I stumbled across Ascension a couple years ago when I was looking to get over a plateau in my snowboarding. I couldn’t seem to effectively train myself in the gym, and other trainers just didn’t seem to understand what I was trying to do. They didn’t listen or take it seriously, I was just another ‘client.’
The first time I walked into Ascension I was intimidated. This place looked like Schwarzenegger-era World Gym but for outdoor athletes. Super accomplished and inspiring climbers, skiers, runners, and even acrobats all in one place, forging bodies that could keep up with their minds. Despite the ability levels present in the room, there were no egos here. Everyone was immediately friendly and welcoming to a scrawny newcomer hoping to do what they had done.

After a summer of driving from Canmore to Calgary twice a week to train with Ian, I finished my first competitive freeride snowboard season ranked number one in Canada and number 10 in the Americas, due in no small part to the soul destroying workouts at Ascension. Fast forward to midway through the next snowboard season. I had dropped a cliff right onto a rock, fracturing my calcaneus. While it was unfortunate, I truly believe that I would have been much worse off had I not been training with Ian all year – I should have blown out my knee or dislocated my talus (again), but instead the injury was limited only to the heel bone.
After a few X-rays, surgeon consultations, and PT visits I was told I would be on crutches for 8 weeks, I would not be riding for at least 10 weeks, and even then I would not be able to hit jumps or drop cliffs for the rest of the snowboard season.

I went back to Ascension.

Ian immediately had a training plan for me that focussed on helping me get back on snow as fast as possible and strengthening everything else in the process. After 7 weeks I was fully off of the crutches, in 8 weeks I was snowboarding, and today, just over 9 weeks after my injury, I am back hitting jumps in the terrain park and planning an expedition to the Yukon next month.

Upon meeting you, Ian will quickly tear down all of your excuses and ego-preservation mechanisms. Then he will guide you to becoming a better version of yourself. The results are extremely tangible. The only limiting factor is how hard you are willing to work.