The new headquarters for CrossFit legend Mat Fraser’s HWPO (Hard Work Pays Off) training organization in Burlington, Vermont, is more than just a place for athletes to perfect their craft. It’s a gigantic facility that has been built with every facet of creating champion CrossFitters in mind.
Giddy with excitement, Craig Richey of the TeamRICHEY YouTube channel recently gave fans a tour of the new digs. Check it out:
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What’s Inside HWPO’s New Facility
Fraser was crowned Fittest Man on Earth® five times during his storied career and is currently considered one of the greatest CrossFit athletes in history. So he knows a little something about what a gym facility needs. And first up on the agenda is space — and the new HQ has plenty of it. The grounds boast 6,500 square feet of gym space and 5,000 square feet of office space. And that’s far from the facility’s only notable feature.
In addition to the expansive training floor, the business end has studio space for video, content creation, and social media management. And athletes using the headquarters don’t just get regular locker rooms. Here, they have a lounge and dedicated space to relax and chill with the “Recovery Zone,” offering cold therapy ice barrels and a sauna. But of course, it’s the gym space that we are the most interested in.
A Facility Optimized for Performance
While all those amenities are impressive, this facility is mainly geared toward maximizing athletes’ performance. And installed high above the massive gym floor is a crow’s nest position where coaches can observe the fleet of CrossFitters training underneath.
“Basically, we just wanted to create the perfect space,” Fraser said during TeamRICHEY’s sneak preview video.
The gym is heavy on Concept2 machinery, including plenty of SkiERGs and BikeERGs. There’s a massive strength and conditioning area, too, along with a 55-foot-long single-piece strip of gym turf, supplied by SurfaceCo for perfecting drills and weighted sled pulls. The competition rig is another highlight, featuring two 15-foot-tall uprights for pull-ups, rope climbing, and muscle-ups to help simulate the toughest CrossFit competitions.
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The new headquarters is still in its infancy, so the team is experimenting with different stations until they find the perfect flow. While this is a veritable amusement park for the fitness-minded, Fraser added that he’s always looking to expand in the future.
“Every gym I’ve moved into, I was like: ‘Oh, we’ll never run out of space here,’” Fraser said. “I’m to the point now that I’m like: ‘No, I wanna outgrow these spaces,’ I want to build it bigger and better.”
There’s a sign inside HWPO HQ that reads: “Show up, work hard, and make yourself proud.” Well, this looks like an awesome place to do just that.
Featured Image: TeamRICHEY on YouTube
