About CrossFit Fort Dobbs
We became the first and only CrossFit gym in Statesville, North Carolina! Our doors opened in 2013 under a different name and brand, six years later the gym was sold to the amazing, Sissel Svenkerud, our current owner. Through hard work, dedication and her strong commitment to bettering the community, CrossFit Fort Dobbs was born! It has been an incredible journey and honor to be able to grow and help impact such an amazing community, while working with our talented team to change and positively enhance the lives of hundreds in our beloved hometown.
We are so much more than just a fitness facility. When you join CrossFit Fort Dobbs, you become part of our family.
HUMBLE – Humility is one of the most powerful and important attributes of one’s growth, both in and outside the gym. Being humble helps to build trust and facilitates learning, which are key aspects of leadership and personal development.
HUNGRY – In order to become successful, you must be hungry for it. Hunger for success creates a healthy mindset and attitude.
HAPPY – Happiness is evident when your needs are being met and you consistently enjoy your daily activities. Ways to improve happiness might include positive social connections, maintaining an overall sense of purpose, recognition of feelings of gratitude, physical activity, and focused mindfulness.
Our Mission is to build a family of athletes that constantly push each other to improve physically and mentally with a goal of becoming the best version of themselves possible.
Our Philosophy
The programs we have are focused on functional exercises, athletic conditioning, Olympic and power lifting training, gymnastics, plyometrics, rowing, running and constantly varied movements. Our training programs, group classes and one on one coach workouts, create a strong bond among all of our members that can’t be broken; from young to old, veteran CrossFit champions, to those trying CrossFit for the first time, we pride ourselves on motivating, building a strong sustainable mindset and encouraging you to reach your goals in ways you have never experienced before!
Together we sweat, we work hard, we overcome obstacles, we get stronger, lift heavier, and work to build healthy, happy and humble members!
We train a wide variety of people from all ages, abilities and walks of life; athletes, first time lifters, college/high school students, mothers, fathers, professional bodybuilders and so many more. From beginner to intermediate and advanced, starting as early as 5:45AM and as late as 6:30PM, we are here to work hard and show you how CrossFit can impact your life!
We offer a variety of programs to best suit your needs and goals. Our group classes integrate techniques and skill work with highly varied workouts that can be scaled and modified to anyone`s fitness level. Our one-to-one training sessions with a CrossFit Fort Dobbs highly skilled and experienced coach provides individual guidance and coaching, educates you on meal planning to fuel your body and prepares you to reach your goals
Our coaches regularly attend seminars and classes to continue their training on health, fitness, and nutrition.
As a team we meet frequently to learn from each other as well as other fitness and medical professionals. We pride ourselves on our dedication and commitment to continue to learn, train and grow as a team so that we can share the most up to date information and training with our members. CrossFit Fort Dobbs coaches stand out from the rest because of their proven track record of helping athletes of every level grow, succeed, and develop day in and day out. We stay HUMBLE, HUNGRY and HAPPY!
We encourage you to come in for a quick tour, meet our coaches, check out our amazing facility and wide range of equipment. We can’t wait for you to get started!
Coaching Team
Click on the photograph of a member of our team below to learn more about their credentials.
COACH
Sissel Svenkerud
COACH
Nicole Michelle Kevwitch
COACH
Michele Woldman
COACH
Jake Vernon
COACH
Jonathan King
SECURITY BOSS
SuziQ
Ambassadors
CrossFit Fort Dobbs Ambassadors mission is to highlight Athletes within the program who not only show up to do the work using the CFFD principles, but do so with excellence and support for their peers. The Ambassadors’ role is to help grow and maintain our community by assisting in the integration and support of new Athletes while leading by example within the program. The Ambassador does so by connecting with new students and providing peer support when needed.
AMBASSADOR
Amy Sullivan
“What about Me?”
I’m a 65 year old year old lady who has embraced her silver hair, but not her limitations. I’m full of curiosity about what I can do or not do, whether it is in my vocation as a fine art painter, or in the gym at CrossFit. One of my goals is to Stay Curious. I love learning new things, cats, and handstands against the wall. And I don’t like math.
“What about Me?” is my almost daily response to any coach after they describe the Skill and the Metcon. When I started CrossFit three years ago, there wasn’t a movement that didn’t need to be scaled, or reps adjusted. Time has passed and I’ve put in the hours and soaked up the encouragement, my confidence has soared, and that question no longer carries the hesitation it once did.
CrossFit has given me confidence to face aging, and to be the strongest that I can be.
“What about Me?” I wanted to be an Ambassador for CrossFit because I want and wish, for everyone, to find the home of inclusivity, positivity, and wellness, that is called CrossFit Fort Dobbs.
AMBASSADOR
Robby Wilkinson
My name is Robby Wilkinson, I am 61, married and have a son Matthew 25 and daughter Chelsea 30. I am currently employed with Iredell County and serve as the Development Services Director and Chief Building Official. Some of my favorite things to do are spending time with family, being outdoors, sweating through CrossFit wods and participating in the CrossFit community. CrossFit has changed my health and fitness lifestyle. As the body ages, aches, pains, and meds are more relevant. With age comes the lack of self-motivation and drive to push oneself to where they need to be. With CrossFit the motivation comes from the coach and the drive from classmates encouraging and cheering for one another while sweating and suffering together. Being an ambassador allows me to represent, speak on behalf of, and promote the CFFD affiliate for continued success. Also, assist and encourage others that with community and consistency, anybody can experience health and lifestyle changes that will increase their quality of life.
AMBASSADOR
Lindsay Walker
My name is Lindsay, I have been doing CrossFit for 12 years. I discovered CrossFit in Arizona and then when I moved back to North Carolina I joined CFFD (previously CrossFit Cyclone). Being an athlete my entire life and being active I was eager and curious about CrossFit and the challenges it would bring. I immediately fell in love with CrossFit because of the way it made my body feel and the way it challenged me in ways that no other workout ever had. I loved the comradery of the CrossFit community and it was something that I craved to be apart of. I wanted to be a CrossFit Fort Dobbs ambassador because I want to inspire others with my journey of CrossFit and the ways that it has changed my life, the outlook I have on the human body and the amazing ways it can change everything about you. I hope I can help others, especially women and moms and encourage them to keep pushing and never stop chasing their goals and dreams and how CrossFit, our coaches, workouts and family at CFFD can change their life.