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 You know I take the occasional cruise. We love going to tropical locations for fun, relaxation…and CrossFit! On Grand Cayman, there’s so many things to do; Fantastic snorkeling, 7-mile beach, sights, food. I could go on, but I won’t. Why? Because I didn’t do any of that. No, I climbed onto a bus that was headed towards one of the beaches and got off at the first stop for a 5-minute walk to Camana Bay and CrossFit Cayman. It’s not far from George Town but probably a bus or a cab ride. It’s walkable but on the far side – about 4km, depending on your starting point. When you arrive you’ll find yourself among restaurants, clothing and jewelry shops in a very nice shopping center. My first reaction was “huh?!” But I turned the corner and there it was. Now, this never happens, but I was actually in Grand Cayman twice within a few weeks. So, what did I do? I don’t think I have to tell you. And, it was apparently intriguing enough for my wife to join me the second time around. Let’s give you all the details. You know how it works. All categories are rated on a scale of 1-5 barbells.   Communication/Information Availability CrossFit Cayman has a good website with their schedule, drop-in pricing and information on coaches. The site is intuitive, making the information easy to find. As usual, I reached out via email to let them know I was dropping in and, especially because I was coming off a cruise ship, I wanted to pack as light as possible so knowing the workout and what gear to bring was important. In less than 3 hours, Tarasa, one of the founders, responded to me. She answered all my questions, including the SWAG cost (more on that below). She didn’t have the workout information initially but asked me to contact her a little closer to my trip and she was able to get me what I needed. On the second trip, I reached out again and Tarasa was just as responsive.  Cleanliness CrossFit Cayman was clean on both visits. I was at the noon class both times so, there were morning classes before I got there. There was some chalk on the rig but other than that everything looked pretty good. I checked the bathroom both times and it was clean.  Facility This is an interesting facility due to its location in a shopping center. First, because it’s in a retail space, there’s a lot of people passing by and that’s something I’m not accustomed to. There are offices overhead so I was told on each visit not to drop the bar to the floor to keep the noise down. And, one of the workouts had a run where we were basically running through the shopping center, weaving past shoppers. The space itself is a happy medium. It isn’t too small but isn’t huge either. There were some gaps in the flooring, but it wasn’t in the open floor area. It was by the rig and the barbell stands. You still have to be mindful of it. They have plenty of hardware and they do their best to keep it in good condition but it’s tough with the humidity. There's a fair amount of rust on the rig and the bars were weathered but not in bad condition. CrossFit Cayman also is the only space I’ve been to south of Dallas that has air conditioning. I thought “this is really going to help”. Honestly, I don’t know if it did. Especially with the workout that had the run, it was so humid I’m not sure it had any more impact than a good fan. It’s not a complaint. Just an observation.
 Workout/Programming The workouts were balanced and challenging. On the first trip, we started with 6x2 back squats with the intention of getting to a heavy weight. This was followed by 5 rounds for time of a 200-meter run (which like I mentioned was a little strange, having to run through the shopping center), 9 strict pull ups and 7 front squats. A good balance. The second workout was a twist on a 21-15-9. It was 21 power cleans, twice the amount of push ups and 21 box jumps, then 15-30-15 and 9-18-9. I usually don’t look forward to the box jump portion of a workout but it was a good opportunity to rest my upper body. Those push ups really added up. The coaches warmed us up appropriately each time. I felt like I got good workouts.  Coaching There was a different coach on each visit and I was very pleased each time. On the first visit, coach Alicia ran the class. She’s knowledgeable and outgoing. She introduced me to the class and was very attentive to everyone throughout the hour. She answered questions and helped with scaling options. She was very spirited and personable. On the second visit, we had coach Nathan. I honestly can’t remember whether he introduced us to the class but let’s give him the benefit of the doubt. He too was very attentive and encouraged us throughout the workout.  Culture There’s lots of good things to say about the people at CrossFit Cayman. When I first visited, there were a handful of athletes standing outside of the gym. There’s a gap between classes and the coach hadn’t gotten there for the noon class yet. I started chatting with a couple of them while we waited. Everyone was very nice. Some people were a little more to themselves than others, but you’ll see that anywhere you go. There were several athletes that encouraged each other during the workout. Here's the real kicker. After class I walked over to catch a bus back to town. The busses wait until they’re full to take people back and it was the middle of the day so, the bus was practically empty. I asked how much a cab was and they tried to gouge me. I said okay, I’ll walk back. It’s only about a 40-minute walk. I had time so I didn’t mind. About halfway back I heard someone calling my name. I was looking around thinking, “it must be for someone else. Who knows me in Grand Cayman?” It was one of the athletes from class. He offered me a ride the rest of the way back. It really doesn’t get better than that. Super nice. On our second visit it was a little more subdued. There were maybe 6 people total, including myself, my wife and coach Alicia from my first visit. It was still a welcoming vibe.  Drop-in Cost and Swag The drop-in cost for a single class is $30(US), cash only. My suggestion is to bring exact change because if they give you change, it will most likely be in Cayman Island Dollars. Depending on how long you’re staying, you may be bringing home cash you’ll have to exchange. Exact change is easier. Shirts are also $30(US) and the selection is limited, or it was for me. My wife was able to get one in her size. Men’s large, on the other hand, is a more popular size and therefore harder to come by. So, yes, this is more expensive than you’d normally pay in the states but keep in mind that you'll find most things more expensive in the islands. In Summary Realistically, if you’re coming off a cruise ship, you’ll probably go to the beaches or sight seeing. However, if you’re on Grand Cayman for a little while, CrossFit Cayman is a great place to get in a workout. The workouts are well programmed, the coaching is very good and the people are friendly. I was happy with my experience each time. Just remember to bring exact change and don’t drop the bar. Wishing you safe, healthy and successful travels! And a very happy holiday. Contact Information:
Market Street, Camana Bay KY 1-1202 George Town Grand Cayman +1 (345)929-8450 https://www.crossfitcayman.com/ [email protected]
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