Our Team


Bob Allison

President and Manager of The Core Climbing and Fitness Centre; formerly co-founder of the Great Wall Climbing Centre

Bob Allison- (President and Manager of The Core Climbing and Fitness Centre; formerly co-founder of the Great Wall Climbing Centre) has been climbing for over 40 years. Bob and his family have lived in Whistler for over 30 years during which time...

President and Manager of The Core Climbing and Fitness Centre; formerly co-founder of the Great Wall Climbing Centre

Bob Allison- (President and Manager of The Core Climbing and Fitness Centre; formerly co-founder of the Great Wall Climbing Centre) has been climbing for over 40 years. Bob and his family have lived in Whistler for over 30 years during which time Bob has created two climbing areas: Nordic and Calchek, and put up dozens of routes rated from 5.4 through 5.13 throughout the Sea to Sky corridor. Bob’s athletic accomplishments include more than climbing: Bob was a Canadian National Ski Team member winning the Canadian National Junior Alpine Championships 2-years in a row, a world-class windsurfer and a great surfer. He created Whistler’s first snowboard club and then Canada’s first National Snowboard team as Head Coach. He is also passionate about his mountain biking and rides whenever he can. He has won several mountain biking events, inluding 1st in his category in one of North America’s biggest biking competitions – “The Sea Otter Classic” in Monterey, California, 1st in the Sea to Sky’s most popular Mountain Bike race – “Test of Metal”, 1st in one of Whistler’s summer favorite team races – “Ken Kwon Memorial” and 3rd at the Canadian National Championships in St Felicien, Quebec. Bob has been voted as one of Whistler’s favourite athletes in the Pique’s “Best of the Year” tribute. As an ACMG rock guide, he has shared his passion for climbing with hundreds of aspiring climbers, and now is eager to share his passion for fitness with The Core staff, members and visitors. For Bob, fitness and sport are more than just activities: they are a way of life.

  • Bachelor of Business Administration SFU
  • Association of Canadian Mountain Guides Rock Guide
  • Agatsu certified Kettlebell Instructor


John Blok

John wants help you reach the finish line with your best time, your best body and assist you to reach your personal fitness goals.  He has been making a difference as a trainer since 2006. As a triathlete himself, who takes on 5-8 races a year, he can be the coach who gets you to the finish line through sharing...

John wants help you reach the finish line with your best time, your best body and assist you to reach your personal fitness goals.  He has been making a difference as a trainer since 2006. As a triathlete himself, who takes on 5-8 races a year, he can be the coach who gets you to the finish line through sharing his personal experience with muscle toning, endurance, strength and conditioning. John is certified Group Fitness BCRPA, Personal Fitness Trainer BCRPA, Weight Lifting BCRPA.  

He can give you sport specific instruction in biking, swimming and running with a focus on triathlon. For John showing up consistently is the key to successfully achieving your fitness  

How long with Whistler Core:   12 years.
Fitness Philosophy:  Keep Moving!
Best Advice:   Sign up for event that requires fitness!
Biggest Health Vice:  Chocolate.
How do you stay in shape:  Swim, Bike Run - Repeat....
What is your specialty:  Tri Training and Weight loss.

Credentials:  

  • Group Fitness BCRPA 
  • Personal Fitness Trainer BCRPA 
  • Weight Lifting BCRPA 

Schedule a session with John today!

 


    Marina Serrano Leon

    Taking the confusion out of weight loss and strength goals, Marina will keep you motivated and excited to come out to your next session and send you home with nutritional information and goals to work on until you have come back to your next class, workout or private session with her. 

    When clients are working with Marina, they are creating more...

    Taking the confusion out of weight loss and strength goals, Marina will keep you motivated and excited to come out to your next session and send you home with nutritional information and goals to work on until you have come back to your next class, workout or private session with her. 

    When clients are working with Marina, they are creating more time and energy to achieve results and freedom.  As a personal trainer, and group fitness instructor,  Marina employs full body movement and functional training to help her clients reach their fitness goals. She is an outdoor enthusiast - rock climbing, altitude trail running, and skiing, to name a few - and loves translating that experience, to the gym. Free weights and high-intensity training are Marina's tools for assisting clients to build muscle mass and tone. She is a qualified trainer with years of experience and can help you with active rehabilitation, particularly with shoulder, and knee injuries. Marina believes that being active and fit is an important part of everyone's life. 

    How long with Whistler Core: 2 years. 
    Fitness Philosophy: Mind-Body-Soul.
    Best Advice: Commit!
    Biggest Health Vice: Cheese
    How do you stay in shape:Goals.
    What is your specialty: Results!

     Credentials: 

    • Masseuse 
    • Sports Science dipl., Personal Trainer BCRPA, 
    • Weight Lifting Cert., Nutritional Advisor, 
    • Third Age (Seniors) BCRPA, 
    • Fitness Instructor
    • ACMG Apprentice Rock Guide

    Schedule a session with Marina today!


    Tom Blake

    Born and raised on the outskirts of London, Tom spent his teens playing rugby and cycling before discovering outdoor climbing on a trip to New Zealand in his twenties. A hobby quickly grew into a lifestyle and he spent summers travelling Europe in his van, climbing, cycling and hiking before finally taking the plunge to move properly into the mountains....

    Born and raised on the outskirts of London, Tom spent his teens playing rugby and cycling before discovering outdoor climbing on a trip to New Zealand in his twenties. A hobby quickly grew into a lifestyle and he spent summers travelling Europe in his van, climbing, cycling and hiking before finally taking the plunge to move properly into the mountains. He loves sharing his passion for the outdoors with others, exploring the technical sides of sports as well as the physical and mental.

    When not climbing, he teaches maths and science online, writes fiction and conspires about the next climbing trip.


    Rhys Robinson

    Rhys loves two things: climbing and travelling. Originally from North London in the Uk, he spent his early 20's backpacking throughout Europe and South East Asia. After eventually wandering back home to Cambridge, Rhys began working as a watch and jewellery specialist on sea cruise ships. After four years at sea sailing around the globe, he moved back to England...

    Rhys loves two things: climbing and travelling. Originally from North London in the Uk, he spent his early 20's backpacking throughout Europe and South East Asia. After eventually wandering back home to Cambridge, Rhys began working as a watch and jewellery specialist on sea cruise ships. After four years at sea sailing around the globe, he moved back to England to save some money to eventually move to Canada and settle in Whistler with his partner.
    In his spare time, Rhys can usually be found climbing or enjoying a cold beer at the lake.


    Elle Clemens

    Elle loves to be active, and fills up her time with as much climbing, trail running and CrossFit as she can. She specialises in olympic weightlifting, having competed nationally for a number of years back in the UK. Her enjoyment of climbing developed when she moved to Sheffield, UK a few years ago where she primarily bouldered indoors. Since moving...

    Elle loves to be active, and fills up her time with as much climbing, trail running and CrossFit as she can. She specialises in olympic weightlifting, having competed nationally for a number of years back in the UK. Her enjoyment of climbing developed when she moved to Sheffield, UK a few years ago where she primarily bouldered indoors. Since moving to Whistler she has been learning to climb outside, making the most of being outdoors and in the mountains.

    Elle has over 10 years of coaching experience ranging from gymnastics to CrossFit and weightlifting. She loves that she gets to use her experience to help people to get better every day, and have fun doing it! If you’re looking to develop particular skills or build strength, Elle can help.

    If she’s not out hiking and exploring the mountains, you’ll find Elle on the platform or in the boulder room.


    Rachel Aussudre

    Rachel Aussudre is a passionate climbing instructor from France with over seven years of teaching experience. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology, driven by a desire to work with individuals with disabilities and mental health challenges. Along the way, she discovered climbing as a transformative tool for building confidence, resilience, and personal growth.

    Rachel has extensive experience working...

    Rachel Aussudre is a passionate climbing instructor from France with over seven years of teaching experience. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology, driven by a desire to work with individuals with disabilities and mental health challenges. Along the way, she discovered climbing as a transformative tool for building confidence, resilience, and personal growth.

    Rachel has extensive experience working with individuals facing behavioral challenges, mental health issues, and children with autism and social difficulties. Her mission is to make climbing accessible and enjoyable for everyone, emphasizing inclusivity and empowerment in her teaching approach.

    Over the past six months, Rachel has embarked on a transformative journey across North America, visiting iconic climbing destinations such as Squamish, Yosemite, and Red Rock Canyon. These experiences have not only enriched her climbing skills but also deepened her perspective as an instructor, further inspiring her to share the joy and benefits of climbing with diverse communities.


    Daisuke Yamki

    Originally from Japan, Daisuke fell in love with the mountains at a very young age—going on their first hike at just 3 or 4 years old with their father. Growing up in Hokkaido, they spent countless days hiking in the local mountains, which naturally led to a passion for rock climbing in their mid-twenties.

    Their favorite style is traditional...

    Originally from Japan, Daisuke fell in love with the mountains at a very young age—going on their first hike at just 3 or 4 years old with their father. Growing up in Hokkaido, they spent countless days hiking in the local mountains, which naturally led to a passion for rock climbing in their mid-twenties.

    Their favorite style is traditional (trad) climbing, inspired by a mentor who was deeply dedicated to the craft. That same dedication now fuels Daisuke’s own love for climbing, mountaineering, and backcountry skiing. Always seeking to go further and higher, the mountains remain a constant source of challenge and joy.

    Outside of mountain sports, Daisuke is also a car enthusiast. In Japan, they competed in gymkhana as a driver and participated in rally events as a co-driver. They still enjoy long solo drives in their old Honda, exploring unknown roads and remote places.


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