Our members get results.  But, just as importantly, they have a great time doing it.  The atmosphere here is light-hearted, relaxed, and fun.  In my opinion, this is a vastly underrated part of making strength and athletic training an integral part of your life.  I want the weight training part of my athlete’s day to be the best part of their day. 

But don’t take my word for it …

Riley

Riley_Charlish

The guy on the right is Riley, he’s 5’9’’ (ish).  The guy on the left is over 6 feet tall.  You do the math!  This boy’s got hops.  This kid does what he has to do to be the best.  He practices every day.  He lifts heavy weights.  And he does it all while keeping a big smile on his face. 

Beth

Beth_flowers Beth_snatch-2

“I have been lifting with Nick and PDX Weightlifting for a year now and have greatly improved my technique, flexibility and power. I was introduced to olympic lifting through CrossFit, which I have been doing for over 5 years. I continue to do both, and feel they complement each other greatly (except when I get too tired and cranky!). Nick has always been supportive of my efforts in both areas and works with me to design a program to meet my unique needs.” – Beth

Beth is a PhD and a Physical Therapist.   She remarkably busy, but she always finds the time to train hard in the gym doing both CrossFit and Competitive Olympic Weightlifting.  Giving up just isn’t her style! And it shows. The photo on the right is Beth competing in the inaugural USAW/CrossFit competition in Colorado Springs.  The one  on the left is more proof that weight training strong women are beautiful!

Roy

Roy’s a math teacher, competitive weightlifter, and is now also competing in highland games athletics.  For some odd-ball reason, when folks get past their 20’s, they believe it’s time to start “slowing down” and “taking it easy”.  We believe the opposite!  Masters level athletics is a great way to keep yourself strong and healthy so that you can live longer, stay mentally focused, and keep balance in your life. 

Brandon

Brandon is a highly focused athlete in the sport of Olympic Weightlifting.  He trains up to 12 sessions a week, very heavy.  He’s currently training for the upcoming Jr. Nationals, and has been invited to train for a few weeks this summer at California Strength under Glenn Pendlay.  Keep an eye on this dude …

Nate

Nate is another Math teacher in the bunch.  Proof that smart and strong DO mix!  He’s had one of the biggest transitions from being quite uncomfortable with the movements when he first came, to now killing it every day he’s in the gym.  Take his advice.  Stick to it in no matter what it is that you want.  Good things in life are often hard at first, but he’s a living example that pushing through the hard times is the only way to come out the other side a stronger and healthier you.

Chris

Chris is our resident big man.  And, he is also a math teacher (we seem to collect them!).   He’s gone from having one of the worst jerks in the history of humanity to it becoming his best lift.  How did he do that?  By being truly dedicated, pushing through, and putting in the work every day.  He also has a habit of making very hard things look very easy!  He doesn’t get down on himself when he fails at something.  Instead, he takes it as a challenge.  That attitude has taken him very far in life and in lifting!

“We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.” – John F. Kennedy

Estrella

Estrella is getting her PhD in Mathematics Education and his a very busy woman.  But, she doesn’t let that stop her from competing in Softball, Volleyball, and hitting the gym regularly.  She’s been able to cultivate a real strength and balance not only in her body, but in her life.  Oh, and she can also deadlift well over her own bodyweight and do chin ups! 

Ryland

“Coach Nick provides a remarkable mix of serious, hardcore training and a fun, light-hearted atmosphere.  (If he’s around, there’s a very good chance that you’ll hear him laughing before you see him.)  Regardless of your fitness level, if you’re up for some hard work, I can’t imagine feeling intimidated at PDX Weightlifting.  In my one year training with Nick, I’ve gotten stronger than I would have thought possible and learned to love a sport (olympic weightlifting) that I had barely even heard of previously.” — Ryland

As if we didn’t have enough people here with math degrees … here’s another one!  Ryland works his tail off and knows how to have fun doing it.  He’s in the gym upwards of 4 or 5 days a week working on snatches, clean and jerks, squats, deadlifts, push presses, etc.  You know, the good stuff!  And his progress has been moving fast.  He plays softball and has gone from being one of the worst batters on his team to one of the best.  The reason for his success is that he’s got the number one lesson down cold:  show up!   Bit by bit over the last year he’s become a new man.

Here he is doing some deadlifts.