Darren discovered CrossFit in 2007, during his Masters degree in Exercise Physiology, as he was always researching the latest info on training and nutrition methods. Needless to say, the simple yet effective philosophy had him hooked and 3 months later opened the first CrossFit gym in the country.

As the sport of CrossFit grew, Darren competed at the Regionals from 2009-2012 as an individual, the CrossFit Games affiliate competition in 2010 and in 2015 qualified in second place for the 40-44yr Masters division of The Reebok CrossFit Games.

Before university and opening CrossFit NZ and Reebok CrossFit 09, Darren spent 6 years working and travelling overseas working for minimum wage as a bartender, bouncer, tour guide, tractor driver, cook and divemaster, and visiting places like Congo, Ethiopia, Yemen and Guatemala; which found him home to dodgy parasites and 10kg underweight, but with an ability to order food in Swahili, Turkish and Arabic.

Now he runs his gyms and coaches people all over the world in fitness and nutrition, while trying to spend as much time as possible on the beach or a mountain bike with his fiance Krista and his dog Baxter. 

www.lisatamati.co.nz www.runninghotcoaching.com