Resident Introduces New Way to Get Fit on Daniel Island

With miles of trails, hundreds of acres of parks and world-class sports facilities, Daniel Island residents have no shortage of venues for getting fit. But that didn’t stop resident Robert VanNewkirk from introducing yet another new option for fitness within Charleston’s island town. His business, CrossFit Discovery (located in the Publix shopping center), offers a program that caters to all fitness levels and focuses on exercise for “real life” wellness.

Based on concurrent development of all elements of fitness – including endurance, flexibility and speed – CrossFit Discovery is no ordinary gym.  Upon entering, instead of treadmills and nautilus equipment, you’re greeted with 30-pound sandbags, ropes hanging from the ceiling and various sized balls and barbells.  Reminiscent of a gym that might have existed forty years ago, the space has an old-school feel and is home to a “grassroots” type of workout.

“CrossFit was originally created for elite athletes and people such as firefighters and military personnel who ultimately depend on core strength and conditioning for survival,” says Robert. “Here on Daniel Island, we have clients that range from doctors and business owners to stay-at-home moms and their elementary-aged kids,” he adds.

Robert and his wife, Angel, and their two daughters moved to Daniel Island five years ago from California looking for a simpler, less stressful lifestyle.

“Angel has family in Myrtle Beach, so we were familiar with South Carolina. We love Charleston, and Daniel Island provides a close-knit community where the kids can ride their bikes to school and where Angel and I can pursue our own passions,” commented Robert.

Upon moving to Daniel Island, Robert worked as an event coordinator.  He was able to convert his garage into a home gym and that’s where the idea of opening his own fitness business became a reality.

“I was always active in sports and athletics throughout high school and college, and just kept at it into adulthood.  Maintaining a healthy lifestyle has always been a priority. So, converting my garage to a gym seemed a very natural thing,” says Robert.  “At first I got a lot of questions from our neighbors, but before I knew it I was training and educating them about how to optimize their fitness goals.”

Soon after, Robert opened CrossFit Discovery and was able to dedicate his career full-time to helping others achieve a higher form of wellness.

“CrossFit is unique because it is scaled to each individual. Whether you can lift five pounds or 500 pounds, the program works to improve all elements of your fitness,” says Robert.

Based on the belief that fitness is the highest form of wellness, the CrossFit Discovery program teaches proper nutrition, exercise and recovery. It incorporates varied, high intensity, functional movement. Far from boring, the classes are extremely time-efficient and produce observable, measurable results.

“Classes last about an hour and could include running sprints, doing push-ups, lifting weights, jumping rope or a combination of several movements. We focus on basic mechanics and core strength,” says Robert. “I am consistently amazed at the quality of people I train. One client, in particular, started training last fall and could barely do one pull-up. Now, she’s doing 100 pull-ups.”

CrossFit Discovery has been steadily growing and attracts a wide range of island residents as well as clients from surrounding areas like Mt. Pleasant, West Ashley and downtown Charleston.

“I train people as young as age six and as mature as 65. It’s a very social workout that takes place in a relaxed, fun environment,” says Robert. “This is important to clients as they form special bonds with one another and even participate in various Charleston-area fitness events, such as the popular Citadel Bulldog Challenge.”

Taking health and wellness one step further, CrossFit is co-sponsoring an inaugural event here on Daniel Island next month. The New Primal Games, scheduled for June 25th, will feature individuals and teams taking on a series of fun, primal-inspired challenges such as a trail run/obstacle course, “stone” throw and “log” lift.

“We’re really looking forward to being a part of the New Primal Games. I think its going to help push the CrossFit Discovery program and even further expose Daniel Island and our unique fitness philosophy to a broader audience,” says Robert.

For more information about CrossFit Discovery, visit crossfitdiscovery.com. For information about the New Primal Games and to register, visit thenewprimal.com.

30,000 Ducks Compete in Fifth Annual Charleston Duck Race on Daniel Island

30,000 rubber ducks took a dive from the top of the James B. Edwards Bridge on I-526 into the Wando River on Saturday, June 4th at the fifth annual Charleston Duck Race. The race towards the finish line at the dock in front Daniel Island Real Estate’s sales and information center produced 15 winners, whose “owners” took home cash and other prizes. One lucky winner from Tennessee took home the grand prize of $15,000!

It was great fun all in the name of charity. The Charleston Duck Race, organized by Charleston area Rotary Clubs (including the Daniel Island Rotary Club), has evolved into one of the most successful fundraising initiatives in the Lowcountry. Recognized last year by Rotary International with a prestigious “Significant Achievement Award,” the event raises money for a variety of local non=profit organizations, including East Cooper Meals on Wheels, East Cooper Community Outreach, Tri-county Ministries, Junior Achievement of Coastal Carolina and others. Since inception, the event has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity.

The day’s festivities included all kinds of land-based activities that kept families entertained as the ducks prepared for the main event. Food trucks, kids’ activities, music and more created a festive atmosphere on the banks of the Wando River. Check out photos from this exciting Daniel Island event:

Daniel Island Passports Now Available!

A group of island residents and business owners recently joined forces to create a program aimed at promoting Daniel Island’s diverse and growing shopping and dining offerings to island and Charleston area residents.

Led by island residents Steve Ferber and Colby Hollifield, the “Passport to Daniel Island” program is a grassroots effort to help island businesses spread the word about their services. The Passport card entitles holders to receive special discounts or offers from participating businesses. A website lists current offers for easy reference.

“With 16 restaurants plus dozens of shops and service providers, Daniel Island is an active dining and shopping destination, but many who don’t live here don’t realize how much our island town has to offer,” says Ferber. “The Passport Program is designed to help get the word out to a larger audience about what’s here.”

The Passport Program kicked off in April during the Family Circle Cup, where volunteers reached out to the 18,000+ Charleston area residents who attended the week-long WTA event, offering up the cards for just $1 a piece. More than 800 cards were sold.

“The program has been well-received,” said Ferber. “Those who are familiar with the offerings of Daniel Island’s businesses are grateful for the special savings. But just as importantly, the card has provided a way to introduce new customers to the number of shops and restaurants here and has given people a reason to come back more often. Business owners are reporting that they are seeing new customers as a result of the effort.”

Hollifield and Ferber saw the need for someone to take ownership of an effort like this in order to help support island businesses, who rely on the patronage of customers coming from both on- and off-island. They took on the project as volunteers.

“We’re working now on getting the cards in the hands of employees who work at the various offices on Daniel Island, including Blackbaud and BenefitFocus,” said Ferber. “Other target audiences include Battery soccer fans who visit the island regularly in the summer for home games.”

Passport cards are available at participating downtown Daniel Island businesses, and can also be purchased at First Citizens Bank on Daniel Island. For a complete list of participating businesses, visit passporttodanielisland.com.

Buy Local at the Daniel Island Farmers’ Market

The Daniel Island Farmers’ Market is back! Be sure to stop by every Thursday from 4:00 pm to dusk throughout the summer. The market is conveniently located at a new site this year: Directly on Island Park Drive across from the Publix shopping center. A wide variety of vendors will be offering farm-fresh produce and homemade bread as well as handcrafted jewelry and children’s clothing.  Load up on sugar snap peas, green beans, vine ripe tomatoes, corn, peppers, onions and much more!  Fresh lemonade and snow cones will also be available for purchase.  For more information click on the Daniel Island POA web site.

Hit Daniel Island’s Parks this Weekend for Two Exciting Special Events

Our island’s parks serve as venues for a vast array of festivals, fundraisers, concerts and other events throughout the year. This weekend, we’re lucky to have two very special events scheduled to take place on Daniel Island that showcase our beautiful parks. Make plans to come out and join in the fun!

Evening at Etiwan Park
Friday, May 13
The Charleston Parks Conservancy is celebrating all things parks this week with a series of free events in parks throughout the city. On Friday, the celebration comes to Daniel Island for an evening of music and stargazing at Etiwan Park. The festivities begin at 6:30 pm. Pack a picnic and bring a blanket to enjoy the setting as the sun goes down. After sunset, “Lowcountry Stargazers” will present a stargazing program with the aid of an assortment of special equipment. There is no cost to attend, but registration is required. For information, click here.

Concert in the Park
Saturday, May 14 | Smythe Park
A favorite Daniel Island tradition, the Concert in the Park takes place each May on the banks of the lake at Smythe Park. Pack a picnic and grab a spot early – the best spots will go quickly. The highlight of the evening is a performance by Jeremy Davis and The Equinox Jazz Orchestra, who are sure to have the crowd dancing under the stars once again this year. A picnic contest will be judged starting at 6 pm (prizes, including a donation to the grand prize winners’ charity of choice, will be awarded for the best spreads). The concert starts at 7 pm. The event is free and open to the public.