Translating Experience Into Learning Opportunities
In addition to one-on-one and group sessions, Cris offers his expertise in the form of workshops with athletic teams, educational institutions, government divisions, corporate workplaces, and fitness organizations nationwide. Workshops cover specific topics like injury resistance, athletic longevity and workplace peak performance, or they may take a more motivational approach by incorporating Cris’s rich personal experiences of overcoming adversity and dealing with loss and change. Cris can also work with your company or organization to create the right message for your audience.
Going the Distance Workshops
Cris’ Going the Distance philosophy is real world and pure… Distilled from years of an open heart, mind and body pushing to, through and away from pain. It speaks to all …from the most elite racer in any sport all the way to those who are more focused on the race of life.
Scott Shoemaker, MD,
Orthopedic Surgeon, Kaiser Permanente Outrigger and SUP paddler
Cris’ Going the Distance Workshops, a product of his 2013 award winning book, offer a comprehensive exploration of the foundational elements of fitness necessary for peak performance and lifelong participation in a chosen sport, hobby, or profession. Designed to be accessible and valuable for participants at all levels, each workshop includes:
- Assessment of orthopedic vulnerabilities specific to your activity or occupation
- Proper warm-up and cool-down routines
- Mobility and stability protocols
- Recovery and self-care techniques
- Mental and behavioral strategies for safe, intelligent performance
- Practical tools to reduce injury risk and enhance long-term sustainability
As a five-time Masters World Champion with more than a dozen Masters National Championships to his name, Cris brings unmatched expertise to his teaching. He shares hard-earned insights on training volume, intensity, and frequency, along with guidance on cross-training, resistance training, and cultivating the right mindset for personal growth and lasting success.
Coach Dobro has for many, many years given our paddlers the tools to “Paddle for Life”. Whether one paddles a SUP, Outrigger, Prone board, Kayak or Canoe, Cris helps keep athletes out on the water for longer. His classes are fun and informative!
Chris Barlow, founder and head coach San Diego Canoe and Kayak Club,
Olympic Kayak athlete Barcelona
Whether they have two employees or 2,000, corporate institutions nationwide should become involved in the promotion of health among their employees. Cris’s workshops are a great way for companies to incorporate fitness and reap the rewards of happier, healthier and more productive people.
Penny Nathan President
Ascent Real Estate Corporation
San Diego, CA
Inspirational Talks
Cris’s inspirational message resonated with the mission of the YMCA, improving the quality of life and helping people realize their fullest potential, and it was motivating for our participants. His dynamic personality, combined with his exceptional background and expertise, gave him the perfect tools to present a workshop on lifelong fitness and well-being.
Colette VandenBroeck
Mission Valley YMCA
San Diego, CA
Turning Corners: When One Door Closes, Many Open
In this powerful and deeply personal presentation, Cris steps into the role of storyteller, sharing pivotal life experiences that have shaped his resilience, character, and perspective on adversity. The lessons he offers serve as both “heart fuel” for individuals and a foundation for meaningful team building within any organization.
From losing his father at the age of nine and discovering unexpected mentorship among a group of ocean lifeguards on the beaches of Massachusetts, to navigating profound physical, financial, and emotional challenges, Cris weaves together stories that are at once humorous, heartfelt, and deeply inspiring.
Rooted in lessons from childhood and forged through decades of personal trials—including a life-threatening illness that began in 2019—Cris brings a rare sensitivity to life’s uncertainties. His journey has deepened his empathy and strengthened his belief that when one door closes, many others truly can open—if we’re willing to turn the corner and keep moving forward.
With honesty, warmth, and practical wisdom, Turning Corners offers audiences a roadmap for facing adversity with endurance, hope, and grace.
