Contrast Fitness - St Leonards (NSW)

5 /5 Miles Cope-Summerfield: Sam helped me improve my climbing skills and focused on injury prevention. I’ve now been able to train consistently without setbacks. He gave me a customised program to start with, then we adjusted every few weeks to make sure I was staying on track with my goals, while also balancing that with my sometimes busy work/life schedule. Highly recommend Sam for anyone looking to elevate their climbing game!

5 /5 Riaan Steenekamp: I’ve been training with Sam for about a year, with my goals being to increase climbing strength and overall strength building of major muscle groups. During this time, these goals continued to evolve to include more specific subtleties, e.g. handstands and core strength. Sam’s “open and honest” approach has been great, especially for me as someone that struggles to word my physical goals. He is also very realistic and responds to inputs and feedback quickly. I’ve seen excellent changes in my climbing ability, which does not just include being a stronger climber, but also being more accepting of falling. I’ve also seen an overall increase in major muscle group strength of about 35%, and having deadlifted 185kgs has been blast! The part that I’m really stoked about it, that in July I had surgery, and with Sam’s help, I’ve not just recovered to pre-surgery lifting numbers, but have exceeded those! I’ll recommend Sam to anyone looking to increase their climbing strength, technique, and overall physical strength, no matter where you find yourself in your journey.

5 /5 Hamish Livingstone: I wholeheartedly recommend Sams services to anyone seeking a remarkable personal trainer who can truly inspire and help you achieve your fitness goals. My wife and I have been training with Sam for the past 5 months, and the experience has been nothing short of fantastic. Every month, Sam customises a fresh training plan for us, which we easily access through the Contrast Fitness app. Additionally, we have in-person sessions once every fortnight at the Climb Fit St Leonards gym. These sessions are enlightening, not only for the chance to explore new exercises but also because Sams infectious enthusiasm is truly motivating. What sets Sam apart is his extensive knowledge and expertise in sports science and exercise, holding a PhD in the field. Its certainly not permanent head damage but rather a deep understanding of how to help clients like us reach our fitness goals effectively and safely. Sams ability to tailor our training plans to align perfectly with our personal goals has been impressive. He strikes a perfect balance between including exercises we enjoy and those that challenge us, pushing us to improve. Sams expertise in exercise progressions is remarkable, and he continually finds ways to make exercises more challenging or adaptable, even when working on seemingly extreme exercises like one-arm pull-ups. In summary, if youre searching for a personal trainer who is not only knowledgeable but also passionate, adaptable, and dedicated to helping you achieve your fitness goals, Sam is the perfect choice. We couldnt be happier with our progress under his guidance.

5 /5 Pia Crawford: I started with Contrast Fitness at the beginning of this year with the goal of getting more confident in the gym, improving my overall fitness, and getting stronger on the climbing wall. In just a few months, I’ve seen incredible results. My climbing grades have notably improved, especially on strength-based and balance-heavy routes. Having a structured program really improved my ability more than I could have imagined. Now, when I’m in the gym, I feel confident and happy to take up space. Sam’s approach to training has been a perfect fit for me. His passion, enthusiasm, and courtesy make every training session a pleasure. His willingness to adapt the program to my changing goals, talk through areas of difficulty, and find solutions that work with my hectic schedule has been incredible. When I train with Sam, it feels like training with a friend who knows everything – for me, thats the best way to make progress. In the past, I’ve struggled with personal trainers who focused too much on body image and aesthetics. Sam’s focus on mental health was a game changer. As soon as I mentioned not wanting to talk about weight or body image, he immediately shifted away from that language in all our future sessions. I cannot recommend Sam enough. I’m so excited to see what heights he can help me climb to!

5 /5 Joshua Hampson: Sam is a phenomenal trainer. He works with you on a program that is so much more than a tick-the-box activity - truly personalised and adapted to your lifestyle, goals and schedule. I saw some very surprising and positive results in just a few weeks which is really down to his attention to detail and ability to go on the journey with you. He makes sure that you are focused on what is achievable but also makes you feel accountable for the results that come. Cannot recommend Contrast Fitness and Sam enough to anyone at any stage on their fitness journey!