Planet Fitness, on Tenth Street in Gilroy, offers something for
everyone from light aerobics to powerlifters training for world
competition.
Owner Ricardo Espinosa of Gilroy and trainer Al Tortorelli of
Hollister opened the gym two months ago with the hopes of providing
something different in Gilroy.
GILROY –– Planet Fitness, on Tenth Street in Gilroy, offers something for everyone from light aerobics to powerlifters training for world competition.
Owner Ricardo Espinosa of Gilroy and trainer Al Tortorelli of Hollister opened the gym two months ago with the hopes of providing something different in Gilroy.
“When people come in, we want to know their name,” Espinosa said. “We had a lot of support. We are extremely happy with the enthusiasm we have seen.”
Currently, membership in the gym is at 300 people, but both Tortorelli and Espinosa hope to double in size by the end of the year and continue to grow after that.
“We are looking to have 600 members by the end of the year,” Espinosa said. “We hope to ultimately have 800 to 1,000 members.”
Planet Fitness is built to be a gym, rather than a social club.
“It is open to anyone from cardiovascular workouts to hard-core lifters,” Tortorelli said.
The gym features tread mills, free weights, heavy weights and cardiovascular workouts. But the main attraction of Planet Fitness is the “Power Pit.”
The Power Pit is a section marked off in the gym that offers heavy weights for people who want to bulk up or train for weightlifting competitions.
Sam Kaanapu, originally from Hawaii and now living in Gilroy, said the Power Pit lends itself nicely for power-lifters.
“It is very conducive to lifters,” Kaanapu said. “Many are supportive to the pursuit of power-lifting. I am very pleased to say the least.”
While the pit is marked off, any member is allowed to use the facilities.
The Power Pit offers different stations for just about any type of heavy work out all in front of a large mirror that nearly stretches the length of the wall.
On the wall perpendicular to the mirror, pictures from competitions are beginning to be put up. Currently, only a few pictures adorn the wall, but Tortorelli eventually want it to be covered with its members’ weight-lifting accolades.
Users of the Power Pit are for the most part weight-lifting competitors who have set records in California and have competed on the world stage.
In a competition, held in Rancho Cordova, six members of Planet Fitness, including Tortorelli, all competed and all placed in the top three in their respective classes and divisions. All the competitors are preparing for Reno in November to take part in the world championships.
Lorenzo Nino, of Gilroy, who took first place in both bench press and dead lift in his division and holds a state record in the dead lift with 573 pounds, spoke highly of the Power Pit and of Planet Fitness.
“This is a very nice place,” Nino said. “Anyone who wants to compete in power-lifting should come here.”
Espinosa and Tortorelli have worked to provide a balance between the heavy lifters and those who want a light workout.
“Our goal is to appeal to everyone,” Espinosa said. “We want people to come in and not feel overwhelmed. A lot of women members are very happy with the facilities.”
The second main attraction to the gym is the comforting atmosphere, something Espinosa and Tortorelli have worked hard to develop.
“There is an atmosphere here that can’t be bought,” Tortorelli said. “We want people to come in and be comfortable.”
Ted Ornduff, who took first in the bench press and third in the dead lift at the weightlifting competition in Rancho Cordova, said the gym’s atmosphere encourages friendly competition and camaraderie among the lifters.
“People are always encouraging each other,” said the law enforcement officer who holds the state record in the Fire-and-Law Division by bench pressing 440 pounds. “Even though we compete, we are always trying to help each other.”
“There is a lot of camaraderie here and we want to keep that,” Tortorelli said.
Planet Fitness’s atmosphere is also enhanced by the desire of members to hang around, even though they may not be working out.
“They’re here everyday,” Espinosa said. “It gives off a different feel.”
Activities are in the planning stage for different weeks that Espinosa describes as a way to “bring members together.”
Nothing is set in stone, but one possibility is to hold power-lift competitions. For now though, Espinosa and Tortorelli are focused on keeping the gym going.
Membership is open to anyone and is $29 per month, with no initiation fee through the end of the year.
“We have formed a great partnership,” Espinosa said. “We are here for the long term, we’re thinking 15-20 years.”
Details: 846-9008
