Fitness endeavor converting Yuba City gray into 'goal'

Where most people see bare gray walls, Debbi Goode sees potential for fitness.

Staring in a mostly empty warehouse Thursday, she could already envision people climbing ropes, puffing their way through lifts and swinging kettlebells. The transformation will be quick, she said, with plans to open the new Elite Fitness Training Complex in Yuba City within the next few weeks to offer training, conditioning and better overall health to the community.

Construction work is in full swing at a 34,000-square-foot warehouse where Elite Fitness and CrossFit Feather River are teaming up for the endeavor.

The facility at Gray and Spiva avenues will feature indoor batting cages, basketball courts and a soccer field.

Goode, who co-owns Crossfit with Chris Gill, said they had outgrown their space at the Training Zone in Marysville and thought joining forces with Elite Fitness for a new, larger venture had potential. "We complement each other instead of competing," she said. "For me, it's about improving the quality of people's lives."

Plans include Friday night dodgeball for singles, an afterschool program for Gray Avenue Middle School and youth leadership programs for area athletics. There will also be a day care, sports yoga and physical therapy.

Gill can sum up his reasoning in three words: "'Cuz it's fun."

"We've got something for everyone, from little kids to grannies," he added. "The obesity rate here is out of control, and we are going to make a difference. That's our whole goal."

Since construction began in June, they have worked to renovate the warehouse from years of being vacant into a new, inviting facility. They have built and painted walls, are remodeling the bathrooms and preparing to lay down giant rolls of green Astroturf.

"It's just an open slate — we could make it what we need," Goode said.

Darin Gale, Yuba City's economic development manager, said many people have looked at the warehouse, which was once a Sunsweet facility and later an indoor motocross track, with the idea of turning it into a sports complex. But they have never been able to put together a business plan and finance the necessary improvements.

"It's amazing what they've done with a vacant building," Gale said. "There's probably some parts that are going to compete with our indoor gyms and indoor soccer, but it's something additional we have in our community."

With year-round training abilities, the fitness complex will give athletes an edge in the winter, said Greg Howard of Elite Fitness. Many major league athletes and college professionals have signed up to help or undergo training.

"Any day you come in here, there will be NFL, NBA, MLB people training," Howard said. "It's gonna network kids out so they can go to college."

A soft opening is planned for later this month and then a grand opening in September.

CONTACT Ashley Gebb at agebb@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4783. Find her on Facebook at /ADagebb or on Twitter at @ADagebb.