Owner  |  Head Coach

Walter originally came to Buena Vista as a raft guide and returned after completing physical therapy school at CU. Walter has always been passionate about sports and fitness, enjoying soccer, basketball, and volleyball over the years. In 2016, frustrated with lack of progress with his fitness he found CrossFit and has never looked back.  As a CrossFit athlete, Walter has enjoyed the varied challenges and skills, and the supportive and competitive community.

As a physical therapist and gym owner, Walter is excited to help people battle the effects of aging to allow them to continue living an active, fulfilling life. 

Outside of the gym, Walter enjoys rock climbing, river surfing, running, and hunting with friends and family.

Owner  |  Coach

Lauren moved to Buena Vista in 2014 and fell in love with everything it had to offer. Formerly a collegiate cross-country and track athlete at University of North Georgia, Lauren started her CrossFit journey in 2017 after meeting Walter and quickly realized that she finally found a fitness program she could be passionate about.

 

As a coach, Lauren is eager to inspire and encourage people who are new to fitness and help them find that fitness is an essential piece to longevity and overall happiness. As a woman and mama to two amazing girls, she is passionate about empowering women to be strong and love their bodies for what they can do regardless of what stage they are at in life. 

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Outside of the gym, Lauren is a graphic designer and artist who enjoys cooking fancy food, rock climbing, river surfing & snowboarding with Walter, her daughters & doggo Mala. 

Coach

Christiaan is from Windhoek, Namibia and has been exploring the USA since 2014. Originally coming over for competitive swimming and school at Michigan he has since turned his focus to working and building a lifestyle/community in America that he can come back to for years to come.

 
He moved to Buena Vista, CO in May 2023 and has been enjoying everything that CO has to offer over the multiple seasons. He is an active individual that loves the outdoors and taking risks.
 

Having always been a competitive athlete in multiple sporting disciplines, Christiaan wanted to train in a way that would continue his functional lifestyle. Finishing the CF-L1 course in January 2024, he is excited to continue his growth in the methodology of CrossFit and give back to other individuals that come through Fortitude's gym doors. 

Coach

Liv is an East coast native turned Colorado transplant. She has been an athlete since the ripe old age of 9 when she started her 12-year stint in competitive swimming. From grade school through her D1 team at Iona College, she excelled in the pool. After graduating in May of 2015, it was time to hang up the cap and goggles.

 

In early 2017, about a year into living in New York City, Liv longed for a new physical outlet that left her with the same endorphin-induced high and sense of raw strength that she felt through swimming. She decided to drop-in at a CrossFit gym which opened up the next chapter in her athletic journey.

 

Soon, Liv was attending classes 5-6 days a week, nerding-out on strength and conditioning, and of course, buying far too many different types of CrossFit shoes. Within the same year that she started, Liv got her Crossfit Level 1, and since then, she has coached in Brooklyn, Denver, and now her favorite of them all, the one and only CrossFit BV in her new (and hopefully) forever home of Buena Vista!

 

Liv does CrossFit because it gives her the strength and FORTITUDE to handle everything she loves in life outside of the gym: backpacking, snowboarding, gravel riding, playing with her doggy - basically as much time in the mountains as possible! She is excited to help the community of BV get strong, healthy and fit to live life in this beautiful place to the fullest!

Coach

Brian moved to Buena Vista in 2009 and is the founder/CEO of Eddyline Restaurant and Brewery. Brian has played various sports throughout his career including baseball, rugby and most recently mountain biking.   

Completely out of shape and overweight, Brian was motivated by Walt and Lauren to start working out in their Garage in November of 2022 and has now found himself in the best shape of his life at the age of 44.   

In addition to mentoring local business owners, Brian has coached the local high school mountain biking team for the last 6 years and is excited to begin a new journey of coaching at the Fort.  

As a restaurateur for over two decades Brian brings a wealth of knowledge in cooking, food preparation and nutrition. He has completed his Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certification and is looking to help athletes of all levels become the healthiest and fittest versions of themselves.  

Coach

Erin grew up in South Carolina competing in sports, one being gymnastics. In 2018, she stopped competing in gymnastics and found CrossFit as an outlet to continue her skills. She likes the challenge and the camaraderie that the CrossFit community has to offer.

After moving to Colorado in 2020, she continued CrossFit and in 2023, decided to pursue her CrossFit Level One certificate as a way to learn more.

Living in Colorado, she enjoys all that it has to offer. She loves to hike, camp & run with family and friends. Erin will be continuing her education at Western Colorado University to study exercise science, while exploring what Gunnison, CO has to offer. You'll see her around Fortitude Fitness during holiday and summer breaks!