For coach Jaeho Woo, the answer isn’t flashy rigs or back-to-back packed classes. Instead, it’s about building strength and fostering community in one of the most extreme environments on Earth.
I had the chance to speak with Woo last week after spotting his feature on the official Concept2 social channels. With years of experience coaching functional fitness in remote conditions, he shared unique insights into what it takes to run – and sustain – a CrossFit box where resources are limited, but determination is abundant.
His perspective highlights not just the physical challenges, but also the mental resilience and community spirit that make CrossFit adaptable to any setting, even at the “end of the world.”
From Korea to the South Pole
Before heading to Antarctica, Woo ran a nonprofit CrossFit club in Korea. When he took a post at a South Korean research base on the frozen continent, he brought that same spirit with him. The crew didn’t just need science labs and bunks — they needed somewhere to move, train and stay sane through months of isolation.
Building a Gym on Ice
Getting a box up and running in Antarctica isn’t as simple as ordering a container of gear. More than 300kg of equipment had to be shipped in and set up to withstand brutal cold, snow and storms. Temperatures can drop below -20°C, and some sessions take place outdoors with frost stinging at every breath.
Why CrossFit Works Here
Life on a research base is repetitive, isolating, and mentally tough. CrossFit brings:
- Routine – a way to break up long, grey days
- Resilience – training that keeps both body and mind sharp
- Community – workouts that pull scientists, engineers and crew together
“It’s not just fitness,” Woo explains. “It’s what helps us stay focused and positive down here.”
Workouts with Penguins
Between sessions, Woo has crossed paths with penguins, seals and even whales. Antarctica is a place where front squats and sled pulls share the landscape with icebergs and wildlife.
Watch the Full Story
In our exclusive interview, Woo talks about what it takes to build a CrossFit community at the end of the Earth — and what the sport means to him in one of the most extreme environments anywhere.
📺 Watch the interview here:
👉 Subscribe to BOXROX for more stories from athletes pushing the limits, wherever they are.
About the Author
Robbie Wild Hudson is the Editor-in-Chief of BOXROX. He grew up in the lake district of Northern England, on a steady diet of weightlifting, trail running and wild swimming. Him and his two brothers hold 4x open water swimming world records, including a 142km swim of the River Eden and a couple of whirlpool crossings inside the Arctic Circle.
He currently trains at Falcon 1 CrossFit and the Roger Gracie Academy in Bratislava.
