite meal?
Anything in front of me. Seriously bread, pets, small children. 

#2 "classified cut"steak from Doris Metropolitan.

What are some of your interests outside of CrossFit?
Travel, photography, and anything that takes me outside.  

What do you do for a living?
... I'm in the rare plants business...

What is one goal that you are currently working on?
I want to finish in the top 300 in the south region in the 2017 open.  

Would you rather have fish gills or bird wings?
Gills, I can barely fit in my t-shirts now, I would have no place to put wings. 



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UPTOWN MEMBER ALEKSANDRA GORZYCKA

How did you hear about CrossFit and what was your first experience/WOD?
I’ve heard about CrossFit from Lukasz (another polish gym member) and decided to give it a try and.. I loved it. I don’t remember exactly what the WOD was but I really enjoyed working out in a group of competitive and, at the same time, supportive people.

When did you first come to CrossFit NOLA?
My first work out at CrossFit Nola was in August 2015 with coach Brandon.
 
How many days do you CrossFit? What classes do you normally take (times and specialties)?
 I usually do 6-7 classes a week. In addition to the daily CrossFit WODs (5:30AM or 6:30AM… ok sometimes 9:30AM J ) I attend to Olympic Lifting classes in the afternoon.
 

What motivates you/keeps you coming back to CrossFit NOLA?
 Once you see results, it becomes an addiction. Everyday there is a different workout to look forward to, and a different goal to accomplish for myself. I am never bored and each day I learn something new. Regardless of how well I do the workout there will be a member or coach cheering me on.
 
Favorite thing about New Orleans?
Weather, food and … obviously, CrossFit NOLA!


What  accomplishment are you the most proud of (outside and inside of the gym)? 
 Outside the gym: I got accepted at Tulane University, moved from Poland to USA and have an opportunity to follow my dream of becoming a math professor

Inside the gym: PULL UPS! And handstand pushups – a big shoutout to coach Brad who somehow managed to teach me them during a skill session!
 
After a hard workout, what is your favorite meal?
 Since I usually work out in the morning, pancakes with maple syrup.. a lot of maple syrup!
 
 
What are some of your interests outside of CrossFit?
 All kind of sports (basketball -playing and watching NBA, skiing, surfing) and traveling!


What do you do for a living?
I am getting my PhD in mathematics and I am a Statistics instructor at Tulane Univeristy


What is one goal that you are currently working on?
I’m not working on a particular goal, but I’d like to snatch 100lb


Would you rather have fish gills or bird wings?
 Bird wings 

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