Update: It appears this gym has closed and just the MMA portion remains open into 2011. The gym links now point to www.skoggsystem.com, which advertises the Skogg Gym at 312 NW 10TH Avenue in Portland, Oregon.
I attended the grand opening of the
Elite Kettlebell Gym in Tigard, the first gym of its kind in Oregon. Think kettlebell culture meets MMA. It's the lovechild of Michael and Sue Skoggs from Wisconsin.
It's small but the space is used well. It's very spiffy, all fresh paint and new floormats. Lots of simple cool stuff for strength and conditioning - thick rope rings, thick ropes to pull, tires to flip and beat with bats, strongman logs, stability balls, and kettlebells galore.
The downstairs is where Next Level Martial Arts lives, with various bags, a few pieces of exercise equipment, and dark open space. They advertise UFC coaching. Although the MMA action is downstairs, the vibe is pervasive throughout - that'll either turn you on or off.
Back upstairs, looks like the kettlebell gym is geared for for classes and personalized training rather than being an open playground (Note: ETA Once you progress through the classes, you are permitted to use the gym freely). The class schedule is intense, running all day M - F. Rates are really high. Guess rent ain't cheap on 99W, but I can't see them surviving like this.
- Day $25
- Week $95
- Ten sessions $200
- Month $149
- Quarterly $400
- Annual $1500
They also house two Swedish Sports Masseuses, male and female. It's just south of the I-5 exit, next to the Regal cinema. Oh, and I have to warn you - parking sucks.
Thanks, guys! ETA: Michael and Sue treated me and a friend to a free beginners' kettlebell class (my first opportunity to try kettlebells!). Enjoyed my visit. The dynamic swinging of the bells is a full-body work out, and gets the heart racing. I liked that the instruction was kept as the focus, and the music and timer were relatively unintrusive. Michael's manner was welcoming and not intimidating. Also, since I dragged in half-dead at the end of a 12-hour day, I liked that the work out atmosphere wasn't manic - my body was able to slide into it and I left feeling refreshed. We also had the pleasure of trying out some of the other toys afterward.
And here's a bit of gossip - they say they just signed the
Portland LumberJax!
As hotels go, it had more than most. As gyms go, this could probably pass for a small Curves or Snap. There was a good-sized line of dumbbells (Hampton), a line of slightly oversized machines jammed together assembly-line style (TechnoGym), a small area for floorwork, and a comparatively large number of cardio machines - high-end LifeFitness treadmills - the wide-dash style, and stationary bikes and elliptical trainer.
Although the room was on the small side, the mirrored walls gave it a bigger feel, and the TV sets, magazines, towel supply and oh-so-Nines funky water dispenser make it feel more alive than most hotel fitness centers. I stopped in during evening and morning hours, and there were a few people in it each time.
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