Meet the coaches

Our coaches are highly trained, knowledgeable and passionate about helping people achieve their health and fitness goals.

Daniel Rankin

Owner & Head Coach

Dan has been involved in CrossFit for 10 years, first starting when he was 15 and had just moved over to New Zealand from Samoa. He has competed locally and internationally in CrossFit, and loves the mental challenge of competition. Dan is a strong believer in the CrossFit model, particularly the constant variation it offers that keeps every fitness session new and interesting. The accessibility of CrossFit to a diverse range of people is something that he is truly passionate about. As a coach Dan particularly enjoys working with people new to CrossFit, and finds great reward in seeing their progress in physical ability and confidence.

Harriett Hlavac

Owner & Head Coach

Harriett has a background in competitive netball and basketball, originally starting CrossFit to build up her strength and conditioning for sport. Her love for CrossFit grew and eventually she started competing in CrossFit and Olympic Weightlifting. A trained Secondary teacher, her experience in education drove her to start coaching, which is where her true passion lies. She left teaching to pursue her love for coaching, spending 2 years coaching CrossFit full time and learning everything she could to expand her coaching practice. She is extremely passionate about people getting the most out of life, and believes in the CrossFit methodology to support others in doing so. Harriett takes a holistic approach to health, fitness and wellbeing, and works with clients on nutrition, mindset, breath work and flexibility & mobility to help them achieve their goals.

Bailey Lovett

Epsom Strength Head Coach

Bailey has been involved in the CrossFit and Olympic weightlifting communities for 4 years, as both an athlete and coach. As an athlete, she strives to achieve at the highest level, and has represented New Zealand in both Olympic weightlifting and underwater hockey. Bailey is particularly passionate about CrossFit as she loves the grunt work involved and constantly challenging her mental and physical limits. As a coach, Bailey thrives off of seeing athletes flourish as they gain experience and confidence, and really values the learning opportunities she is given through helping others achieve their goals. By trade, Bailey is a marine scientist and is currently in the final year of her PhD.     

Bernd Steinwender

Epsom Strength Head Coach

Bernd’s sport back ground is in skiing. Before starting CrossFit early 2013 he was keeping himself fit in the gym. Fascinated by the variety and challenge of the movements he fell in love with CrossFit and after two years he started coaching CrossFit classes in his hometown in Austria. After coming back to New Zealand he became a coach at Crossfit MCR which now is CrossFit Propolis and did his Level 1 Trainer Course. He competes in CrossFit as well as Olympic Weightlifting for Epsom Strength the in house weightlifting club and coaches athletes wishing to focus on Olympic Weightlifting. Bernd has a PhD in biological sciences and as a scientist he is interested in all facets of CrossFit and sees himself as an all-rounder. He is passionate about the members and wants to help them to become a stronger, faster and healthier version of themselves.

Micheal Rankin

CrossFit Coach

Mike first walked into a Crossfit gym in 2010 and has both observed and participated in the positive growth of Crossfit as a sport and more importantly as a framework for health, wellbeing and community. Although Mike is an exercise racing enthusiast, the community aspect is by far his greatest passion and interest. As a coach Mike most enjoys creating an atmosphere of comfort and equality promoting an environment without barriers between experienced athletes and beginners starting their fitness journey.

Josh Wilks

CrossFit Coach

Josh played a multitude of sports before competing in powerlifting in his early 20s. He noticed one day he was getting puffed walking up the stairs and decided that there might be more to fitness than deadlifting 3x his bodyweight! A month later he stepped into a CrossFit box and now 4 years has passed and he has never looked back! The most rewarding part of coaching for Josh is making movement fun and accessible for everyone. Starting a journey in health and fitness can be intimidating enough as it is! He makes it his goal to help people find it easier to start out on their health and fitness journey.