Growing Functional Fitness in Canada: A Vision for the Future
Hello everyone,
I’m Simon Damborg, the newly elected president of the Canadian Functional Fitness Federation (CFFF). After serving on the board under the leadership of Veronique and heading up the BC Functional Fitness organization, I’m excited to take on this new role and lead our community into the future. With a wealth of experience in Functional Fitness over the past 15 years, I’m eager to share our vision and goals for the next chapter of functional fitness in Canada.
Experience: My background in Functional Fitness
In 2013, I founded Raincity Athletics, a CrossFit gym that grew to 7,500 sq. ft. with 6 full-time and 8 part-time coaches. In 2017, we dropped our CrossFit affiliation to become the first recognized Functional Fitness club in BC. Post-COVID, we downsized to 5,000 sq. ft. with 4 full-time and 6-8 part-time coaches which we still operate today in Vancouver, BC.
As an athlete, I competed from 2009 to 2013, at sectionals/regionals as an individual and team athlete, until injuries led me to shift focus to coaching. Since then I’ve coached multiple athletes to regionals, and a master's athlete with multiple games apperances, who placed 6th at the CrossFit Games in 2019.
I also run the Functional Fitness League (FFL), the longest-running recreational competitive league in the sport, with over 20 seasons since 2015. Known as the "beer league" of functional fitness, FFL focuses on accessible, affordable team events while attracting top athletes over the years.
Additionally, I created the Raincity Fit Club, a program for children on the autism spectrum. As a government-approved behavior interventionist, I prioritize inclusion, fairness, and accessibility—values I carry into all aspects of my work as we develop and grow the sport nationwide.
Functional Fitness vs. CrossFit: Understanding the Difference
One of the most common questions I get asked is, "What’s the difference between functional fitness and CrossFit?" It's simple: CrossFit is a brand, much like the NFL or NHL, while functional fitness is the sport itself—comparable to soccer or hockey. CrossFit is a private company that uses elements of functional fitness but operates with its own rules and standards. Our role at CFFF is to govern and develop the sport of functional fitness, much like international federations standardize sports for the Olympics.
We create and oversee the rules, standards, long-term athlete development plans, and judge certifications. Our goal is not to replace CrossFit but to complement it by providing a pathway for athletes and coaches to develop in a fair, consistent, and athlete-centered environment.
Our Vision: Bringing Functional Fitness to Schools
One of my personal long-term goals is to see functional fitness integrated into schools across Canada. When I opened my CrossFit gym 11 years ago, I dreamt of offering PE programs that would teach students the basics of squatting, lifting, pressing, and carrying—fundamental movements that go beyond the gym and impact daily life. Unfortunately, CrossFit, as a brand, can’t be part of school curriculums. But functional fitness as a recognized sport can.
Imagine a world where your child can attend a functional fitness class, earn PE credits, and learn lifelong habits in a supportive, community-driven environment. The focus wouldn’t just be on competitive fitness but also on building strong, healthy movement patterns that benefit kids in all areas of life. This vision drives much of our work at the CFFF as we aim to make functional fitness a sport recognized provincially, nationally, and, eventually, internationally.
Why Do We Need Governing Bodies?
Recent events at the CrossFit Games have shown us why athlete-centered governing bodies are so essential. CrossFit is a private company that, like any business, prioritizes entertainment and sponsors over athlete safety and development. This is why we need non-profit governing bodies like CFFF—organizations created by athletes, for athletes. We exist to ensure the sport’s development is focused on what matters: athlete health, long-term development, and safety.
Governing bodies like CFFF set the rules and standards for the sport, free from profit-driven motives. Our nonprofit status allows us to prioritize fairness, transparency, and accountability to athletes, not shareholders. As athletes and coaches ourselves, we understand the importance of being deeply involved in the decision-making process, and that’s what makes functional fitness unique.
Ongoing Projects and Initiatives
We have a number of exciting projects in the pipeline, all focused on building a safe, inclusive, and fair sport for everyone. Here are a few of the key initiatives:
Athlete Feedback: We want to hear from you! We’ll be sending out a survey to gather input from athletes, coaches, and clubs on how we can make functional fitness the sport you want it to be. Your feedback will shape the future of functional fitness in Canada.
Consistent Movement Standards: Athletes and judges alike know the frustration of constantly changing standards. We’re working with the International Functional Fitness Federation (IF3) to develop consistent standards for all movements. These standards will ensure athletes know exactly how they’ll be judged, allowing them to focus on performing their best.
Professional Technical Officials: We’re building a pathway for certifying technical officials (judges) who will be consistent across all competitions. This standardized process will ensure that every judge knows the rules inside out, creating a fair competition environment for athletes at all levels.
Coaching Standards: Just like we’re standardizing technical officials, we’re also creating a certification process for coaches. This will ensure that all coaches understand safety, long-term athlete development, and best practices for working with athletes of all ages and skill levels.
Olympic Pathway: While the long-term goal of the Federation is to see functional fitness as an Olympic sport, I personally believe the focus should be on integrating it into schools. Provincial and national recognition will pave the way for students to learn the sport in high schools and universities, gaining valuable movement and fitness skills.
Building International Recognition
Functional fitness is gaining momentum on the international stage, with over 70 countries involved in the IF3. Some countries, like Sweden and Norway, have already recognized functional fitness as a national sport, with government support for their athletes. This international recognition is what makes functional fitness unique and gives us the opportunity to create a truly global sport, one that is inclusive and accessible to athletes from all over the world.
Developing Custom Software for Growth
To support the growth of the sport, we’re also working on developing custom software that will manage athlete profiles, clubs, technical officials, and more. This software will standardize data across countries and federations, making it easier for athletes, judges, and coaches to connect and grow the sport together. The ultimate goal is to create a centralized platform that’s accessible to all countries involved in functional fitness, helping streamline event management, certification processes, and athlete tracking. Check it out at cfff.fit.
Get Involved!
We’re passionate about growing functional fitness in Canada and internationally, but we can’t do it without your help. Whether you’re an athlete, coach, or simply a fan of the sport, we encourage you to get involved. We’ll be sending out a survey soon, but in the meantime, create a profile on our website and start sharing your ideas. This sport is for you, and we want you to have a voice in shaping its future.
Final Thoughts
The future of functional fitness is bright, and we’re excited to build a sport that prioritizes athlete safety, long-term development, and fairness. With your involvement, we can create a sport that’s inclusive, transparent, and accessible to everyone. Let’s work together to grow functional fitness in Canada and beyond, and make it a sport we can all be proud of.
Thanks for your support, and I look forward to hearing from you soon!
– Simon Damborg
President, Canadian Functional Fitness Federation