The best questionnaire on the web is back and better than ever, with a brand new set of 20 Questions to bounce off a special guest. Ryan Gauld, the Scottish midfielder for the Whitecaps FC has spent the past few months of his offseason training at The Yard. We’re fortunate enough to sit down with him and find out a little more about all things life, sport, and fitness.

1) Hometown?

Laurencekirk, Scotland

2) What sport do you play?

Football

3) When did you begin playing your sport?

Around 5 or 6 years old.

4) At what level do you or have you competed? 

In the Scottish and Portuguese leagues. Also the MLS, the highest level of soccer play in the US and Canada.

5) Big milestone you’re working towards in sport?

My main goal is to reach the national team.

6) What was your first experience with Yard?

Coming in to meet with Ilan to chat about training and overall goals.

*Photo was taken from Ryan Gauld’s Instagram

7) Current Goals at the gym?

To become fitter and stronger. I train to stay healthy and prevent injuries from occurring during the season.

8) Least favourite exercise?

 Pull-ups without a shadow of a doubt.

9) How do you stay motivated?

I’m very competitive so by always trying to be better than the last version of myself.

10) Best advice you received? 

Never quit, no matter what!

11) How can we follow along with your athletic journey? What’s your Instagram or team Instagram account?

On the Vancouver Whitecaps Instagram or my personal one ‘Ryangauld’.

12) Top 3 songs in your gym playlist?

1. T.N.T – ACDC
2. Hang Me up to Dry – Cold War Kids
3. Last Nite – The Strokes

13) Philosophy on nutrition, any tips?

I feel there’s nothing wrong with a little bit of everything in moderation. But a lot of meat and greens!

14) Who inspires you (who to follow)?

Watching the Barcelona team from when I was younger made me fall in love with football.

 15) The last book you read?

Biography of Jack Nicholson.

 16) Advice for someone pursuing their passion for sport?

Exactly what I was told, never quit. With hard work, you can achieve anything.

17) What are you doing when you’re not training?

Exploring Vancouver with my dogs.

 19) Are you a morning person?

For sure. I much prefer waking up early and starting the day right than lazing around.

20) What’s your morning routine?

The first thing is always a coffee! Then out with my dogs and off to training.

The post 20 Questions with Whitecaps FC Midfielder – Ryan Gauld appeared first on Yard Athletics.

We are back with a new ’20 questions” blog post. This time we are getting to know our athlete Caitlin a little bit better. Read to find out what her favourite exercises at Yard are, 2021 goals and more.

1) Hometown?

Montreal

2) Favorite thing about Yard Athletics?

There are too many things!! Incredible trainers, epic workouts, the best banter in Vancity, banging tunes (especially Ilan’s playlists), and cool swag. 

3) Fashion trend that you can’t stand?

Not really a trend but when people wear sunglasses indoors or when it’s not sunny. Please stop!!

4) Guilty secret Instagram-follow?

I follow a lot of astrology accounts…judge me if you will! 

5) Death row meal?

The French Holy Trinity – good bread, cheese, and wine (preferably a natural wine) – and a big steak. 

6) Ramen or Pho?

Ramen. No contest. 

7) Tell us something we don’t know about you.

I have a phobic-level hatred of mayo. My brother used to taunt me with it when we were younger and now the sight of it makes me want to be sick. It’s the only food I hate though!! 

8) Junk food that you will never stop eating?

Movie popcorn with all the butter

9) If you weren’t working your current job, what would you be doing?

Probably working as a trainer. I’m a boxer and used to be a trainer at Contenders Boxing Studio. 

10) Talent you would most like to have?

I’m not sure if this is a talent but I’d love to be able to do a pull-up (without a band)!

11) Best / worst thing about Vancouver?

Best: Being so close to the ocean and mountains and all the breweries.  

Worst: The nightlife. I’m from Montreal, I have high expectations!! 

12) Best smoothie at Body Energy Club?

Blueberry Almond Acai or Junior Mint

13) Favorite patio?

I’m a sucker for the patio at Local in Kits. 

14) Favorite drink to order on that patio?

A cheapskate – keepin’ it old school! It’s not on the menu anymore but it’s a white wine spritzer with berries. Perfect for summer!

15) Stranded on a desert island, what 3 books do you take?

The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov 

Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey (ideally the audio book because he has the best accent)

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

16) Wreck Beach or Spanish Banks?

Spanish Banks. Wreck is awesome but I love running along Spanish Banks!  

17) Secret to happiness?

Great friendships! 

18) Favorite / least favorite exercise at Yard?

I have lots of favourites: trap bar DLs, rack pulls (right, Shawzo?), banded front & back squats, anything with the landmine, the list goes on… 

I don’t have any least favourite exercises – if it’s hard, it means it’s working something and I’m getting stronger! 

19) When COVID is over, where are you traveling?

I had 2 trips that were canceled because of COVID. The first one was to LA to run the Nike Women’s Half Marathon with my running crew the Wo(men) in Flight. We all met at Vanrunco (shout out to Rob Smith for creating such a great running community and introducing all of us!!) and wanted to do a half in a different city together. The other trip was to Scotland to run the Edinburgh Half Marathon and then go to the highlands to hike and drink all the whiskey. 

20) Goals for 2021?

Try to stay positive amidst all this weirdness! I’m also signed up to do the Golden Ultramarathon in September and would love to get a boxing fight in by the end of the year if it’s allowed by then! 

The post 20 QUESTIONS WITH CAITLIN appeared first on Yard Athletics.

by Yard Athletics – March 17th, 2021

It’s been a wild start to the year! Despite the current hold on athletic group training, we are as busy as ever which means Yard Athletics has had to beef up our roster and make some few key free agent signings.

***Yes we love sports cliche’s, no we’re not going to stop using them***

In the last few months, Ilan, Sam, Torin and Luke have been joined by Lauren O’Sullivan, Gabe Grzybowski and Melis Papila, three fitness enthusiasts who have brought a wealth of energy and experience to the coaching team at Yard.

We thought it would be a good time to introduce each of them in more detail, as well as remind you of the other Yard veterans who have been helping our community stay strong and fit.

For the full bios of each coach, check out the team section of our website HERE

Coles Notes version? See below!

Ilan Cumberbirch (Founder, Director of Yard Athletics)

BKIN, CSCS – Founder/Director of The Yard Athletics

Ilan’s love for sport and fitness started early. As a former professional athlete, he has experienced the rigors of sport from both an athlete’s and a coach’s perspective, enabling him to understand the commitment and dedication necessary to attain one’s full potential.

Sam Shaw (Head Strength & Conditioning Specialist)

BKIN, CSCS – Head Strength & Conditioning Specialist

Sam has been working as an athlete and coach in the strength and conditioning industry since 2008. As an athlete Sam has participated at both the collegiate and university level, representing his country on the international stage during that time.

Torin Nikiforuk (Personal Training Specialist)

BS, PTS – Personal Training Specialist

Torin’s passion for fitness is celebrated in all forms of movement. Whether it’s a multi-day hike, or a group fitness class, he loves to find new ways to challenge both his body and mind. Torin’s academic interests lie within the role exercise plays as a form of therapy; specifically in neurodegenerative diseases.

Luke Williams (Personal Training Specialist)

CanFit Pro – Personal Training Specialist

An active lifestyle and athletics have always been a part of Luke’s life. A former collegiate quarterback, Luke was forced to end his football career due to injury. This setback became his catalyst for change and Luke became focused on maximizing his physical potential through training. His understanding of the human body and the power of the mind became the focal point in his training regimen and daily life.

Lauren O’Sullivan (Personal Training Specialist)

CanFit Pro PTS – Personal Training Specialist

Lauren’s dedication to an active lifestyle came out of a need to step away from the academic and subsequent 9-5 desk. The opportunity to connect with a community of like-minded, active people, be it while back-country hiking, at spin, or strength training, is what drove Lauren’s interest in Personal Training. The mind-body shift as a result of consistent and progressive exercise gives Lauren the balance needed to tackle all facets of daily life.

Gabe Grzybowski (Personal Training Specialist)

As a lifelong athlete, Gabe has been involved in skiing, basketball, and rugby from an early age. By nurturing a competitive spirit, Gabehas driven himself and others to build on their athletic performance with the mantra ‘harder, faster, stronger’.

Melis Papila (Personal Training Specialist)

As a competitive powerlifter and coach, Melis’ mission is to help people see how much a barbell can change their lives. She works relentlessly to share information on health, mental health, strength training, and cultivating an athlete mindset, even for the everyday gym-goer.

Outside of the gym you can find Melis obsessively talking about her dog Duke, eating her weight in pizza, blogging about beer, hiking, miserably failing at snowboarding and traveling (pre-pandemic).

The post Get To Know The Team Before You Train! appeared first on Yard Athletics.

by Yard Athletics – Feb 18th, 2021

Big news! Yard Athletics has just picked up a new first round draft pick 😉 … Please give a warm welcome to our newest personal training specialist, Melis Papila!

Melis is now available to book for 1:1 and 2:1 personal training sessions at Yard on the following days and times. For all availability please log onto the MindBody app (…please don’t DM us on Instagram ❤️)

Monday: 5pm – 8pm

Wednesday: 5pm – 8pm

Sunday: 9am – 11am

Who is Melis??? Let’s get to know her!

Bio:

As a competitive powerlifter and coach, Melis’ mission is to help people see how much a barbell can change their lives. She works relentlessly to share information on health, mental health, strength training, and cultivating an athlete mindset, even for the everyday gym-goer.

Outside of the gym you can find Melis obsessively talking about her dog Duke, eating her weight in pizza, blogging about beer, hiking, miserably failing at snowboarding and traveling (pre-pandemic)

Training Experience:

B.A, University of Ottawa

USPL certified coach

USPL competitor

Who’s in the gym with Melis:

Anyone who wants to invest in their health and fitness.

Strength athletes.

Anyone looking to get strong AF and improve their body composition.

What to expect with Melis:

Melis is your personal cheerleader who will keep you accountable and push you to nurture your inner competitor. Whether you’re picking up a barbell for the first time in your life or getting ready for a competition, Melis will help fine-tune your movements and provide you with a fun yet challenging workout.  Her supportive attitude and contagious energy will help you crush your fitness goals.

The post Introducing Melis Papila! NEW Yard Athletics Coach appeared first on Yard Athletics.

by Yard Athletics – Dec 9th, 2020

We’re back with the latest installment of our Yard Athlete Development Spotlight. This week we’re getting to know a Yard Athletics legend by the name of Brett Festerling.

“Festy” has been a mainstay with Yard Athletics since the early days, and has carved an impressive career that has gone from the WHL, NHL and now the German Professional League.

Where did you grow up playing hockey? 

When did you realize you wanted to pursue hockey seriously?

How did you first start training with Yard Athletics? 

What sort of impact has training with Yard had on your growth as a player?

The heaviest squat or deadlift doesn’t mean you’re the best on the ice. How does Yard’s training balance strength with power, agility and fitness?

Proudest moment of your hockey career? Worst?

Who’s got the best chirps on the ice?

What’s next for you in hockey?

The post Yard Athlete Development Spotlight: Brett Festerling appeared first on Yard Athletics.

by Yard Athletics – Nov 25th, 2020

Over the last few months we’ve been turning our attention to some of the amazing athletes that have come through the Yard Athletics doors to train for their upcoming seasons.

Next up in our Yard Athlete Development Spotlight is Tyler Morley, currently playing centre for Skelleftea AIK in the Swedish Hockey League.

A native of Burnaby BC, we wanted to get to know Tyler’s journey from young a kid with “skates on his feet ever since he could walk” to now playing in one of the most elite hockey leagues in the world.

Where did you grow up playing hockey? 

I’ve had skates on my feet ever since I was able to walk. My dad took my brother and I to the rink for public skating as toddlers and we’ve been on skates ever since. My dad was a football player in high school without any experience in hockey, so as my brother and I were growing up and learning to skate, my dad was learning well. My minor hockey career was mostly played at Burnaby Minor and 3 years at the Burnaby Winter Club. 

When did you realize you wanted to pursue hockey seriously?

I really didn’t take hockey seriously until I was about 17. I did some skating lessons when I was growing and did some power skating every now and again, but never took it seriously. Just played for the love of the game. I  always worked my bag off because I was small for my age, undersized, and always the youngest on the teams with my late birthday.  I made the Grandview Steelers at 15, and that surprised both myself and my parents. I remember when I told them I made the team, my mom was there and started crying because she legit thought I would get killed (as did I). The next season I made the jump to Junior A for the Surrey Eagles, and during that season I was gaining attention for collegiate schools in the states and started to realize that hockey could take me somewhere. 

How did you first start training with Yard Athletics? 

When I made that Junior A team at age 16/17 I might have been pushing 130-140 pounds, tops. After a couple of practices running into a mobile fridge in the corners (Cumby was our captain at the time…) I realized that hard work wasn’t going to get me a college scholarship. I needed to put on mass and add speed/ strength to my game.  That summer I followed Cumby into GroundWorks Athletics and they have slowly sculpted me into the man I am today. 

What sort of impact has training with Yard had on your growth as a player?

Coming in with no real experience of lifting or any any sort of training, they were able to show me the skills and techniques to move properly as a hockey player. The trainers at Ground Works slowly showed me how to use proper positioning, even before throwing any weight on my back. Cumby made the transition from playing hockey to training the hockey athletes and that is where I started to see big changes in my game. It is always nice walking into a gym and knowing the person in charge has played the game at a competitive level. He knows and understands the difficulty of the sport, and the bumps and bruises the body has to endure.

I had reconstructive ACL knee surgery one summer and thought for sure I wouldn’t be ready for the upcoming season. Cumby took it upon himself to make sure I was going to be ready when I went back to college. Staring at what looked like a straight wooden leg, we needed to rebuild the muscle but also get the nerves and muscle memory firing properly again. Within time I started to see mass again on my leg, but also flexibility, strength, and triggering the important nerves.   

The heaviest squat or deadlift doesn’t mean you’re the best on the ice. How does Yard’s training balance strength with power, agility and fitness?

The Yard does a tremendous job of developing their athletes. It doesn’t matter if you are a male or female player, have 10 years pro hockey experience, college hockey, junior hockey, or even minor hockey. They are there to develop your career. They will work within your weight, size, and experience to develop you as a player. Cumby and his team have the ability to incorporate strength, speed, agility, and fitness all into one workout.

Sessions are catered to different parts of the body and target muscles that may not get used as much during the season, but they find a way to get them firing and working back at the full potential.  Not only all that, but they make it fun to be in the gym everyday. We have one of the best jobs in the world and getting your butt kicked in the gym every morning is not always fun, but Cumby and his staff make it enjoyable and a positive working environment. That is what makes the summer’s most fun. 

Proudest moment of your hockey career? Worst?

It’s tough to highlight one specifically proud moment. I think the slow climb in my career was particularly proud for me because each step was an achievement I would have never thought possible. Making the Junior B at the age of 15 was a proud moment because each team could only carry two  under-agers. Then moving to Junior A and receiving a full ride scholarship to the University of Alaska Fairbanks was something I never thought would happen. After university I got the opportunity to sign my first professional contract with the San Diego Gulls in the AHL, scoring on my first shot of the first game. That following season I worked hard at camp and played in two NHL Exhibition games. To have my parents and fiancee fly in for those games and hear them yell as I walked out of the tunnel for warmup put chills down my spine.

It has been a career that I never thought would lead me this far in life. As for a bad moment, I’m sure every player will tell you that we have all had our fair share of negative times. It would be hard to pin one because this is a game of mistakes. We as players make mistakes all the time, and have to learn from those mistakes quickly. The ones who try to gather in those experiences and try to minimize them, tend to continue to grow and advance their careers as a hockey player. 

Who’s got the best chirps on the ice?

There are a lot of guys out there who are witty and quick on the trigger. I have played with a lot of different characters who make the game so much fun. The everyday comradery of being in the locker room with 20-25 guys makes this job so much fun with a ton of laughter everyday. One thing is for sure though, that Shawzo has been known to tell a bad story to tell or two…. 

What’s next for you in hockey?

Right now I am playing for Skelleftea AIK in the SHL (Swedish Hockey League). We have been fortunate enough in Sweden to start the league smoothly so far, albeit with no fans allowed in the building.  With all the uncertainty in the world, I’m just focusing on playing a good season and hoping that we can play it out to completion. It’s a tough time to be a professional hockey player as jobs are very limited because some leagues are not playing or able to fund without fans in the arena. I am grateful for the opportunity to be playing and continually trying to advance my career. 

The post Yard Athlete Development Spotlight: Tyler Morley appeared first on Yard Athletics.

by Yard Athletics – Oct 28th, 2020

For the next installment of our Yard Athlete Development Spotlight, we are pleased to be speaking with Lainey Joyce, an up and coming hockey player from Delta, BC. Lainey first started training this summer at Yard Athletics and made amazing progress from June until September.

Where did you grow up playing hockey? 

When did you realize you wanted to pursue hockey seriously?

How did you first start training with Yard Athletics? 

What sort of impact has training with Yard had on your growth as a player?

The heaviest squat or deadlift doesn’t mean you’re the best on the ice. How does Yard’s training balance strength with power, agility and fitness?

Proudest moment of your hockey career? Worst?

Who’s got the best chirps on the ice?

What’s next for you in hockey?

The post Yard Athlete Development Spotlight: Lainey Joyce appeared first on Yard Athletics.

by Yard Athletics – Oct 20th, 2020

Yard Athletics is pleased to welcome the newest member of the personal training team, Lauren O’Sullivan! Starting October 26th, you can find Lauren on the MindBody schedule for both daily group classes as well as 1:1 and 2:1 personal training.

We want our amazing community to meet and train with Lauren ASAP, so for the next 3 weeks we’re running a special promo where you can get 50% off any 1:1 drop-in session with her on MindBody.

If you’ve never done a 1:1 personal training session but have always been curious, now’s the chance! If you have, but just want to say hello, well… get on there and lock it in.

As always we want to get to know our community on a deeper level, so what better way to welcome Lauren to the team than by throwing our infamous 20 Questions series at her. Read below to see who the must-have artist is on a workout playlist, what food you’ll never catch her eating, and most importantly, what to expect in one of Lauren’s workout classes…. Enjoy!

The post Introducing Lauren O’Sullivan: Yard Athletics Personal Training Specialist appeared first on Yard Athletics.

by Yard Athletics – Oct 16th, 2020

By now you may have heard about Merci Boulangerie, the amazing “taste-of-Paris-without-landing-at-CDG” patissiere from Yard founder Ilan Cumberbirch’s sister, Natalie.

After spending years in Paris working at two Michelin star L’Atlelier de Joel Robuchon and Mamiche, Natalie has brought her talents home to Vancouver to start a pick-up and delivery boulangerie.

If you haven’t yet snagged a sample of Merci’s pastries after your latest Yard workout, do yourself a favor and put in an order for this weekend. All we can say is…OMG. If you lack self control and cannot resist buttery sweet delights, you might be in trouble…

We wanted to hear more about Merci from the woman herself, so we sat down with Natalie to hear about her time in Paris (serving dessert to Scarlett Johansson!), how Merci got started and what’s in plan for the future.

How did you get started working as a pastry chef?

 

As a child, I always had a love for cooking and being in the kitchen. I used to fake sick days and would sit and watch Emeril Lagasse and Ina Garten on the food network for hours. After some time at University, I decided to enroll in pastry school. I took the Culinary Arts program at Vancouver Community College while I was on the waitlist for the pastry program; I worked as a line cook and prep cook at catering companies, and started my own side hustle, Food by Natalie Cumberbirch, delivering diet specific meals to families in Vancouver, eventually catering sit down dinners, bridal shower, and holiday cocktail parties. After completing the pastry program, I worked in a multitude of bakeries in Germany and Barcelona, returned to the west coast to work as the Head Pastry Chef at Tofino Resort and Marina. 6 months later, I was back to Europe to start the unknown at Paris’ finest, L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon.

 

Where is the coolest place you’ve worked? 

 

Ohh tough question. Would have to be a tie between L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon and Mamiche. Both polar opposite.

Robuchon is a two Michelin star restaurant where 18 hour days are the norm. I learned a ton of skills; tempering chocolate daily, working and blowing sugar, how to make 80 euro Chartreuse souffles to order without messing up. A big part of what I learned was how to push myself mentally and physically. I remember calling my dad after the first 2 weeks saying I would surprise myself if I could stick it out for 6 months; I stayed at Robuchon the original goal of one year. This was by far the hardest i’ve ever worked, and the french aren’t known for being the warmest of people. Walking into a fast paced kitchen speaking not a lick of french- it wasn’t easy. Living in a hostel for the first month? Also not easy.

Mamiche takes the cake for the most enjoyable workplace. The people I worked with became like family; every morning I would make the coffee for the guys; we would blare french rap or old school french disco. Every few months, the owners Cecile and Victoria (who are huge inspirations for myself) would treat us to dinners out, or weekend away on the coast. People loved coming to work, and it was such an enjoyable place to be. I still chat to a few of the people there on a weekly basis and I think that speaks volumes!

Cooked for any famous people?

 

Made Scarlett Johansson her dessert, took it out to her and tried not to stutter as I explained the components. Apparently, mango and passionfruit are her favourite! Big fan girl moment but I think I kept my cool.

 

What’s your favorite pastry to make? Eat?

 

If bread counts as a pastry? I could eat bread 24/7. Hot out of the oven with salted butter- nothing better. Second best thing- plain croissant. Throw a slice of cheese on that, or some jam. What more could you ask for!

 

Tell us about “Merci Boulangerie”?

 

Merci Boulangerie is my new business venture. It is an online bakery where customers can choose to pick up their order or have it delivered within Vancouver, North Vancouver and Burnaby (subject to change in the coming months). Every product is inspired by my time working in Europe; currently very Parisienne with croissants, pain au chocolat, and the ever so hot roule jambon fromage. I’m confident some German rye breads and sourdoughs will come into play within the next few weeks- stay tuned! My hope is that people appreciate the quality ingredients I use, the time and care that goes into producing a mouth watering product, and know that I am a phone call away, wanting to make this pastry experience as easy and enjoyable as possible.

 

How can we get these insanely delicious pastries into our mouths as quick as possible?? Delivery? Pickup?

 

Yes! I currently offer pick up on Wednesdays and Fridays anytime between 12- 6 pm from 1507 Powell Street, unit 150 (Coho Commissary located directly behind Andina Brewery), and deliver every Tuesday and Saturday between 8am- 11am. Orders can be placed online at merciboulangerie.com; any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to shoot me an email, dm, call or text and i’d be happy to help with the process. If you are looking for weekly or monthly orders delivered to your home or office, this is something we can easily arrange. All wholesale inquiries, please email us at merciboulangerie@gmail.com for wholesale price lists.

 

What is the go-to order from Merci?

The post Community Spotlight: “Merci Boulangerie” & Natalie Cumberbirch appeared first on Yard Athletics.

by Yard Athletics – Oct 8th, 2020

Next up in our spotlight of Yard Athlete Development; Blake Hayward. Currently playing his collegiate hockey in Montreal at McGill University, Blake has been training at the Yard for several off-seasons, continuing to develop at a ferocious pace.

Where did you grow up playing hockey? 

When did you realize you wanted to pursue hockey seriously?

How did you first start training with Yard Athletics? 

What sort of impact has training with Yard had on your growth as a player?

The heaviest squat or deadlift doesn’t mean you’re the best on the ice. How does Yard’s training balance strength with power, agility and fitness?

Proudest moment of your hockey career? Worst?

Who’s got the best chirps on the ice?

What’s next for you in hockey? 

The post Yard Athlete Development Spotlight: Blake Hayward appeared first on Yard Athletics.