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The Clipper City CrossFit Difference

THE CLIPPER CITY CROSSFIT DIFFERENCE

Have you tried to reach your fitness goals before and failed? Let us help! At Clipper City CrossFit, we believe in taking care of the whole person. You don’t just walk in, workout, and leave. You will receive personalized attention every step of the way. 

Whether you are looking for group classes, personal training, nutrition coaching, or specific skill or athletic training, we can help. We will help you set goals and achieve them.

 

Schedule a FREE Intro below and let’s get you on your way to whole body health and fitness!

The Clipper City Team

Matt Ropke - Owner/Coach
  • CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
  • CrossFit Level 2 Trainer
  • USA Weightlifting Certified Sport Performance Coach
  • CPR/AED/First aid certified by the National CPR Foundation

Athletics has been staple throughout my entire life and has come in many forms, driving me to many goals.

I was introduced to CrossFit a couple of years after it hit the fitness world, and haven’t looked back yet. I initially began forging out fitness in my backyard and friend’s garages but it wasn’t till a few years ago that

I stepped foot in my first actual CrossFit Box, setting me into a hard focus. This focus was directed toward greater fitness and building Clipper City CrossFit.

Phil - COACH
  • CrossFit Level 1 Trainer

Phil is a CF-L1 Trainer at Clipper City CrossFit (CCC). He enjoys the community spirit of CCC and everything that is sleeves-up, blue collar about Baltimore. Phil’s not afraid to roll his sleeves up for max effort on the rig, main floor, or the rower as an athlete, but also likes to emphasize fitness for sustainability and longevity as a coach.

Phil gives back to the CrossFit community outside of CCC by volunteering and judging at local competitions.

At his full-time, he concentrates where medicine meets the law in biomedical regulations. Phil likes to spend his downtime catching rays over the grill, with a rod and reel in-hand, or even on the road, top down.

Andrea - COACH
  • CrossFit Level 1 Trainer

I’m a tall lady, and I have pretty much been this tall since I was 14 years old. When I was a kid, I never considered myself an athlete. Kickball was the bane of my existence; in soccer, I was more interested in looking at the dandelions; and, in basketball, my only skill was being taller than the other 4th graders. Through college and grad school, a PhD in neuroscience, I steadily gained weight. Eventually, going upstairs became taxing.

Then, my roommate started CrossFitting. She’d come home and lie on the couch like a T-Rex, unable to straighten or lift her arms. I vividly remember telling her she was crazy for suffering needlessly.

However, I was intrigued, and when my local box released a crazy good Groupon deal for 10 classes, I bought it. The head coach slyly convinced me to sign up for a 9-class foundation course and THEN use my Groupon. In those classes, I started to develop powerful relationships with other members and I became captivated by the process. The scientist and teacher in me loved CrossFit’s measurable, observable, repeatable methodology.

These days, I love using my pedagogical training to help others learn that they are more physically and mentally capable than they know. As a coach, my goal is to support each athlete to achieve their goals and to be stronger, faster, and more proficient through practice and perseverance.

To me, it doesn’t matter if you are lifting 10 lbs or 100, as long as you show up ready to challenge yourself relative to your physical and mental health on that particular day. In my six years of CrossFitting, I have achieved things I never dreamed of doing, have come back stronger from injuries, and still, strive for more (I’m looking at you pull-ups).

I appreciate this sport for its intellectual and physical challenge and I appreciate Clipper City for its unique combination of CrossFit and community.

Brian - Coach
  • CrossFit Level 1 Trainer

I came to CrossFit after the end of my college football career. I needed something new to train for, and the competitive aspect of CrossFit sounded appealing. Then I tried my first workout, and ended up flat on my back, gasping for breath, but happy knowing I had a new challenge to train for.

I still end up gasping for breath after most workouts, but the rewards of learning new skills, setting new PRs, and reaching new goals keep me coming back for more.

As a coach, I work to give others the tools they need to reach their own goals and accomplish things they never thought possible.

Outside of CrossFit, I am a PhD student at Johns Hopkins University studying astronomy and astrophysics. When I’m not staring at the stars or sweating in the gym, I enjoy going on adventures large and small with my wife and our dog.

Brittany - Coach
  • CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
  • CrossFit Level 2 Trainer

 

Stefan - Coach
  • CrossFit Level 1 Trainer

The competitive yet encouraging environment of CrossFit is what brought me to Clipper City’s doors. I relish in the rewarding pain experienced in our daily WODs, but more importantly, I am grateful to be continually inspired by each of our members. The culture Clipper City has is unmatched and a place I can call home.

Beyond CrossFit, I am a Ph.D. student at Johns Hopkins University, studying organic chemistry. If you don’t find me in the gym or lab – I will likely be wood carving, painting, or enjoying time with friends.

Julie - Coach
  • CrossFit Level 1 Trainer

As a lifelong athlete, I have always craved competition and rigorous workouts. Having played a variety of sports growing up, but excelling in swimming and water polo in college, I found myself missing the team and competition that doesn’t naturally exist in the adult world after graduation. Doing the typical running and individual gym isolation workouts for a while, I began to get bored with the routine. I started to train for Spartan races, which I’ve completed over 10, to fuel that goal-oriented training. Finally, after some skepticism, I started supplementing my training with CrossFit. 

Five years later, I couldn’t imagine my life without CrossFit. There is always a movement that I am striving to be better at. The constantly varied workouts keep me engaged and motivated. However, the best part is the community that you look forward to seeing each day before or after work.

Crossfit has now become such a large part of my life. I also enjoy backpacking around the world and hiking to see every waterfall possible during my breaks from getting my doctorate in clinical psychology. 

 
There really is no better feeling than being a part of someone else’s fitness life and helping them strive to be better in whatever their individual goals are. I can’t wait to meet you!

 

CLIPPER CITY CROSSFIT GOALS

Build community. Build stonger faster athletes. Have fun, enjoying the benefits of all the hard work.