An Overdue Letter To A Friend

Jason,

First off, I want to thank you for your near 8 years of service at OPT. I can’t believe it has already been that long. I should have told you this before the end of November, but I never did. So, I will take care of that now.

I really think we first connected back in 2015 when you messaged me and asked if coming to our Athlete Camp would be good for you as a Coach. You asked if you would learn anything and if it would be worth your time to travel to Edmonton. I told you it would be, so you came. I still remember arguing with you a few times that weekend while I was presenting the material. Well, not necessarily arguing, more like a good discussion. Little did I know we would end up doing much more of that in the years to come.

I was really surprised you decided to attend that Athlete Camp, I never would have expected that. Then, again in 2017 you surprised me. You remember… we posted an ad for a new Full Time Coach at OPT and you applied for the job. After reading your email, looking over the program design examples you had sent me and in speaking with you during our meeting, I knew you were the best choice. You officially joined our Coaching staff in 2017. The month of March to be exact.

A lot has happened in that time. Which is to be expected, it has been 8 years after all. 

The first year you worked with us, 2017, was maybe our best #OutsideTheBox Competition. I say maybe because as you know we have had many really great events over the years. You even competed in our 2015 competition. Remember when you failed a 155lb power clean LOL! Also, I still remember you making fun of the reverse bear crawls when the event was announced only to see you completely fall apart on that section of the event! Ever since then, when I would see your clients in the gym doing Bear Crawls as part of their training, I would think of you on that grassy field.

Anyway, you were always a great help to me and Scott with designing the events for #OutsideTheBox. You added some needed creativity and a fresh perspective, which I always appreciated. I hope I told you that. 

Do you remember when we started doing Friends Club at the gym? I can barely remember when it started it’s been so long. You and I have been running those periodic competitor training sessions ever since. I know everyone really valued those opportunities. Thank-you for all the times you showed up early on a Sunday morning to run those sessions with me. I know it wasn’t the best time, but it was the only time I could manage.

And, how could I forget to mention our podcast. Me, you and Scott started that along with Tom holding down the fort back in 2019 I think. The 3 of us use to rag on you all the time for how loud and deep your voice sounded while recording. I think Tom may have some residual hearing damage. We recorded so many great episodes together. I often go back and listen to some of the old ones from time to time just to see if they still hold up, most do. 

While researching for our podcast series on the Power-Duration relationship I asked you and Scott to do a 3 Minute ALL OUT test on one of the Ergs. Scott chose the Rower and you chose the SkiErg. I remember watching you go through that gruelling ordeal, all because I asked you to. I remember leaving the gym later that evening and I walked by your office and you looked like you had just finished the test. But, you actually finished several hours earlier, your face was still beet red and you were sweating profusely! On that note, I should probably apologize to you and Scott because I was supposed to do the 3 Min Running test… but I definitely did not hold up my end of the agreement.

Maybe the worst/funniest parts of your time with OPT was when you helped up move the gym to our new location. You and Kat logged a LOT of hours in that place getting it ready to move in to. I would have to say the demo portion of the process was the funniest as we all made so many mistakes and did so many unsafe things to make it happen. Remember how you and Kat were about 20ft off the floor on the scissor lift aggressively yanking drywall off the wall. That was crazy!

Over the years you worked with us you gathered more and more high level competitors. Personally, I loved to see that because I knew that was what you loved most. You attracted those people because you cared about helping people and you were great at helping them. That said, at the time you left OPT, you still had many of the clients you had been working with when you started back in 2017. 

Some of my favourite time spent with you was our trip to Pasadena for the 2023 CrossFit Semi-Finals. From the moment you, me and Scott checked into the hotel the comedy ensued. And, remember the Mariachi band at that BBQ joint! That was a really great trip that ended with an absolute banger of a party on Sunday night/Monday morning after the event was over. Myself and Scott struggled mightily getting to the airport for our regrettably early Monday morning departure. You decided to stay another day, which was the smart move.

We all know you were great at what you did. Your attention to detail, your willingness to dive into the nuts and bolts of the movement and your obvious obsession with ab work (and bear crawls) helped your athletes immensely. This ability you had was why I pushed you/bugged you on so many occasions to create a seminar that you could teach to coaches around the world. I knew you would do a good job of it and I knew would enjoying teaching others. I have seen how much you enjoyed teaching at our various camps and events over the years. 

When you left OPT a few months ago, I wasn’t upset or mad at you. Which you knew. Because we talked about it. You were moving on to pursue what you thought was best for you and that was fine by me and Scott. When you left, I thought I wouldn’t miss you. But, now I do.

Anyway, this is a long overdue message buddy. I can’t believe you ever got started with us and now I can’t believe you are gone.

You joining OPT was unpredictable, but in the end was right. And, we hope you had the time of your life!

—Michael