08/12/2026
Dear SCF Family,
This Saturday, 8/15, marks 17 years since we opened the doors to Shoreline CrossFit. If you can make it, we have a great partner workout planned for Saturday.
Back in 2009, I was 30 years old and had just left my career as a commercial loan officer with the Small Business Administration. I wasn't unhappy with my job; I simply believed that Lauren, Kelly, and I were the right people for the job, and CrossFit had changed our lives. We wanted to share that experience with as many people as possible.
We chose Branford because I worked here for years previously and had fallen in love with the town....its beauty, and its active culture. At the time, there were no CrossFit gyms over of the Q Bridge, and we truly believed we could make a positive impact on the Shoreline Community....and we did.
We started small. My business plan projected 15 members after our first year. Six months in, we had 35 members. By the end of that first year, we had 165 members packed into an 1,180-square-foot facility on Sycamore Way. We were bursting at the seams.
At one point, we were running 10 classes a day, from 5:30 a.m. through 7:30 p.m. we held On-Ramp classes on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday nights. We worked like CrossFitters, but we had just as much fun. Some Friday nights, we'd party a little too hard, then we'd sleep on the gym floor so we could open back up early Saturday morning. It was a crazy time.
In 2010, Lauren qualified for her second CrossFit Games, and our community rallied behind her in a way I'll never forget. We traveled together to competitions almost every weekend. The culture was competitive, passionate, and incredibly supportive. Looking back, I know those years shaped all of us.
As we continued to grow, we moved into a 10,000-square-foot facility, and by 2013 we had 400+ adult members. It was absolute chaos, but somehow it worked. Many coaches and gym owners who are serving our local community today got their start here, just as we once learned from another CrossFit affiliate.
We hosted competitions, certifications, social events, kids’ programs, competitor training, monthly On-Ramps, and our athletes accomplished amazing things. One year, Shoreline CrossFit finished at the top of the CrossFit Open in all of New England! We forged a team to go to the Regional and even set a world record in one event! It was an incredible chapter in our story.
But like everything in life, seasons change.
In 2016, we moved again; this time, into a facility that better matched the size and culture of our community. We still loved to compete, but we also began placing greater value on longevity, health, and creating an environment where everyone could thrive, not just the elite athletes.
Then, in 2017, tragedy struck our gym and our local community. I won't revisit those details today, but I will say this:
Hug your friends.
Life can change in an instant. Nothing was as earth-shattering as what our community endured together this year.
A few years later, COVID changed everything once again. In March 2020, we closed our doors for three and a half months, and if it weren't for the loyalty and generosity of our members, Shoreline CrossFit might not exist today. We coached Zoom classes, loaned out equipment, trained in garages and driveways, and simply tried to stay connected during one of the most uncertain times any of us had ever experienced. When we finally reopened, I don't think any of us took our gym family for granted again. Albeit with masks on in our 6 x 10-foot personal squares.
Shortly after COVID, we moved into what is now our 4th location in 17 years. At 3,250 square feet, it's significantly smaller than our previous facility, but in many ways it's exactly what we needed. The closeness of this space brought back something that had always made Shoreline CrossFit special: community. It reminded me why I opened this gym in the first place and reinvigorated me as both a coach and an owner.
For those of you who remember the "good old days," I know I've left out countless names, stories, friendships, competitions, and unforgettable moments. Please know you and those experiences haven't been forgotten. They helped shape who we are today.
And for those of you who are newer members, let me remind you of something:
These are the good old days.
One day, you'll look back on this chapter with the same appreciation and nostalgia that many of us have for the early years.
As I look around the gym today, I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have served this community for the past 17 years. No coach is perfect. No programmer is perfect. But one thing I can promise is that we've always tried to put our members first. Every decision we've made has been with the long-term health of Shoreline CrossFit and the people inside these walls.
Personally, this gym has changed me more than I could have imagined. As I approach my 48th birthday, I'm kinder, more patient, and far more empathetic than I was when we first opened those doors. A little time and these lessons I've learned here have shaped every aspect of my life.
I also want to recognize every coach, past and present. Coaching is a selfless job. It's a responsibility that extends far beyond coaching classes. It's about serving others, building relationships, and helping people become the best versions of themselves. Shoreline CrossFit would not be here today without each and every one of them.
Finally, thank you to every member who has ever walked through our doors. Whether you've been here for 17 years or 17 days, you've become part of our story.
Thank you for trusting us with your health, your goals, and your friendships.
It has been the privilege of my life to serve as the owner of your local CrossFit gym, and I look forward to growing older alongside all of you while continuing to serve the shoreline community for many years to come.
With love and gratitude,
Coach DP
PS- enjoy these pictures in particular order
