Our Team
SYNERGY ATHLETE is owned and operated by Carrie Jo Chernoff-Hicks. Our coaches and community will, without a doubt, help you elevate your game whether you're simply seeking to trim a few pounds or trim a few minutes off a personal record.
My journey with health and fitness started many years ago when I was training to be a Chef in my home country – South Africa. It started with a simple course in nutrition & food science which opened my eyes to how the land and sea nourishes us. Around the same time I discovered Kettlebell training. The lifestyle changes I made changed my body and mind. It became a passion and I neverlooked back!
I started group training in Crested Butte in 2017 and received my ISSA Group Training Certificate in 2018. I love giving a fun, dynamic, challenging class that leaves my clients feeling good about themselves. I’m constantly researching and experimenting with new disciplines to pass onto my clients to make them stronger and reach their own optimal health goals.
When I’m not in the gym, you can find me hiking, trail running, mountain biking, cross country skiing, reading or cooking up a storm!
Athletic Director - Crested Butte Community School
Gym Owner and Coach at South Charlotte CrossFit, Rocky Top CrossFit and Beer City CrossFit from 2010-2021
Owner and administrative operator for SOF WOD (Special OPeration Forces Workout of the Day), online personal program design for special operations preparation 2010-2021
Training with CrossFit Principles since 2010
CrossFit Level 1 Certified Coach
CrossFit Level 2 Certified Coach
USAW Olympic Lifting Level 1 Certified Coach
CrossFit Kids Certified Coach
OPEX Business Systems Certified
CrossFit Certified Judge
40 Under 40 - 2017: Asheville, NC
BoxPro Magazine Cover - 2017
Bachelor of Science in Management and Law from Eller College of Management – University of Arizona
Former competitive volleyball player
Hi, I’m Krystal! I’m a strength and conditioning coach with over 12 years of experience as a Physical Therapist Assistant and Certified Brain Injury Specialist. My background in rehab taught me how powerful strength and movement can be—not just for recovery, but for building confidence and resilience at every stage of life.
I’m passionate about helping people move better, get stronger, and build confidence—whether your goal is thriving in daily life, performing at your best, or simply feeling healthier and more energized. In my coaching, I focus on proper movement, encouragement, and making sure each athlete feels supported and challenged in the right ways. I also deeply value the sense of community that comes with training together—it’s one of my favorite parts of coaching, seeing people lift each other up and celebrate progress as a team.
When I’m not coaching, you’ll find me chasing adventure in the mountains and on the trails—whether I’m trail running, mountain biking, snowboarding, nordic skiing, hiking, or scaling a rock face. I’m also hooked on pickleball for a bit of playful competition. Off the trails, my creativity takes over—you’ll find me in the kitchen whipping up something delicious, at the pottery wheel shaping clay, with a paintbrush or pencil in hand, or lost in the pages of a good book.
Jen is a certified Iyengar yoga teacher and has been practicing and teaching in Crested Butte for over 20 years. Iyengar yoga emphasizes alignment, often through the use of props, and can have therapeutic benefits. Jen enjoys working with athletes and sees this style of yoga useful for keeping us all doing the activities we love long into life!
I'm a fourth-generation ski educator and former alpine athlete with a decade of experience training athletes in mobility,
strength, power, and agility.
As an athlete, my passion for physical training provided me opportunities to excel and compete at a high level on the mountain. The injuries that came with that lifestyle provided a different view of what it takes to be a life-long athlete. As a coach, I'm inspired by what people are capable of and I hope my unique perspective can help us take the next step toward our goals.
When I'm not in the gym, I'm typically out skiing, hiking, or biking with my partner before falling into a book or strumming on an old guitar.
Ryan is new to Synergy and new to the valley, hailing all the way from Martha's Vineyard in MA. He has been a high school Physical Education teacher for the better part of a decade, built and developed the Adapted PE program at MV high school and was the founder of their Unified Athletics program. Ryan is now the new middle school PE teacher at CBCS and teaches high school Strength and Conditioning.
In the gym, Ryan is all about building strength as the foundation for longevity. A former competitive powerlifter and college football player, Ryan's experience is founded in the ‘old school’. Power-Building, combined with a growing understanding of functional movement, central nervous system activation and mobility, are his new focus and the driving force behind his approach. The whole idea is to ‘get strong to live long’.
Contact: carriejo@synergyathlete.com
CrossFit Certified trainer (level 3)
CrossFit Kids Certificate
CrossFit Endurance Certificate
Crossfit Adaptive athlete certification
CrossFit Competitor Certificate
CrossFit Mobility Certificate
CrossFit Aerobic Capacity certificate
Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach (NSCA)
USA Weightlifting Sports Performance Coach
Attitude Nation Level 1 Olympic Lifting
TRX Instructor
Certified Massage Therapist
Fueled by having an Olympic boxing coach for a father, Carrie Jo Chernoff-Hicks started her fitness quest and passion at the age of 6 with martial arts, received her black belt at 12, was teaching classes by age 13 and later became a certified fitness instructor in college. Moving to the Gunnison Valley in 1992, she transferred her athletic discipline from martial arts to the mountains where she began competing in both skiing and mountain biking. In 2006, she claimed the title of US Freeskiing Champion and finished 3rd on the World Tour.
Carrie Jo’s fitness background moved her into teaching conditioning classes in both Gunnison and Crested Butte. She has been the fitness director at Rocky’s Gym in Gunnison, Performance Director for the Crested Butte’s elite Ski and Snowboard Academy, Director of the Crested Butte Winter Conditioning Program, and has taught classes at many other venues in the valley across a wide range of fitness disciplines.
Curious about CrossFit for many years, working out from the main website and visiting other gyms, Carrie Jo knew she’d be involved as soon as a CrossFit gym opened in Crested Butte. She loves the range of benefits that CrossFit has to offer clients from the workouts to lifestyle and nutrition.
Carrie Jo is passionate about sharing her love for the outdoors, fitness and healthy lifestyle with her 2 little girls, watching people connect with their bodies and push themselves outside their comfort zones and find capabilities that they once thought impossible.