Graham Watanabe

Graham Watanabe is a two-time Olympian and National Champion, and X-Games medalist in the sport of Snowboardcross. Making the U.S. national team in 2000, Graham focused on Alpine Snowboarding, but after two consecutive major injuries moonlighting in the Snowboardcross discipline, Graham made the career choice to study Snowboardcross, and dedicated himself to physical fitness. In a gravity-driven sport, size and strength matter. One of the smallest competitors on tour, Graham’s off-hill training became just as important as on-hill. Turns out, hard work does pay off! In 2004, Graham became the first American male to win a World Cup Snowboardcross event. Between 2004 and 2012, he was a member of several World Championship teams, the 2006 Torino Olympic team, 2008 X-Games Silver Medalist, 2010 Vancouver Olympic team, and earned several World Cup podiums.

“I spent so many summers putting several hours a day in at the gym with personal trainers, physical therapists, and sports scientists trying to perfect the recipe for Snowboardcross. I got crazy strong, and the benefits trickled into every element of my daily life, but I was burned out. I hated the gym. However, I continue to have such an active lifestyle that a certain level of fitness has become not only preferred, but necessary. Past injury maintenance and future injury prevention are a part of my daily life now. When I found Ute Crossfit, I found a positive group training environment that effectively works all muscle groups and types AND trains coordination. The goal setting aspect makes me push myself, and provides an outlet for my competitive juices. Ute Crossfit didn’t just motivate me, but got me excited about working out again. If I’d found Ute Crossfit sooner, you wouldn’t just be talking to an Olympian, you would be talking to an Olympic Gold Medalist!”