Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Lusk.
Hi Samantha, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’m a LA based CrossFit and Olympic Weightlifting coach, personal trainer and co-owner of Strange Strength and Conditioning in North Hollywood. I was raised in a small town in North Texas. My athletic career began on the high school swim team. During my senior year I was recruited by the University of Texas’ Division One Rowing Team (mainly due to my height – 6’0, and my aerobic capacity).
During college I was coached by Olympic gold medalist Carie Graves. My crew team won the Big 12 Championships 4 years in a row (2002-2006) and competed in the NCAA Championships in 2002 & 2003. After graduating, I moved to LA to pursue a producing career in film and kept myself fit by participating in sprint triathlons and marathons.
My fitness journey escalated in 2013. At that point I had departed from film and fully immersed myself in the world of fitness – CrossFit in particular. My journey started as a member of a local CrossFit gym, to a part-time coach, to a head coach and now to a full time trainer, CrossFit national level competitor and gym owner .
My desire has always been to share my passion and dedication to fitness with all my athletes and push them to achieve goals they would never have otherwise attempted. As a coach I hope to never lose the enthusiasm to continue learning and polishing my own skill sets, as I will always uphold an unflinching standard of excellence in all the athletes I come across (regardless of their level of expertise).
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Up until CrossFit and Weightlifting, I had always had an easy road as an athlete, due to the fact that I participated in sports that were well suited to my body type. But as a lanky, thin, 6 foot tall woman – I am not your typical body type for Oly and CrossFit. I had to overcome my own ego, and be okay with not being the best at many of the movements I was learning for the first time. Not only did I have some irrational fears (like going into a handstand), but I also had to learn that not everything comes naturally and you have to work for weeks, months and sometimes even years to become proficient at certain movements.
Secondly, owning a business in Los Angeles is no easy feat. There is a massive amount of competition and a high overhead to contend with. Not to mention the fact that we opened Strange Strength in 2018 and after not even having our doors open for two years, were hit hard by the Covid Pandemic and all the statewide shutdowns that came along with it.
It was only due to our dedicated members working out first on Zoom, and then outside in the parking lot for close to two years that we were able to sustain through that difficult and unpredictable time.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Strange Strength and Conditioning?
What sets Strange Strength and Conditioning apart from other CrossFit/Weightlifting gyms in the area is that we are extremely inclusive and have a diverse membership. We have always worked to provide a safe space for all walks of life and part of the reason we are called “Strange” is because we celebrate the unique nature of all humans and would never try to quiet or suppress anyone trying to live their truest and most authentic life. We also have one of the largest LGBTQIA+ communities in the LA area.
We are one of the more competitive gyms in LA, and provide a track of programming that does not shy away from the more difficult and complex movements in our sport. A lot of gyms have chosen to go in a more general boot camp style direction with their workouts, but we believe that with the right coaching and scaling options, no movement is too unapproachable.
In addition, we offer a track of programming that focuses on foundational and accessible movements for those that are new to the sport and want a good sweat and a high intensity cardio workout. Truly something for everyone!
We have a wide variety of classes available to our members from Gymnastics, to Engine (aerobic capacity), Olympic Weightlifting, and CrossFit style workouts. Our facility is 100% ADA accessible and one of our coaches, Anna Stern, is the World Champion in the Neuro Major division of Adaptive CrossFit.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
The Covid pandemic really brought to the surface how precarious and precious each individual person’s health truly is. During the Pandemic we saw a rush of people begin a fitness journey in the most unlikely places (their living room, the park, their garage, etc.). Fitness equipment sold out everywhere, and the prices of just a single DB skyrocketed.
We also learned how important community is. Even the sight of a friendly face for the first time after months of isolation brought unparalleled joy. We found happiness in the simplest things: being outside, talking with a friend, how good a hug felt.
Even now, my members bring up how they miss those times when we were working out outside in the hot sun. Or how fun the online Zoom classes used to be. As hard as it was, it showed us what was truly important and a lot of the white noise of everyday life was washed away.
Pricing:
- $215 Unlimited Membership
- $175 10 Class Pack (never expires)
- $115 Unlimited 24/7 Open Gym Membership
- $25 Drop-In Fee
- $80-$150 an hour for Personal Training
Contact Info:
- Website: www.strangestrength.us
- Instagram: @strangestrengthandconditioning
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/strangestrengthandconditioning/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/strange-strength-and-conditioning-north-hollywood-2
Image Credits
John McCrary
