Deep Freeze CrossFit, Antarctica

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Deep Freeze CrossFit opened three weeks ago in Antarctica. How awesome is that!? I’m so ready to get a crew together and fly down there for some seal pulls and penguin over burpees.

Deep Freeze CrossFit was opened by Daniel Jose, a United States Air Force veteran of 10 years who is now a flight line mechanic working for a private contractor at McMurdo Station. The station is a research center and home to the largest community in Antarctica, which is about 1000 people. We asked Daniel a few questions about the world’s most southern CrossFit affiliate.

1. Why did you decide to open a box?

The main goal for me starting up this box is to bring CrossFit as an option to people who are staying here. Since I was in the US AF for 10 years, I have come to try to give back to the military community.

Daniel Jose, owner of Deep Freeze CrossFit in Antarctica, performing ice shelf squats.

Daniel Jose, owner of Deep Freeze CrossFit in Antarctica, performing ice shelf squats.

2. What’s membership like?

As of right now I have only 3 people on average in my day to day classes. In total numbers I have 6 people that come to my classes as of right now. And it is growing here every day. It is free for people to go to the classes because I am registered as a military affiliate. The members that I do have right now are mostly the contracted fire fighters on station and Air Force National Guard that are a part of 109th Airlift Wing of the New York Air National Guard.

3. What region do you compete in?

It is true that I am not in any region. Or none that I know of right now. I really do need to ask CrossFit HQ about that one. But I have a feeling they will lump us in with Australia or something like that. Kind of like how Hawaii is part of NorCal region. I will hopefully have people compete in the open.

Typical WOD at Deep Freeze CrossFit.

Typical WOD at Deep Freeze.

4. Do you ever WOD outdoors?

Thankfully for us we have an indoor facility that is heated! It is a fitness room that I am just using for a little over an hour a day. I am using the ASC’s (Antarctic Support Contract) fitness space and equipment as of right now. But I do have a few things from Rouge on its way here to help open up the programing a little. The lack of equipment and sub zero temperatures outside does play a difficult but fun factor in how I can program.

As of right now we are unable to WOD outdoors. And this is due to the very intense weather! Hopefully later on in the summer the weather will clear up for us to be able to do some more outdoors stuff.

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