The Coaches
Beth Rypins
Beth founded Wine Country CrossFit in 2009 to spread the word about functional strength training. After years of training inside a gym and in the wilds, Beth was burnt out on exercise. She had a hard time losing weight after giving birth at 39, and injuries inhibited her return to fitness. She discovered CrossFit in 2005, and it re-ignited her passion.
Born and raised in San Francisco, Beth escaped the city at 15 with paddle in hand. Whitewater rafting and kayaking on wild rivers took her across the globe, earning five national and two world championship titles. After training hard and competing for many years, Beth delights in sharing the joy of strength building and movement with others. As an aging athlete she brings acute knowledge of injury prevention and management to her clients. She loves working with people of all ages to build strong and supple bodies, and believes CrossFit is the most effective way to reach the goal. As a childhood stroke survivor she remembers vividly what it is like not to be able to move, and that memory calls her to action daily.
A graduate of UC Berkeley with a degree in Soviet Politics, Beth is CrossFit certified, ACE certified, and has attended CrossFit Endurance, Nutrition, Olympic Lifting and Mobility seminars.
Ryan Stiefvater
After a year on the road as a pearl wholesaler, sitting in airports, drinking beer, and packing on a quick 15lbs, Ryan was introduced to CrossFit in 2006 by a former college roommate. Coaching since 2009, he has had the opportunity to work with former Olympians, nationally competitive gymnasts, and professional athletes in many different disciplines.
Ryan has participated in competitive sports throughout his life including swimming, skiing and golf. At age 16 his passion for coaching began while teaching the golf swing for the junior club in his hometown, Chico, CA.
With a B.S. in Business from Sonoma State University and a Graduate Gemologist degree, among others from the Gemological Institute of America, Ryan is a CrossFit level 1 certified instructor and has attended CrossFit seminars in Mobility, and Olympic Weightlifting.
Marco Gressi
A part time coach and full time wine maker, Marco immigrated from Italy after growing up all over the world. At 16 he discovered surf kayaking in Rome, and paddled on class V rivers for the next 15 years. Once in California back-country snowboarding and road biking became his passions, and his vocation landed him a job in the Napa valley. Between moving barrels and riding hills, Marco’s body ached a lot. After numerous offers from Beth he tried CrossFit, and from the beginning he was hooked. CrossFit made him stronger on the hills and handled his aches and pains. It improved the shape of his body, gave him confidence, and made him a happier person. He loves dissecting movements and helping people improve, so that they too can live a better life. He holds CrossFit Level 1 certification.
Emilie Wyrick
Emilie has been a self-proclaimed “CrossFit Addict” ever since her first free introductory class in early 2010. After years of struggling with her weight and health (seeing only nominal improvement from her lengthy hours spent on treadmills, elliptical and nautilus machines) CrossFit was a godsend. She quickly loved how CrossFit strengthened her body, mind and spirit, and after a year of training with Beth, Ryan, Kris and Marco decided to become Crossfit Level 1 certified. It was one of the most exciting days of her life!
One of the things Emilie loves most about coaching is sharing her passion for health and fitness. She loves helping people overcome obstacles that block their path to success. Being able to encourage others and help them succeed is, for her, the opportunity of a lifetime.
Emilie has a B.S. in Biology from Pacific Union College, an Advanced Certificate from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, is CrossFit Level 1 certified and is working on obtaining her ACE certification.
