I've been a member of Roots since moving to Boulder in 2012. In my biased opinion (and isn't that…read morewhat Yelp is all about?), Roots is the best CrossFit gym in all of Boulder ... and the country, far as I've seen - and I've dropped into my fair share. Let me explain:
* The size of the gym is spacious, not cramped, and always clean and organized. Total win.
* There's a mindful flow to class structure with a group warm-up and WOD intro that is guided - it's never a free-for-all. And the class waits to break their sh*t down until everyone is finished WODing.
* The coaches are the best, most skilled IMO. They care about form and foundational movements and technique. They keep class sizes small so you get the attention you need, whether you want to admit it or not, to get better and, more importantly, move safely.
* They have four dedicated Oly platforms, where is where I now spend the majority of my time. I love that. I got my own space to work on my Oly lifts or pull out a rack to back/front squat, without having to fight for space, barbells, or plates.
* They have ample Open Shop time that I utilize for shizzle. No other gym in/around town is going to let you treat their shop like your own personal gym, but Roots does with near-daily Open Shop times that let you come in and do your own thing, catch up on a WOD you might've missed, or work on technique and gymnastics.
* There's always a coach onsite. If you need a spot, some advice, or general pep talk, you don't have to look far to get the support you need as an athlete. I love that. Sometimes, you may even get advice from a coach without asking - that's how much they care.
Okay, here comes the WARNING: If you join Roots - or even try it for a few days and classes, be ready to FEEL SPOILED. To feel like no other gym will ever meet your expectations, because that's exactly what will happen. Roots is the best, worth every cent, and very accomodating for all athletes of all ages (they have a kids program and a seniors program), as well as community-minded and welcoming.
To be honest, when I moved to Boulder without knowing ANYONE, I got through that first awkward couple of years (you know, trying to meet friends and trying to feel at home) because of Roots. I started in their Women's Only program and made fast friends with the ladies, before I self-graduated myself into the standard track after doing the 2014 Open.
If you're a member of Roots, I think you can agree with me - you feel like you're part of something special, something important, something worth preserving at all costs. It's not the cult-mindset (ha, like that even exists in CrossFit); it's the Roots Family outlook. When you're in, you're in.