Editor’s Note: Several weeks ago, Ben Bergeron (CF-L4) announced to his CrossFit New England community that his gym, CFNE, would be de-affiliating from CrossFit. CFNE was established in 2007 and has trained thousands of athletes, including CrossFit Games Affiliate Cup champs and legends like Mat Fraser, Katrin Davidsdottir, Cole Sager, and Brooke Wells, among many others. Below, Bergeron provides an open letter to the broader community about what drove this decision. For more, Ben and Patrick Cummings discussed this decision on the Chasing Excellence Podcast.
To the Community,
This is one of the hardest letters I’ve ever had to write. After nearly two decades, CrossFit New England will be de-affiliating from CrossFit.
This decision wasn’t made lightly. It comes after six months of deep reflection, conversations, and wrestling with what’s best for our gym and our community. And while I know in my heart that this is the right path forward, I also feel an incredible weight in saying goodbye to something that has meant so much to me for so long.
I owe so much to CrossFit. It shaped my career, my coaching, my friendships, and my family. It introduced me to some of the best people I’ve ever known. It redefined and revolutionized fitness, and for that, I’ll always be grateful. But at the same time, we’ve reached a point where our values no longer fully align with CrossFit HQ.
At CFNE, we believe in humility, honesty, and responsibility. Since the tragic events of last year’s Games, it has become harder and harder to reconcile these principles with the decisions and lack of accountability, ownership, and transparency shown by CrossFit HQ.
I am not excited about this decision, and I am not making it emotionally or quickly. I’ve spent the last six months contemplating the right path forward, as I believe that leadership means making the right decision, even when it’s the hard one — and this is hard.
We built our gym on the belief that fitness is about so much more than just working out. It’s about forging deep, meaningful connections — creating a space where people show up not just for themselves but for each other. Where they can be authentic, vulnerable, and loved. A place without drama or negativity, just growth and good vibes.
As that vision became clearer, staying affiliated with CrossFit started to feel like a limitation rather than a support. And that’s not how it should be. A name on the door shouldn’t hold us back from fully living out what we believe in.
So, we’re stepping forward.
Moving forward, CrossFit New England will become CompTrain New England. We have been a CompTrain Gym and have followed CompTrain programming for a decade now, so nothing else has changed — our community, our coaching, and our mission remain the same. We will continue to train, to grow, to build something we are proud of.
Thank you to everyone who has been a part of our gym’s journey.
With deep gratitude,
Ben
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Featured image: @benbergeron / Instagram
