Hosea Sandstrom Owner/Founder/Coach/A.A.G.G.

Hosea Sandstrom: Born to Swedish immigrants in Montreal, Canada, Hosea took to athletics at a young age.  His mother, a semi-professional figure skater, began teaching her craft to Hosea and his brother Joel.  As the boys grew older, their interest shifted to ice hockey.  Hosea played for a travel team in the Canadian Youth League and was voted league MVP two years in a row for the 14-16 year old age group.  In his early twenties, Hosea and some friends moved south to New Jersey to open a bar.  It was here that Hosea became interested in Tai Chi.  Hosea's interest became so profound, that he moved to the Wudang Province of China to learn from a well respected school.  Having grown up speaking Swedish, French, and English; Mandarin proved no challenge for Hosea.  He lived in China for three years and met and fell in love with another expat named Tiffany who was studying Eastern Medicine.  Due to a visa issue, he was forced to leave the country without her, but they quickly reconnected in Charleston and are married today.  Hosea met Ian Bowers while on holiday in Thailand, and together they founded Lowcountry CrossFit in 2008 in Charleston, SC.  Hosea's background gives him an excellent perspective on fitness and makes him a wonderful coach for athletes of all levels.

Crossfit Level 1 - CPR/AED Certified

Ian Bowers - Owner/Founder/Coach

Ian Bowers was born on St. Christopher in the West Indies.  His father ran a mildly successful shrimp farm and Ian learned at a young age how to make a living from the sea.  Due to the poor economy, Ian was unable to be involved in formal in athletics, so he grew up running, climbing, and swimming with the local children.  When he and his family moved to Charleston in the mid 90s to continue farming, Ian's interest in athletics became more conventional.  He became a boxer with the Police Athletic League (a program designed to provide a positive outlet for troubled kids).  Ian married his high school sweet heart when he was 17, and after a nasty divorce when he was 20, moved to Kodiak, Alaska to become a long line halibut fisherman.  After two years in the Halibut fleet, Ian decided to hunt bigger game and moved to Japan to become a whaler.  After one season in the Southern Ocean with the whaling fleet, Ian returned to Charleston.  He met Hosea Sandstrom during a layover in Thailand.  He received his diploma from University of Phoenix online in 2008, and founded Lowcountry CrossFit with Hosea Sandstrom shortly after.  Ian's diverse background and real world athletic experience makes him a great CrossFit coach.

Crossfit Level 1, Crossfit Nutrition, CPR/AED Certified

Sam McCoy - Owner/Coach

Sam McCoy:  Born and raised in upstate South Carolina, Sam McCoy has always been interested in physical fitness.  In addition to working on the family farm, Sam would hire on with traveling bands of migrant workers.  Traveling with these groups, Sam would often range as far South as Florida and as far North as West Virginia.  Farm work was hard for Sam and this is where his interest in fitness began.  Sam received a full academic scholarship to Brown University, but attended Clemson to help with the family farm.  Sam discovered CrossFit shortly after graduating college while serving an eighteen month sentence for a federal weapons charge. His cellmate, a Mara Salvatrucha gang member, was an amateur novelist and avid crossfitter.  It was under his tutelage that Sam first became interested in CrossFit.  After his release, Sam moved to Charleston where he joined Lowcountry CrossFit as a partner.  He is currently seeking his CrossFit Kids Certification.  Sam's caring attitude and intensity make him an excellent coach.

Crossfit Level 1, CPR/AED Certified

Jeffrey Metzler - Manager/Coach

Jeffrey Metzler was also born and raised in South Carolina.  Jeffrey's passion has always been song.  Jeffrey was recruited by the All American Boys Chorus at a young age and fostered with  a family in California so he could sing.  Jeffrey traveled on three separate world tours with the AABC including two trips to Asia.  After leaving the boys choir when his voice dropped, Jeffrey returned to South Carolina and became interested in fitness.  He attended Clemson university, where he strength trained and ran triathlons.  Jeffrey did not lose sight of his passion for music however, and after graduation, he released his first CD.  "Jeff M's Obscure Years" was a Christian Alt Rock Album that attracted a small but loyal following. Jacob met Jeffrey at one of his concerts and they became fast friends.  Jacob introduced Jeffrey to CrossFit in 2009 and Jeffrey competed in the Garage Games a few months later, taking 8th place in the intermediate men's group.  Jeffrey has since assumed a management role in the LCCF organization.

Crossfit Level 1, Crossfit Endurance, CPR AED Certified

Jacob Kilbride - Coach

Jacob Kilbride was born in St. Lucia, in the West Indies.  His family was involved in commercial diving and Jacob took to the water at an early age.  Jake joined the Coast Guard at 18, and after 3 years, transferred his contract to the Navy so he could become a SEAL.  After completing BUDs, Jacob was medically discharged due to chronic swimmer's ear.  Jacob drifted from job to job but found his true passion in trio synchronized swimming (a swimming cap and ear plugs allowed him to effectively combat his swimmer's ear).  Jacob and his partners competed in many of the USA Synchro competitions taking third place in the 2006 championships.  Jacob's trio broke up due to stylistic differences and Jacob, unable to find a new team, moved to South Carolina.  He began working at the John's Island Fire Department where he served under Captain Damarcus Hankins, who introduced him to CrossFit.  Jake became a partner in 2009, his unique background and team mentality make Jacob and enthusiastic and encouraging coach.

Crossfit Level 1, Crossfit Endurance, EMT-B

James Caudill- Coach

James Caudill: James was born and raised in Marion, Kentucky.  James' family was part of the Amish community in Crittenden County.  At an early age, James learned the value of hard work and discipline; often working from before sunrise until several hours after sundown.  James became known throughout his community as a cheerful and industrious young man.  On festival days, James was usually the fastest in foot races, as well as being an accomplished wrestler.  His natural athletic ability and cheerful attitude made him a valued member of the community.  Young Amish are given little exposure to the modern world, however, when they come of age, they are permitted to venture forth and determine if they wish to return to the church, or live outside of the community.  This is called rumspringa and the normal code of conduct does not apply.  Rumspringa usually lasts for one to two years; James is currently in his fourth year.  He began CrossFit in 2009 and became a coach in the summer of 2010.  James' natural athleticism and his can-do attitude make him an excellent addition to the LCCF Community.

Gerard Ferrigno- Coach

Gerard Ferrigno: The son of Italian and Paraguayan immigrants, Gerard moved to the United States at the age of 14.  His father, a Paraguayan dance champion, started a Zumba studio in Charlotte, NC.  This was where Gerard first fell in love with dance and fitness.  After mastering the Danza Paraguaya (the national dance of Paraguay, also known as the  bottle dance) and several other forms of South American dance, Gerard became interested in contemporary dance.   Gerard pursued his passion for dance at Duke University in North Carolina.  It was there that a classmate in his Jazz Ballet course introduced him to CrossFit.  Gerard, now a devoted father of two, received his level 1 certificate in California and moved to South Carolina to work for Boeing. His fiery passion and caring attitude make Gerard an excellent coach for athletes of all levels.

Crossfit level 1, Zumba Certified, Crossfit Endurance, CPR/AED

Marc Hankins- Coach

Damarcus "Moustache" Hankins was born and raised on James Island South Carolina.  Marc's love for competition as a youth led him to get involved in trail riding competitions.  After a knee injury sidelined Marc's bike riding career he joined the Johns Island Fire Department.  It was there that Marc found a new way to test himself; competitive eating. Marc joined the local competitive eating circuit in 1995 and set the state record at the Nathan's 4th of July hot dog eating contest by downing 29.5 hot dogs and buns in 12 minutes (this record was broken in 2002 by Sam Evershine of Sumter, SC).  After a doctor told him that he was dangerously overweight and would never eat competitively again, Marc discovered the firefighter combat challenge and CrossFit.  He joined LCCF two years ago and became a coach after one year.  Marc's unique background makes him an excellent coach for athletes of all levels and walks of life.

CrossFit Level 1 Certified, CPR/AED certified