CrossFit South Brooklyn

Established 2007

Yoga & Pilates 7.30.20

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Virtual Class Zoom Room (Password: CFSBK)
Yoga: 7am
Pilates Happy Hour: 6:00pm
Kids: 4:30pm
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Farewell to the Erskines

Bethany and Allan joined CFSBK back in March of 2008. Over the past twelve years they have been staples of our community that started out as friends and gradually became a family of five. Their boys, Alex and Oscar have been involved with our kids programs since they were three and we’re sure Isla will make a fine weight lifter when her time comes too.  Recently the Erskine’s let us know that they’re moving to New Jersey this August which is amazing (devastating). I know everyone who’s been fortunate enough to interact with Bethany, Allan and their family over all these years knows what wonderful people they are and we can’t thank them enough for all the hard work, community spirit, positive energy and love they’ve interjected into CFSBK since 2008. Few people have seen as much of our gym’s evolution as they have and its certainly the end of an era saying goodbye. They will be very missed but regardless of zip code, once a CFSBKer, ALWAYS a CFSBKer.

Here’s a note from the Erskine’s

Hello friends — this is a short note to say farewell from Allan, Bethany, Alex, Oscar & Isla, aka: the Erskine family. We are moving to Fair Haven, NJ at the end of August.

The CFSBK coaches, friends and community mean the whole world to our family, and are frankly one of the main reasons that we persevered in Brooklyn for so long. It perhaps doesn’t seem strange to say that ‘a gym’ can mean the world to a whole family — surely lots of members feel this way! But back in 2007/8 when we first joined it was a strange sensation to feel the lure of becoming ACTUAL friends with the people you worked out with. Like, back-off bro! Well, too late. In the intervening years, we have been delighted, humbled, you name it, to have the CFSBK community machine assimilate our entire family with near borg-like effectiveness. The consistently great coaching over the years, and watching the gym grow into a globally respected success story has been the best feeling, no matter the small part that we’ve played by ‘just showing up’.

Bethany’s best CFSBK memories: Every Strength Cycle I ever did, Iron Maidens, 6am open gym crew, 10am Saturday Short Circuits, Fight Gone Bad aka “Crossfit Halloween”, being taught by David in 2008 how to run (I have this crystal clear memory of running the block around The Lyceum and him saying “imagine you are holding a pencil in each hand”), that time David had us run backwards over the Carroll Street bridge during group class, “Fitness is Carned” shirts, Diapers and Dumbbells, gym dogs (especially Squid and Penny), Crossfit Kids, all the smiles, hugs, high-fives… the simple pleasure of running into CFSBK members on the street.

Special thanks to Margie and Jeremy for sparking my love of heavy lifts, every single Forever Friend I’ve made at SBK, to Whit for helping me move past years of pain and keeping me healthy and sane during a global pandemic, and to David for everything.

Allan’s favoritest: many Murph days, FGBs, doing two strength cycles and ripping three pairs of skinny Euro-pants in a week, the original Arturo/Noah Anti Gravity classes, the rare occasion when QoD is inexplicably dark “would you rather beaten to death by 6000 infants, or…”, AG strength (aka *finally* gaining the strength to perform movements I should have gotten years ago), CrossFit dogs (you know who you are), whenever Tom started making brisket, the photo feed, potlucks, sweating, making tractor tire playpens for kids.

Suffice to say, we love you guys. And for all this dramatic finality, we’ll still be dropping by whenever we can. Likewise if anyone is round or about the New Jersey peninsula and wants to give us a shout, please do! TIME!

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Here’s a small album of some of their favorite CFSBK memories. <3

Comments

  1. Sending love to some of my closest friends at the gym! So happy to have met such a wonderful, beautiful and loving family!!! Love all the memories I’ve shared with y’all and so happy (and sad) that I got to see you all before the move!

    Obv will keep in touch/text (and visit!) Will miss seeing your glowing smiles, laughs and hugs!! Sending you the deadlift spirit fingers as a goodbye (to Bethany especially!) and will listen to Drexciya in your honor haha! Best wishes on the move and love you B, A, A, O and I! Xoxox

  4. What I find interesting is how during life’s rhythms you end up connecting with different people. And CFSBK is a place where that happens. A few years ago, I shared a bar with Allan consistently on Saturdays. It was a pleasure. Thanks.

    • I remember that Ken! I was looking for a way to phrase this — spending regular time with your peeps who happen to be moving the same weight as you! The pleasure was all mine

  5. Bethany and Allan,

    CFSBK is losing some of its best in the Erskine clan. Congrats on your move to NJ, it’ll be a wonderful place to plant your beautiful family. It’s been a pleasure getting to know you and watching you grow a family. NJ is gaining some of the best.

    Bethany – I’ll have images of you lifting heavy things and in doing so, helping to pave that path to some TFBAs forever in my mind.

    Allan – You were the first person I ever saw do a muscle up in person. I was, and am still, awed. And I’ll miss your perennial smile, and not understanding 70% of what you’re saying as that thick Scottish accent really come on in the company of folks from across the pond.

    So much love,
    Chris

    • Nice one Chris! We will miss the Fox fam! Your memory made me very happy since I struggled with muscle ups forever — I never did cross that easy-when-you-know-how line with them.. but if I impressed you once, years ago, what more can I ask for!? Thanks to you and Jess for everything over the years!

  8. End of an era for sure! I’ll miss the Erskines at the gym as I admittedly have been in awe, since I moved away a few years ago, of how they how they as a family were weaved into the soul of CFSBK! Good luck to you and your new life in NJ!!

  9. I’m going to miss you so much! Bethany, I’ll always cherish our talks between sets, sharing life’s ups and downs as we get stronger. Competing together in Philly, Iron Maidens, the many potlucks and Fights Gone Bad and just knowing that you’re a block away. Great memories and we’ll make more — especially if you set up a sweet home gym and need a lifting partner! 🙂

  10. You are both going to be missed so much! I feel so fortunate to have been on FGB and Open Teams with Allan, who was just filled with endless encouragement through every moment. Bethany, you made me a better lifter through many 6am squatting morning when you always called me on depth 🙂 And when it came to Iron Maidens, I was always either in awe watching your strength and determination, or looking to see your card first as a judge when I was lifting because I respected so much your standards. NJ is so lucky to have you both!

  11. Allan and Bethany- Jon w here from Rumson – exciting to see you guys moving to the new neighborhood!
    Rhiannon was very excited when I told her Alex and Oscar would be moving close by!
    Let us know when ur settled in
    Jw@jonwilliams.consulting

  13. It’s always somber when Lyceum-era SBK’ers leave the fold. Part of me is glad we’re not all together, because the absence would be so much more palpable. All the best to you guys in your new home.

    One of my favorite SBK memories of all time was how we all struggled to stop calling Alex “Rocket.” I thought I would never get used to it!! Another fond memory: spending a CSA evening with toddler Alex on the old couches. That night, there were samples of the charcuterie that Herondale was just starting to produce, and Alex nearly ate his weight in sample saucisson. He had so much lust for salami!

    Anyway, seriously, we’ll miss you guys. Hope to see y’all soon again at the gym.

    • Hi Mig! Many memories! “Rocket” was a fine pre-baby name — glad some of us recall it. Fox also held onto that one — and I loved seeing Alex’s face when he’d occasionally realize “hey, that’s me they’re talking about!”

      You put in a bunch of time with these guys — more than most.. kayaks and all!<3

  14. Allan and Bethany,

    So sad you will be departing. I have great memories of AGS with Allan and OG with Bethany, too! I think my second 4/5 cycles of AGS were motivated by seeing Bethany do HSPUs while like 8/9 months pregnant in OG actually. . .

    You are both a force at the gym and great folks I wish I had more time to have met outside the gym. Zoe and Isaac will miss Oscar and Alex 🙁

    Best of luck. NJ is lucky to get you, and I hope you come back to visit when the dust settles.

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