Head Coach

---

Sam​uel Matthews

Coach Sam has been in the fitness industry since 2003. He started his internship at CrossRoads Fitness Center in Grand Junction, Colorado, while attending college at Colorado Mesa University. He worked as a personal trainer there until 2006. During that time he was responsible for meeting with new members and writing out specific programs based on their goals. This was mainly with their weight loss ambitions.

From their, Sam went to CrossFit Red, where he started his career of Competitive Athlete Coach. He received certifications for:
CrossFit Level 1,
CrossFit Olympic Weight Lifting,
CrossFit Gymnastics,
CrossFit Kids, and
Club Coach Level 1 Certification with USAW.

During his time at CrossFit Red, Sam was able to coach Mary Beth Litsheim to her first National World Championship win at the CrossFit Games in 2011. He assisted her as a coach in 2012 CrossFit Games where she took 2nd. Also during this time, he assisted Natalie Newhart in many small CrossFit competition wins, and was her Olympic Lifting coach when she took 1st at the 2010 CrossFit/USAW weightlifting competition.

In 2011, Sam opened CrossFit Venture/CrossFit Vail with Natalie Newhart. During this time, he was able to be the coach for Robbie Davis (from Bonedale CrossFit) who qualified for the CrossFit Games in 2013 and took 6th, and in 2014 and took 5th. Sam was able to assist Natalie as a coach to help her achieve her goal of earning a place at the CrossFit Games when she took 3rd place at Regionals. We were able to watch her efforts while she qualified for Regionals for 2 years before earning her ticket to the CrossFit Games.

Sam has helped hundreds of people - from the level of obesity to the elite level of sports. Such individuals as the ones on our success stories page, to athletes such as Andrea "Agre bomb" Agre, Natalie Newhart, Mary Beth Litsheim, and Robbie Davis.  

Before all of this, Sam achieved personal accomplishments as an athlete. He took 2nd place at the Junior Olympics in Olympic Weightlifting and 1st Team All State as a running back in football his senior year of high school. After high school, Sam served in the U.S. Navy as a family tradition before starting college and beginning his fitness coaching career. Sam completed his BA in Exercise Science/Kinesiology at Colorado Mesa University and a Masters in Psychology at Ashford University. 

Sam is embracing the opportunity to live and coach in an area where there are so many athletes with incredible abilities, experiences, and drive. 

---

Supporting Coaches

---

Melissa Matthews
I am the co-owner of CFV Colorado. I entered the fitness world about 7 years ago. When we moved here in 2011 with the intentions of opening our own gym, my main focus (knowing that Sam would take care of the quality and safety of training) was to build an incredible community. CFV is my family's home-away-from-home. We have essentially raised our two boys in this gym and it is so important to me to keep them surrounded by positive, good, strong people. That is exactly what we have! ​

---

Lily Flores
Lily is originally from Cusco, Peru. She came to the Vail Valley in September 2008. A friend from work took her for a free class to CFV (Sam and Melissa’s gym) where she discovered CrossFit. She got hooked the very first class and ever since she has been very passionate about CrossFit. In March 2015 she decided to get her CrossFit level 1 certification. Lily is also is very passionate about Trail running; it’s her favorite summer activity. Lily's #1 passion and job are her two children Conor (3) and Emily (2). 
CrossFit certifications:
CrossFit Level 1
CrossFit Dumbbells

---

Mindy Jarrard

---

Sierra Aldrich
Sierra’s passion is in teaching and coaching. She began as a dancer and endurance athlete competing nationally as a Nordic skier and distance runner.  She also spent a great deal of time as a kayaker, rock climber, mountain biker, and playing ice hockey. After an almost debilitating injury to her low back, Aldrich’s path back to health and fitness was Cross-training and Crossfit. She is particularly dedicated to core-training because she believes that is the scaffolding for all athletic growth. Her coaching often focuses on balance, agility, and endurance. Sierra has coached a number of Olympic athletes in kayaking, as well as been a big mountain ski coach (both telemark and alpine), Nordic ski coach, and Cross-training coach. During the day she teaches high school in an alternative program for kids with trauma. She strongly believes that community and healthy relationships are instrumental to learning, which is why she has made CFV her gym of choice.  Sierra is always working hard to keep up with her rapidly growing children and to empower each individual to be the best they can be that day.

---

Rosa Foth