CrossFit Wild South is Invercargill's home of CrossFit, built around the idea that strength comes from community — Kei tō tātou hapori te kaha. Whether members are advanced athletes or right at the start of their fitness journey, the gym's experienced, qualified coaching team is there to guide them safely.
Wild South serves a genuinely diverse community, with classes ranging from kids, youth and teen programmes through to an open class for ages 17-50+ and a dedicated Legends class for members aged 65 and over. The aim is to create a positive, motivating environment where members can discover their own potential, supported by coaches who draw out the best in them and a community that encourages them along the way.
The gym is owned by Mike Worner, a CrossFit Level 1 Trainer, and coached by a team including Stacy McNaught (CrossFit Level 2 Coach and PYCC Youth Coach, 10+ years experience), Ruth Ungerer (CrossFit Trainer, 10+ years experience and a 3x CrossFit Games athlete), Rachel Anderson-Evans (CrossFit Level 2 Coach, 5+ years experience), Tash Hamilton (CrossFit Level 1 Trainer leading the Legends class, with multiple Kepler and ultra marathon experience), Jason Schmidt (CrossFit Level 1 Trainer with 30+ years of strength training experience), and Sarah Roulston (CrossFit Level 1 Trainer and Youth Coach, BrandX Method PYCC certified).
CrossFit Wild South describes itself simply as Invercargill's home of CrossFit, and the gym's approach is built on a single guiding idea: strength comes from community. Whether a member is an advanced athlete or brand new to fitness, the gym's stated promise is that they'll be safe in the hands of an experienced, qualified coaching team from their very first session.
What sets Wild South apart is the breadth of its membership base. The gym runs classes for kids, youth and teens, a core open class for members aged 17 to 50 and above, and a dedicated Legends class for those 65 and over — meaning the gym genuinely caters to members across every life stage. That range is intentional: the aim is to create a positive, motivating environment where every member can discover their own potential, with coaches drawing out the best in each individual and a wider community offering support and encouragement along the way.
The programming itself spans CrossFit classes for all levels, dedicated CrossFit Youth sessions for younger members, and weight lifting programming for those wanting to focus specifically on strength.
Wild South is owned by Mike Worner, a CrossFit Level 1 Trainer, who leads a coaching team with real depth of experience. Stacy McNaught, a CrossFit Level 2 Coach and PYCC Youth Coach, brings over 10 years in the sport, while Ruth Ungerer — also with more than a decade of experience — has competed as a 3x CrossFit Games athlete. Rachel Anderson-Evans holds CrossFit Level 2 qualifications with 5+ years of coaching experience, and Tash Hamilton, who leads the Legends class, brings her own background in multiple Kepler and ultra marathon events. Jason Schmidt rounds out the team with over 30 years of strength training experience, while Sarah Roulston, a CrossFit Level 1 Trainer and Youth Coach certified in the BrandX Method PYCC, focuses on the gym's younger athletes.
For anyone in Invercargill — whether taking their first step into CrossFit or a seasoned athlete looking for a new box — CrossFit Wild South offers a genuinely community-driven training environment with a coaching team qualified to support members at every stage of life.