Michael is the co-owner, co-founder and Head Coach of CrossFit Jääkarhu. He was born and raised in Houston, TX. He went to college at Stetson University, where he played four years of Division 1 soccer (goalkeeper) and studied Spanish and Business Law, before moving to and living in Madrid, Spain for three years. He moved to Austin, TX and has lived here since.

Coach Winchester found CrossFit in 2008 during his search for “the next thing” on his fitness journey. After his first CrossFit workout (Fran) he knew he was in it for the long haul. He got his CF-Level 1 in September of 2008, and has spent the last nine years learning, teaching, but most importantly sharing his knowledge and craft with those that care to learn.

Coach Winchester is the lead coach for Jääkarhu’s competition program, athletes and team. He competed in the Sport of CrossFit for 5 years, including 5 Regionals and 1 CrossFit Games. He has coached 5 Regionals Teams, 2 Games Teams, and numerous Regionals Individuals, including Orion Hones and Andy St. Germain in 2018. He has also coached two athletes at the Texas State Weightlifting Championships (one Texas State Champion) and one athlete to Junior Nationals in weightlifting.

His goal is simple, but not easy: to grow and build elite CrossFit Athletes and Teams to compete at the highest levels of the Sport. He does so with a hands-on approach committed to the long-term athletic development of his athletes. He utilizes the very best of his learning and experience over the years to continue to put out Regional and Games-level athletes

Jess is the co-owner of Crossfit Jääkarhu and Head Coach of CrossFit Jääkarhu. She was raised in San Angelo, TX where she grew up competing and coaching gymnastics. She attended Texas State University and joined the Texas State Triathalon Team and studied Mass Communications- Public Relations. Upon graduation, she moved to Austin, TX.

Coach Estrada was introduced to CrossFit in 2010 by being convinced to do a Fundraiser workout… Fight Gone Bad. She was not quite convinced that CrossFit was for her but decided to join a kettlebell class at a local Crossfit affiliate instead. After 9 months of she decided to give it another try and was instantly hooked. She got her CF-Level 1 in 2011. Her passion has always been to help people live a happier and healthier life. Once she discovered CrossFit, she saw it as a great vehicle to help impact and change the lives of others. She has experienced the confidence and results that CrossFit has to offer, and wants to help others do the same. Fitness is a life-long process and it is not one that you can do alone. Having the support of a community that shares the same values and goals is one of the most amazing things about CrossFit. She believe that is why people are so drawn and committed to it. She wants to be part of cultivating that community and lead people toward achieving their goals and experience the benefits of a happy and healthy life.

Coach Estrada is the lead coach for Jääkarhu’s CrossFit Program. She has been competing in CrossFit for 7 years, including 5 Regionals and 2 CrossFit Games. She recently began assisting Coach Winchester Jääkarhu’s competition program and athletes. She is a lead coach for the CrossFit Gymnastics Seminar Staff where she travels the country educating coaches and athletes on the fundamentals of CrossFit Gymnastics and Movement.

Coach Estrada wants to coach athletes that are committed to learning and understanding the why behind the process. Athletes that are not only committed to their health and wellness but that of their community and training partners as well. She wants to help athletes move more efficiently, build on basic CrossFit movements and introduce the more advanced, technical movements to their training. As she continues to develop herself as both a coach and a gym owner, she wants to be able to share her knowledge and experiences with CrossFit Jääkarhu athletes.

Sara Molz is a 27 year old Kansas native who has a true passion for helping and guiding others to better themselves. Growing up, Sara played every sport you could imagine, but gymnastics and basketball were the two that really stuck. After competing as a gymnast for the majority of her childhood, she was ready for change and in the 7th grade began to travel the U.S. playing in basketball tournaments on the weekends. Basketball earned Sara a scholarship to play at Pittsburg State University, where she played until her Junior year. Sara stepped down from the team during her Junior year and focused on finishing her bachelor’s degree in business management.

After a few months of searching for something new, Sara sought out the nearest gym, looking to keep her active and on her feet. Being a part of a team her entire life, she knew personal training wasn’t something she was interested in doing to maintain her strength and overall fitness, and thankfully Mac Fitness/ SEK CrossFit, was able to welcome Sara with open arms. After being a member for a short time, Sara was hired as a coach, and began coaching kids fitness classes and group classes at SEK CrossFit while finishing her degree at PSU. In June of 2015 she graduated, packed up everything she owned and moved to Daytona Beach Florida, where she found CrossFit Diehard, and continued helping others reach their health and fitness aspirations.

Fast forward to today: Sara has been a member at CrossFit Jaakarhu for 3 years and coaching for one year – making it four years total. She is more focused than ever to improving our members everyday lifestyle. She is as driven as ever to improving herself as well as those around her. She is one of Jääkarhu’s top female athletes, competing on the 2018 Jääkarhu regionals team that took 9th place at the 2018 South Regional.
Sara’s favorite thing to discuss before and after training is food and nutrition. If you ever want to get to know her, just mention food!

Coach Deering is from Austin, TX! She played Division 1 college volleyball at Northwestern State on a full scholarship, but has been living in Austin ever since.

A dear friend of hers introduced her to CrossFit at a point in her life when she was, admittedly, not living her “healthiest lifestyle”. It has forever changed her for the better, and she is grateful he saw in her something something she didn’t know she even wanted or needed!

Coach Deering has been a part of two CrossFit Regionals teams (2017 and 2018) – teams which finished 9th at the South Regionals both years. She is a strong and capable athlete, with the coaching skill set to match!

Coach Deering believes that being healthy is one of the best feelings in the world. She knows this about herself, and is eager to share this opportunity with everyone who steps foot in CrossFit Jääkarhu. For her, it is a chance to help people learn, grow and change; that what drives her coaching each and every day.

Taylor wants to coach people who want to be here, with us, and who want to be held accountable. She builds trust with her athletes and students every day in the nest way she knows how: honesty and fun!

Steven Harris was raised in small town Ohio and began his athletic career from an early age. He would play any sport that was in season at the time, enjoying the team comradery and competitve aspects.

In college, he pursued a career in Social Work, as well as coached the local high school baseball team. During the day he would work with at-risk youth, and at night he would coach. Working with these young men, Steven applied workout regimens to not only build foundations in strength, but also to help with coping mechanisms, team building, and stress relief.

Steven then moved to Austin in 2014 where he started personal training and walked through the doors of Jaakarhu. Through the last 7 years, Steven has continued his growth on the professional level, traveling regionally to certify other trainers, help launch a program that impacts thousands of members a day across the United States, and is one of the top personal trainers in Austin year after year.

Steven has also put in massive amounts of work in the gym himself to make the 2017 and 2018 CrossFit Regional teams, placing 9th and 8th, respectively.

When it comes to fitness, Steven is a big believer in technique, knowing how to fix injuries, stabilization movements, and getting after it. Outside the gym, he speaks on healthy eating, healthy living, and being a great person in the community.